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.

HIRAM “TEEL ONE” VILLA

This topic is a perfect to explain how my entire career as an artist can be beautifully encapsulated in this topic, as it delves into the essence of my journey, beginning with Graffiti art. Throughout my artistic endeavors, I have often found myself misunderstood, with only a select few outside our subculture attempting to shed light on the captivating underground world we inhabit. Unfortunately, the majority perceives us as deviant or malevolent individuals. Read more>>

Zhanerke Koilybayeva

Because of the level of my English, I see that people lose interest as soon as I open my mouth. And I can’t even give them my scripts to read because I see they have no interest already. Read more>>

Pepper Auerbach

I am schizoaffective, so I experience psychosis and other symptoms some use to dub me “crazy.” Since I was a kid I’d illustrate things from my unique experience in sight, which had parents and teachers concerned. After years of seeing things and drawing them, I thought everyone could. I played childhood games where we’d try to hunt monsters around school, but eventually I realized that the game ended for other kid. As I grew up I heard people on the news discuss mental illness as inherently violent rather than something that should be assisted with psychiatrically. People didn’t see it as a disability, but a danger. I suppose my art tries to tell people that there is a huge line between violence and the mental illness it’s so vehemently blamed on. I want to start a discuss and destigmatize, because I know many like me who are just as kind and respectful as anyone considered “normal.” Read more>>

Gwenyth Hayes

I feel at times, as an artist am often mischaracterized or misunderstood because I tend to not fit the preconceived notions people may have about me based on my looks or the limited information they may have of my background. Throughout my career as a musician, I have played a variety of genres including blues, jazz, soul, R&B, pop, cover bands, and classical. I also come from a background of diverse musical influences, I find that my music is often mischaracterized as I am intentionally trying to fuse a variety of different genres and musical influences, and I purposefully select musicians with different backgrounds who are so intuitive at their craft that they are artists in and of themselves on their instruments. The music I hear in my head is not consciously trying to sound like any genre or artist, and I try to execute it to the best of my ability with the tools at hand and the collaboration of the trusted improvisational instrumentalists who have supported my vision.

Keagan Vaughan

“Oh-but that’s such a waste.” I remember being a senior in highschool invited to this pretty prestigious awards thing. It was a big deal- only kids with the top GPAs and ACT scored got to go. Dressed in our best dresses and suits we were one at a time asked to walk down the aisle where they announced what we were going to college for. I remember wearing this insanely scratchy sweater that had loose threads I picked at while I waited my turn. Since my last name starts with a ‘V’ I was one of the last kids to go so I listened as everyone applauded the future ‘doctors, scientists, and lawyers.” Finally it was my turn. The woman loudly said my name and as I walked down she declared, “Going for a BFA in art!” Some people politely clapped but others murmured. I Read more>>

Amber Smith

Many times I. The beauty industry people like me are just described as hairstylists like it’s just a job. What other creatives fail to realize is that their is an art to what we do. We don’t just do hair, we create works of art that can be worn on one’s crown. We use all different types of mediums that fall outside of the traditional hairstyling tool bag like, wire, pipe cleaners, hot glue guns, foam balls, yarn, crochet hooks, etc. Read more>>

Courtney Palacios

There is a misconception when it comes to what it means to be a “boss” as an entrepreneur. Somehow there is a lack of accountability by so many who think any certain thing is someone elses problem. Read more>>

TOKYO DANIELS

I feel that my whole life I was misunderstood. Being bipolar and not knowing it, people often seen me as a giant ball of rage rather than a kid struggling to tame his own inner demons. By the time high-school was over for me no one wanted to talk to me really. Even though I was going through all this stuff no one wanted to see that. So eventually I found music and a strong group of people support me through my changes and the process of learning to get better. Now I’m a stronger person because of the things I went through and at that a stronger artist. Read more>>

David Mazur

I think, at some level, all artists are misunderstood. I’ve realized that the best way to communicate my own feelings and emotions is through my art. Creating a piece of artwork that I can hand off to an audience and allow it to speak for me is incredibly liberating. But it can also be scary – being completely vulnerable while accepting that I still might be misunderstood. That’s the risk all artists must be willing to take. Read more>>

Sandra Pérez-Ramos

As a straightforward, matter of fact, Puerto Rican, visual artist in the DMV region in the US, I have noticed a constant misconception here and it is a pet peeve that has forced me to take on the mission to dismantle and re-educate people about the “single story” being spread…that Latins are one, monolithic, cohesive entity, one mold fits all. This myth is dangerous, it over simplifies and stereotypes. We are many different cultures, different backgrounds! Each one of the 33+ countries that compose Latin America and the Caribbean region, has individual, unrelated history, politics, different racial and cultural heritage responsible for the sociology of each and the many different dialects throughout. Each country’s is worth understanding and respecting, individually. Read more>>

Giuliana

I am a loud, loving, larger than life, expressive Italian woman. Growing up in a small town, my dreams of being a successful singer were laughed at by my peers and perpetuated by a bitter and abusive drama teacher. As I continued to grow into the woman I am, my opinions and essence grew larger, battling the line between overcompensation and truly finding my voice. I was always smart, but no matter how I tried I couldn’t connect with the people around me- I was confused, discouraged, and I am self aware so of course immature as well. Read more>>

Kyle Sutherland

Being a multidisciplinary artist is, in itself, confusing for people. We love to put people in boxes labeled “painter” or “writer”. But when the painter writes and the writer paints it becomes more difficult to define. Read more>>

David Liebe Hart

Having his membership revoked by the Christian Science Church because of jealousy, bigotry, and racism from members of the church and it’s members. An example given by him is when he paid for class instruction and was denied access to it by the instructor. Read more>>

Paul Hurley

I’d say my size and demeanor are my most challenging attributes to overcome. I’m not a small guy and years of being in radio and as a bouncer in the bar business I developed an authoritative carrying voice. Most consider it to be intimidating, and to see a guy my size on set get excited about filming a scene can get, as it was told to me, pretty scary. I have to admit some of our fight scenes have been action packed and I’m normally either being thrown through a table or wall. But I’m really a soft hearted guy and can feel that energy as if it were a feeling of rejection. As an actor that’s probably the worst feeling in the world. At times I wish they could see the world through my eyes. not as the aggressor but the protector. Although that’s what makes us all unique. Not one of us sees the world the same or travels the same paths in life. Read more>>