We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Emily Ann Zisko a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Emily Ann, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the concept of “taking a leap of faith” and how that manifests in my life as an interdisciplinary artist. I heard recently that getting older is the continuous pursuit of comfort. I think that it is oftentimes difficult to remember that an exciting life is dotted with brave decisions that come at the cost of comfort (at least, at times). I think it is valuable to take risks as often and as freely as you can. But, knowing that it will be the harder choice, the question follows, how can you sustainably be courageous in your own life? I’m honestly unsure of the answer. Immediately, my mind goes to rest, recovery and reset as a means to prepare for the Next Big Risk. But I don’t think that’s meaningful advice. The risks are around us everyday – and that is a good thing! I think the answer has something to do with sacrifice. I ask myself, can I relinquish control and act fearlessly? In other words, can I trust myself? What am I afraid of losing? What could I win? Last night, I had a dream that I pulled a winning lottery ticket for some ridiculously expensive jackpot. Risks abound!

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

Here’s a little bit about me: I am a writer, director and the CFO and Literary Editor of Currant Jam. Currant Jam is a bi-annual publication for emerging artists of all mediums. In our issues, we include features on our artists whose work does not easily translate to written word. For example, whereas my role as the Literary Editor works to publish new poets and prose writers, the Features Editor might run a piece on a local dance organization or puppeteering group. The variety of the art work we showcase speaks for our ambition as an organization and creates some beautiful magazine spreads. We also hold readings, screenings, live musical performances and workshop groups in addition to our release events that showcase work included in each issue. As a multidisciplinary artist myself, I find it incredibly valuable to create a space for artists to meet and connect across different mediums. Our long-term ambition is to run a multi-use space for artisans of all kinds to gather, exhibit and co-work. I grew into this line of work from my creative career as a filmmaker and writer. In the past several years, I have worked as a producer on several highly anticipated short films for Hulu, AFI and Ways & Means Productions that have gone on to screen at SXSW, Fantastic Fest, and Palms Spring International Film Festival. I have also completed my own series Play It By Ear that was selected at Dances with Films, HollyShorts and the Nashville Film Festival. It is available on YouTube under Karen Twins Productions. Additionally, my short stories and arts criticism have been published in the Beloit Fiction Journal, Currant Jam and the Los Angeles Review of Books. If anyone reading this is interested, please watch my work! Read my stuff! And, if you are an artist, submit to Currant Jam! If you made it, we want it!

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

You know the saying, “it takes a village to raise a child?” I want to amend that to “it takes a village to make art.” One of the largest fallacies of a creative life is that it should be solitary. Being an introverted writer myself, I know the value of personal time. But, and this is a HUGE BUT, artists need community to survive. We must uplift one another, support one another and grow together to stay healthy and strong. Being a creative is a notoriously difficult career choice, but having professional and personal support makes that choice less daunting.

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

I am a student of unlearning! Recently, I’m working through my understanding of resistance: What it looks like in me. How does resistance relate to fear? What am I afraid of? In my life, my models have been more traditional in their goals and aspirations. Growing up, this gave me a somewhat rigid perspective on when something should happen. But these check-points are completely subjective and have no basis on my life now. Referencing someone else’s life path that has no relationship to my own draws me away from my true North. I like thinking about life as an endless forest that I am walking through. I can go around in circles and create the anxiety and panic that comes from feeling lost, or I can just keep walking steadily in a direction, any direction is forward by another name.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.currantjam.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyannzisko/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEqoAUvJRBfthOZjAgAqpcMZU3aAidH7v

Image Credits
Andrea Nayeli