We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lance Wiggs a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Lance thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
In the midst of creating Claiborne Daniel, a full service marketing and design house with friends, I have had the opportunity to co-found Feelday Inc. Feelday is a wellness brand and community that was created in response to the pandemic and the isolation it caused. So many of us were affected adversely by those times that it felt appropriate to create a safe space for people to get together outside and get active. We decided on Griffith Park as the home base and began organizing monthly hikes to the “Observatory” and Mt. Hollywood. The brand and family has grown significantly and we currently execute “Feelday” events and programming in multiple sectors and states, Feelday was conceived while on my own wellness journey. It really reflected what had assisted me in my own battles. It brought me closer to friends, family and myself, and it was important to share this with others.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I was born in Washington DC. My family is from the DC and Maryland area. I’m a proud alum of both Dematha and The ‘Cuse (Syracuse University). Upon my graduation I taught in DC for four years as a Special Education Elementary School teacher. I got into the arts because it’s always been something I had a love for and interest in. Gallery exhibitions, fashion, marketing, branding, wherever art was seen, used and needed I wanted in. I left teaching, signed a writing deal, published a children’s book and began getting more involved in public art and collaborations that developed a drive towards design and larger, more layered projects. Along with painting, writing and design, I was developing business relationships and providing creative services for different brands, events, and industries. During this time I decided to move to California, LA specifically. This was in response to a creative need and lack of inspiration I was experiencing on the East. DC was feeling like a place for dead art. Art had expiration dates. It was cool and provided, but it wasn’t fulfilling anything. I was feeling like what an AI would be today. I wasn’t seeing my work getting better or going places. I had to keep pushing. I wanted the change of environment to broaden my horizons and increase my perspective as an artist, not just person. I had done all the conditioning on the East Coast and it was time to get to a place where I was unlearning and able to create off skills and ability in a different market. The East gave me teeth. The West was more laissez-faire. I would be more aggressive because I am coming from a more “dog eat dog” environment. There’s an ebb and flow on the West. Coming out here definitely blew the ceiling off for me creatively. I was listening to different music, experiencing different art. Seeing The acceptance of art in large spaces where you would not see it where I am from. Folks aren’t going to let you paint their building in Downtown or their whole hotel where out here they will. There’s more art and more inspiration. You can always show it, especially outside. I wanted to continue providing high quality work, support and ideas for those I was working with and felt the transition would perpetuate that. I feel my relatability, creativity and passion set me apart from others in my field. Im unafraid to take concepts, ideas, people and grow them. It’s fulfilling seeing and hearing a client find their voice and confidence through me. I want those that I have the pleasure of building with to know the possibilities are endless and I get it.
Have you ever had to pivot?
Prior to the pandemic I was struggling with alcohol addiction. I had hit a wall where the manner in which I was living, moving and operating was in disfunction. If I kept in that direction it would have surely ended badly and I was close many times. I had to make a change and a serious one. My life was becoming more and more toxic. I was losing friends, family and pushing them away as well. My art and writing were reflecting the dark place I was in and though there is richness and learning in everything, this was not going to be sustainable. After a rough night that ended in empty bottles and discontentment, I was able to muster a tear-filled prayer of surrender that changed my direction, focus and life. From there I was able to find health, clarity, reconnect with friends and family, build multiple businesses and produce art that had more meaning, control and influence. That moment of realization was the turning point for my life, career and business. Im going on 4 years “dry” and it has been the most profound pivot of my odyssey.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
To absolutely express, represent and inspire. I want anyone to see something I’ve produced and be ignited. In the creative space people of color, Blacks especially are type casted. There are only “certain” things that we are interested in, feeling and developing. I want my life and work to be a constant expression of creative defiance. There is no box to put my abilities, skills and talents in. The goal is to charge, influence, empower and amplify. As an artist it’s my responsibility to forge, produce, and enlighten ways forward. It’s becoming more difficult to find inspiration, human connection and navigate in this digitized society. We are moving towards ease, access and indecision and further away from feel, patience and empathy. I want to help navigate, in a direction more abundant, organic and sustainable, promoting powerful thinking in the present, as well as reaching more rich and vibrant futures.
Contact Info:
- Website: lanceclaibornewiggs.com | claibornedaniel.com | http://feeldayinc.com/
- Instagram: @latymez @feeldayinc
- Facebook: Lance Claiborne Wiggs
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/lance-wiggs-24092a5b
- Twitter: @latymez
- Youtube: @MrLATYMEZ
Image Credits
Amber Gillian