Often, those who tread off the beaten path are misunderstood or mischaracterized and so we asked folks from the community to reflect and tell us about the times they’ve been misunderstood or mischaracterized.
Jason Carothers
The fear of one’s art being misunderstood, or interpreted differently than the artist’s intended viewpoint, is something that plagues just about about any creative at some point in their journey I think. Read more>>
Nigel Barber
Growing up black and queer in the South, you either raise your voice to the top of your lungs or stay silent and fit into the mold made for you. Read more>>
Chloe Tang
It took a very long time for me to grow into my personality. When I was in preschool, my mom told me I never spoke. I was the shyest kid in the class and one time I said something out loud and another girl goes “she can talk??”. Read more>>
Charles Osawa
Most people characterize me as sustainable or recycling artist. I do not take offense from that but I need to correct this misconception. Read more>>
Antonieta Carpio
When you become an artist, you are asking to be perceived and if you are lucky, you are received. However, more often than not, I find myself as a multi hyphenate artist being mischaracterized, mis categorized and misunderstood. Read more>>
Charlie Mato-Toyela
As a young person, I grew up with a very diverse array of Native American friends and family. My home, for the bulk of my childhood, was also in the middle of a dominantly Black/African-American community. Read more>>
Jeanne C. Sanders
The image of “starving artist’ has been so ingrained in our culture as to be overlooked and accepted as a norm. That needs to stop. Read more>>
Pamela Wingard
‘Why don’t you just get a ‘real job?” I’ve been asked this on more than one occasion. Well-meaning friends and relatives often assume that you can’t make a living as an artist because that was the case historically. Read more>>
Samantha Ramirez Etheridge
When I am perceived by the outside world, it is through this lens of “Latino/Hispanic/immigrant. Truth is, I don’t even speak Spanish. Read more>>