Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Laikyn Fishburne. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Laikyn, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
My most meaningful project is definitely “First They Took” this was my first multi-media project that documented the devastating losses Red Hook Projects was facing at that time and actually are facing. When people hear Red Hook they think of IKEA, The Pier, The nightlife. People tend to turn the blind eye to what the project complex is going through, Red Hook is divided by WEALTH. By a street.. ONE STREET. The Projects and then “the other side” full of gentrifies, new restaurants, new buildings that only they can afford to live in, the best supermarket (which can also be pricey) So I wanted to really spread awareness with this project and bring what’s happening to THIS Community to light.
About First They Took; First they took is a short multi-media series that focuses on the devastating loss of memorable and essential places in the Red Hook Community in the middle of a pandemic. It’s a play on the poem by Martin Niemoller “First they came” which highlights the consequence of peers not speaking up until what is happening to others starts to affect THEM. Once it does they have no one to speak for them because everyone was gone.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
Hm.. My name is Laikyn aka Lucky aka Kyn. I’m an afro-indigenous photographer and creative from Harlem NYC. I started photography at the age of nine which is the same year one of my pictures was auctioned for my community center’s fundraising event. It was sold. That is when I knew my eye was different and that my ability to story tell visually was not only unique but RAW. As my innocence dwindled with age so did my eye. I became married to showcasing Black culture, Fashion, Social Injustice and Urban livelihood. As someone who has been affected by the injustice of the education system firsthand I became very passionate about supporting young creatives in my community in hopes that my creations will contribute to a diverse and inclusive representation of black women and creatives.
When creating just do it. If you’re a photographer and see a picture TAKE IT and that applies to every creative field. No matter what you are doing in life. One because if you don’t you’ll 100% regret it later and two a lot of times we need to get out of head. That is when the best art is created. I use to post my photos on IG and think my work wasn’t good enough when it wouldn’t get a certain of amount of likes or other photographers were doing this and that and getting noticed by this person and that person. And one day I had to ask myself, why do you think they’re getting all these opportunities and you’re not? The most simplest answer was They put themselves out there and they share their art with the world. and I realized a lot of creatives fall into that dark hole of not posting, not interacting, not letting people know the art they create because “it’s not done yet, they’re too busy or they’re still working on it”. Chile you been working on that one thing for five years now.. it’s time to share it. So if you’re currently in that dark hole, GET OUT. What is the worst that could happen? You don’t get any likes? You don’t get the engagement you thought you would? What does that mean? That does not take away anything you’ve put into that piece. When it comes to creating, no matter what you create it’s like uploading something to TikTok you may not go viral that year and then one day your video randomly pops up on someone’s FYP and now you’re verified. I’ve wasted so much time putting off sharing my art with the world because of these things that I always stand on and urge other creatives, especially the young ones to continue creating. The right people will see it. You can’t time things you can’t rush them, you just have to let them exist. Most importantly create for YOU. Create things that make you happy, that make you excited to share and excited to complete so that you can start on your next creation. When I’m in a creative rut or second guessing if I should share my art I always ask myself WWBD? What would Basquiat do?
Pro tip #1: Criticism is important. Do not take it personally, use it as a tool to better your craft BUT never change your vision because of it. Never stop creating because of it.
Pro tip#2: Having discipline as an artist can be very hard sometimes because that’s the way life , there have been times when I didn’t pick up a camera for years. I completely lost interest. It’s normal to get creative blocks for days, months sometimes even years it does not mean you’re a bad artist it does mean that creatively you are exhausted and you need a break. When in these blocks remind yourself of why you started to create in the first place. When it’s time for you to hop back into your craft you’ll know, you’ll get this idea that you won’t be able to stop thinking about. and then a million other ideas will follow. You are the best creator when you allow your mind and body to rest.
Pro Tip #3: Challenge yourself. Sometimes creative blocks come from being bored. When I use to teach photos I would give weekly photo projects and for every project the challenge was to execute it in a different way like using a photo technique you liked least, filters you’ve never used, angles you’ve never used, compositions you’ve never heard of, functions on the camera you have no idea what they’re actually, used for, Photograph subjects you have zer0 interest in and what I noticed every time they came back was they learned something new and fell in love with a different form of visual storytelling that they never would have known they liked if they didn’t switch things up a bit. Stop putting yourself in a BOX.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I graduated high school in 2014. During that time most High schools made you go through the whole college process with little explanation. I was the first in my immediate family to get accepted, go and graduate with a degree. There was this belief that once you had that degree as soon as you were out you’d have a full time job. A piece of cake, That did not happen for me especially as a black creative with no connections in any of the places I have seen myself working. Rejection after rejection as I watched my peers get their first full time, first-apartment notoriety on social media platforms. Standing on corners in the winter handing out NETS fliers to get a little bit of money in my bank account. It was TOUGH because automatically you’re asking yourself “what am I not doing right?” so many feelings arise especially embarrassment. Eventually, I fell into babysitting and handling social media for a non-profit org. Still wasn’t satisfied because I knew this is not where I wanted to be. But I stayed for the steady income. I started proposing programs that I could teach young adults at the non-profit because one of many dreams I had was to teach young adults in low- income/underserved communities photography. After a year it was approved! But after a few months of being overworked, burnt out and lied to I realized this wasn’t the same place I grew up and it was time for me to move on. The kids are what really kept me longer than I attended, I didn’t want to leave but I knew and they knew that I was settling and selling myself short.
I put in my two weeks with nothing lined up no plan a, b , or c. This scared the “boomers” and they’d go on about how I shouldn’t leave before I had something else lined up. I LEFT. When it’s time to leave anywhere you’ll feel it. And it’ll be no way to avoid that feeling, it’ll get worse and worse until you finally give in. I did, and decided to take up gardening for the summer. To learn more about myself while also giving back to the earth. By October I was accepting a full-time offer as an Associate Producer at one of the biggest publishing companies in America. I say all that to say if I didn’t continuously pivot I wouldn’t of got here. It’s way easier to settle and sometimes you have to for a period of time. But tough times don’t last forever (even though it may feel like it) Continue to pivot you way out. “A blessing delayed is not a blessing denied.”
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Support black creatives. Stop stealing from black creatives. Pay black creatives the same as their counterparts AND give them access to all the same resources. If you’re friends with a creative support them the same way you support Lil Uzi & the drill music epidemic. When it comes to any form of art no you can’t get a discount, asking for one is a slap in the face. ART IS NOT MADE IN A DAY. Create more safe, genuine spaces where artists can collaborate, learn and share with one another.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFUsFPRq5g/nPk_WFIeKu1aFvMJh1GhUg/view?utm_content=DAFUsFPRq5g&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink
- Instagram: burnefilm
Image Credits
All photographs are taken by me. Black lives matter shirt :Nalekan Masego Basketball shot: Aquan & Messiah Stoop shot: Lailah and Tatianna Halloween mask: Lailah and Tatianna Bench couple: N/A Little boy with skateboard : Nasir Grown mag photoshoot: Me (purple shirt) Tremika smalls (red hat) Models: Rikki and Rachel founders of Nappyheadclub Sisters with ice pops on stoop: Rikki and Rachel founders of Nappyheadclub via IG Blue girls playing hand games: Middle (Natalia) young children are children from a Tanzania all girls school Beekeepers in sunset park Brothers fast asleep on bus: Paris & Jayden Siblings in front of construction: Mia, Jay, Ian & Cam