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.

Jake Reinhart

I think it’s a common experience to feel either misunderstood or mischaracterized. Consider the current-day media landscape. We’re inundated with snippets of information. Sound bites and short video clips. Read more>>

Kristin Jones

As a feminine-presenting young Black woman working in a corporate environment, I am often misunderstood and mischaracterized, particularly when people learn that I also play full-tackle football on the weekends. Read more>>

William Richards

As a creative, it’s hard to navigate your audiences. I personally struggled in the beginning to find where I belonged as a performer. I really wanted to bring something new to people, something that would be unbelievable and new for people. It was hard, sometimes you just have to accept that people will listen to what’s comfortable before they listen to something new. Read more>>

Philippe Halaburda

Yes, but I will say that my work has been misinterpreted at times. Because I use playful or used materials like LEGO bricks, yarn, or ball-pit spheres, some viewers initially see the pieces as whimsical or decorative rather than as maps of emotional and psychogeographic structures. Read more>>