Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dovelie Lovelie. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Dovelie, thanks for joining us today. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.

There is an importance of work to be done rediscovering and helping shine a light on artistic origins which had or or still have a Black/BIPOC artistic influence established in areas of LA/OC, and believe it or not, In Southern California as a whole. Currently witnessing and undergone the results of mass development which displaces independent and local art community centers, as well as housing for generational residents, I reference in my art these very subjects in hopes to keep aware of what is being further dismissed or under recognized for reasons both known and unknown. Having curated and participated in exhibitions which showcased various expressions and materials, I feel that many other black artists as well as myself, constantly utilize collective awareness and advocate for ourselves by providing realities of existence. While this occurs, we still face aspects of pushback of being seen by products of micro-aggressions, and at times our work being regarded as having no intrinsic value. But, we know that these things couldn’t be anymore further from the truth.

I speak with my words of poetry, and/or music, curating art, as a means of echoing what the underserved pockets of society as being here, present, and to be deserved of more opportunities to better serve such communities. Curating, holding panels, and workshops that can provide a platform and a space for creatives and youth to develop skills outside of a scholastic institution, is just as important as pursuing higher educational endeavors. I support and believe in decolonizing ways of learning and applying skills for all to have access to.

Dovelie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

As far back as I can remember, writing and the skill of forming rhymes was an interest I picked up as a young kid, and continued into an older age. In a main case, music was my first language, I feel having been surrounded by it via my family. My writings have in many ways, a personal and socially observant element, and one of my influences are satire. My writings I’ve submitted in literary publications where I’ll read excerpts via spoken word at art & poetry live readings, as well as self-published products which are Zines where they can accessed via book fairs and zine fests.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

What I’ve had to unlearn on my journey is that the path must be perfect, and that it must be approved by anyone else beside myself. Expectations that are not your own, whether by outside influences and the like, should not matter if they’re not coming from within. Learning from both mistakes and achievements, and the simple truth of knowing that you are more than enough.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

That you can provide a new and different outlook on how this world can be seen by your own terms. But also, you can be your own(healthy)critic. Even in the subtle ways, I can contribute some sort of healing and illuminating perspective in my artwork, if be poetry, mixed media, music, etc.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @dovelielovelie
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfPuG7psncw // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW3h8unOMDQ
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/hausabandla
• Other: https://www.oczinefest.com/2024zinesterdirectory

Image Credits

Photo Credit: Luka Fisher- (IG): @lukafisher

Sarah Bennet- (IG): @place.lb