Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to DEQUADRAY WHITE. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
DEQUADRAY, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
At a young age, I used visual art and spoken word to give life to my imagination and express frustrations with societal pressures as a Black, closeted baby queer. Unfortunately, my middle school did not have any art programming so I turned to my local Boys & Girls Club. It was a safe space that consistently presented opportunities to create without fear of judgement. From improv comedy workshops facilitated by acting professionals to poetry slam teams coached by world renowned poets, I embraced a myriad of mediums and acquired interdisciplinary techniques that I continue to use today. Investing in my gifts, I applied and got accepted into the Visual & Performing Arts program at Tri-Cities High School, where my teachers heavily focused on cultivating discipline and craftsmanship. To this day, I access flow so subtly and only become aware after hours of writing and painting because of years of losing myself in a canvas.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a Black, queer Interdisciplinary Artist from South Metro Atlanta who uses art to radically imagine a more compassionate world. I am a University of Wisconsin-Madison Alumni with a degree in Art as well as a Certificate in Afro American Studies. I currently work as the Program and Volunteer Coordinator with the Atlanta Pride Committee planning inclusive events that promote wellness, visibility, and unity. I am also a teaching artist for Paint Love, a local nonprofit that brings arts workshops to local youth. My musical projects, Dequadray! a Black Sitcom (2018) and Antares (2018) have been featured in Tone Madison, The Isthmus, the Badger Herald and I have had the opportunity to perform at multiple venues in Georgia and Wisconsin. From hosting open mics to facilitating sip & paints, I am eager to cultivate a space of community, collaboration and creativity.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
I am a big fan of Robert Greene and his books, such as ‘The Laws of Human Nature’ and ‘The Art of Seduction’. My favorite book to date has to be ‘Ordinary Magic: Everyday Life as Spiritual Path’ edited my John Wellwood. It is a sharp book of essays from Buddhist gurus and deep ecologists that center being presence as a spiritual practice. There is one excerpt that specifically talks about finding magic in mundane activities such as driving and washing dishes. It guides the reader into an unfettered sense of awareness calling them to pay attention to all of their senses in ‘boring moments’ and acknowledge the unfathomable probability of life and its impermanence. This has shifted my perspective to not only see the opportunity for growth in every situation but it also helps me see that I am fully responsible for creating the life I want to live.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the process. To bring to life an idea you hold in your minds eyes by engaging in a cosmic dance of sorts. There is no right or wrong way to ‘create’. The artist and the piece they are channeling have to agree when it is complete.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dequadray.wixsite.com/artbydequadray
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dequadray/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dequadray-white-b46686113/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA8FfEQexWpcdH_25uRqV4g?view_as=subscriber