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

Alright, Drew thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

Being an artist in South Florida, I have benefited immensely from my local creative scene. They have given me so many opportunities to grow, share my message, and exhibit my work. Learning from not only artists, but photographers, performers, musicians, dancers, etc. has inspired me in new ways that I didn’t know until I branched out from the confines of being a visual artist. Together we create our own spaces, and opportunities to support one another. It is because of this appreciation that I co-founded Casa Crea with 3 other community members last summer. With the help of Phil (@goon.green), Kennedy (@kenny2kennedy), Lunes (@alwayslunes), and Samantha (@samtheomegaspitter (who later joined our team)) we have created an open collective for creatives to meetup with each other twice a month across South Florida. We form intentional spaces that prioritize community and safety. We want people of all disciplines and skill levels to be able to share their thoughts in a relaxed environment where they can work together and learn from one another.

Over time we have developed into so many other things than just artist meetups. We have had movie screenings, tea parties, jam sessions, and poetry nights among other more elaborate plans we have coming. For the upcoming months we are planning a series of workshops that address specific interests such as screen printing, DJ mixing, and how to host events! We have learned so much in the past year and have received amazing feedback for our collaborative approach in constantly trying to improve our spaces. Safety and accessibility are some of our main priorities as we want everyone to be able to feel comfortable in our events regardless of their identity, background, or circumstances. We achieve this through sliding scale prices, entry fee waivers, and a watchlist to monitor anyone in the art scene that has a history of unwanted behavior. The watchlist is probably one of the most important aspects of creating a safe space because we work in collaboration with our audience to field out submissions of who may cause trouble at events. A strong value for us is protecting queer, femme, and people of color as they are often the ones who are at the inclination of harassment. As artists, we all deserve the chance to thrive. Providing a communal working space with materials to borrow, and people to bond with can make all the difference in someone’s creative practice.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a multimedia artist and community organizer based here in Miami! A large part of my inspiration comes from the people, places, and nature around me. I work with a myriad of mediums such as: acrylics, paint markers, spray paints, colored pencils, crayons, watercolors, pens, clay, and photo emulsion screen printing. The list could go on forever as I am always trying to explore while being resourceful with different materials. My artwork views life through a new perspective (figuratively and literally) through key features, such as colorful palettes and forced perspectives. By illustrating diverse and representational characters, any audience can easily connect with the emotions and people in my work. I aim for viewers to imagine what it would be like to exist within the worlds I create, which emphasize the pleasures of daily life. My artwork often invokes nostalgia by reminding the audience of people, places, and moments from their personal memories which brings new meaning and emotions to each person.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I would have to say that nothing beats a sense of accomplishment whether its for yourself, friends, or your community. As I mentioned earlier, we create our own opportunities by hosting our own art shows, music events, and more! It is because of this network that I have been able to sell and exhibit my artwork at various local events. It is also wonderful to see that opportunity given to your friends who you tend to work with and inspire to transform their work in new ways. Even when it isn’t your innermost circle doing grand, new things it gives a warm feeling to know that we are advancing as a collective to fortify ourselves within Miami. Especially in a time when so many people are moving here and changing the landscape and demographics, it is so important to amplify local voices and crafts.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Building an audience on social media takes time and patience. For most people, like me, it doesn’t happen overnight. It is critical to remember why you are creating your craft and what your message is. I began sharing my work online almost 8 years ago. I greatly benefited from the pandemic because almost everyone was online all the time. I was able to find like-minded, creative friends through Twitter and Instagram. Nobody achieves anything alone and it was because I took the time to build these online communities that we were able to support each other whether it was sharing each others work, buying from one another, or sharing applications to different opportunities. Once things began to open up after the pandemic, I took this renewed value for community and applied it to the real-life locals I could better connect with at any time. By going out to events and talking with others I was able to expand my online presence. However, social media is not everything. While sure it helps you to be seen by new eyes, It is most valuable to divert your energy towards the people around you that will uplift and inspire you to do greater things. Numbers are fleeting, but the connections we make in our community can transpire so many layers beyond a screen.   

Contact Info:

• Website: dangdrewit.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/dangdrewit
• Twitter: twitter.com/dangdrewit

Image Credits
@brynoko @unboringshutterstyle