We recently connected with Kim Barry and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Kim thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights 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?
In my life, with small to big decisions, it’s been listening and following my “gut”. Decisions are always risky. This statement may sound less than profound than in practice, but I have seen how easily we can be conditioned and rewarded by doing the exact opposite. I find that the seemingly least risky decisions, create the least fruitful or freeing lifestyles.
My first chance at testing this theory was my decision to blindly curate my own Bachelor’s degree in college. In the 1990’s, there were business degrees and there were fine art degrees. Neither should the two meet under risk of heresy. Well my gut and my bank account told me I needed to have both within a four year period. When everyone said it wasn’t possible, unless I spent the better part of a decade at University, I found a way. That way created what is now the standard Arts Management Degree available in many universities. At the time, I remember my professors wishing me well upon graduation, and while every other institutionalized degree offered some kind of entry level position, I was on my own. But a door opened. I found myself within a year, in Georgetown having a day position in real estate and connecting with DC’s International Artist Support Group which allowed me to be part of the first American Art exhibit in China in 2001. Who would guess?
The next risk, was after four years at that day position, my gut told me it was time to leave DC for Florida. I followed it. Was it easy? Looking back, it seemed an easy choice but it is hard to leave stability for the unknown. But the more one gets used to walking in faith and seeing the miracles and amazing opportunities when one takes a risk based on their consciousness or gut. And usually, it will never be the direction of the masses, just a consistent marker in my experience.
Since the big jump into the unknown, there have been plenty of highs and lows, but one thing that always kept me in my decision making was my gut. It never steered me wrong. When I didn’t listen to it, the situation never ended well. Lesson learned a few times over. I remember being in LA and a very successful artist I was assisting at the time kept advising me, “Just do one thing over and over so everyone knows it’s you.” For some, this advice works great. For me, I had individual stories to tell that needed individual ways of expressing them. I didn’t want to be making the same thing over and over. It worked out. By having the freedom in each space I had, I had the freedom to create stories of a timely or possible future event. I would create a conversation of sorts and give space for the guests of the exhibit to add their perspective. I felt especially from 2010- to 2019, it was important to keep healthy communication going if our current societal train kept going in a certain directions.
There is a balance between sharing ideas with others, and something that has been jargon for the past couple years — “co-create.” Some people like the idea of this vague term. It gives a sense of everyone taking a part in the project. The theory is, the more people that are involved, the more powerful the piece. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Have you ever had a cake made by 30 cooks? There may be an element of safety with hiding behind the group choice — less personal risk. Maybe less personal vulnerability. Most definitely less risk. Yet probably, more frosting than you asked for. Making hard choices with your voice and art and signing your name to it- that is the ultimate risk; being true to yourself. My way of balancing out a singular perspective, has been the public interaction regarding the pieces, but only after the tone is set. It is super risky to be honest. It’s even riskier to leave freedom for others’ unedited voices to respond and engage with the work, foisting their own opinion above the original idea. Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but it’s not their vision. It’s not their cake. In the end, there is a distinction: there are conversation starters and there are conversation engagers. Cake makers and cake takers. In that linguistic and artistic dance, lies the freedom to figure it out. I live by that.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
For the past few years, my husband and I have created two ventures: the Duval Crest, and SixThreeFouRjax. Duval Crest is a brand designed for all who are a part of the 904 experience. My husband created this Duval (family) Crest, while all of us were feeling the social effect of COVID. It launched 2 years ago. We have had such a great response, and we are grateful to have created true local connection, joy for our home city- and jobs! The screen-printing and coffee mugs are crafted by local pros!
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kimbarrystudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sixthreefourjax/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-barry-8a303527/
- Other: www.sixthreefourjax.com
Image Credits
Kim Barry