The Room

I was recently asked to share my thoughts on diversity in a creative space.

My interest in creative began with an understanding of my ability to have artistic visions come to life. I stuck my hands and feet into rooms that I knew nothing about. Yet, every time I walked back into the hallway, I’d leave a door cracked and knock on the next few. My grandmother once told me that those who some expect to have little talent are the people with some of the greatest creative abilities. If you don’t take a chance on yourself, no one will.

This was my response--

"There is a room on the twelfth floor—

A creative space for anyone, anything.

One glimpse into the room would not be enough.

Take a look.

What do you see?

If you were to see shades of skin

and call that diversity

I’d say you were wrong and to

Look again.

Take a look and think.

Deeply.

Now, what do you see?

Let me tell you my thoughts.

I imagine a room full of individuals…

Individuals with an array of experiences

Each working for a separate purpose

A separate passion.

I see creatives using their hands

and minds

to draw, paint, design.

Each person in the room represents something different:

Personal experiences that only they can understand;

situations that may possibly seep through their work.

Each masterpiece would tell a different story

of their present or past circumstances.

No specific piece

would define who they are

But each product would

define their love for the art form,

their passion to produce…

...to produce something greater for others.

The people in that room

on the twelfth floor

allow art to speak for them.

Nothing is alike.

That’s diversity.

You cannot take a quick glance into a room of people and based on the ethnicities and races claim diversity. Diversity isn’t just black or white—or brown or light. Diversity is purple, blue, cream, triangular, oval, transparent, masked, bold, italicized. It is a combination of elements used to create the perfect picture."