MelVee X

Changemaking, to me, is about having the courage to venture into the unknown and to be willing to confront what we do not understand with compassion, sensitivity, wisdom and creativity. 

Describing my artistic practice, I’ll say it has a life of its own. I’ve learned to trust my artistic impulses and let them do their own thang. I may not be fully able to understand these impulses when they arrive, but I have yet to be disappointed from following their directives. 

I’m a storyteller at heart and I seek to explore the art of storytelling in as many mediums and forms as possible. As someone who has fought to connect with my voice, I consider it my life’s work to empower others who have been historically and systematically silenced to tell our own stories from our own perspectives. 

I was invited to participate in AAC by fellow cohort mate, Skye Louis, and I jumped at the opportunity. Much of my work centers on creating the spaces and opportunities I want to see in the world, so it was a natural fit to be involved in a program that centers changemaking as a core artistic practice.  

The role of the artist? I’m going to get traditional for this answer. The role of the artist is to explore what it means to be human, at the most fundamental level - What makes us tick? What moves us to the depths of our emotions? How can we be moved on our most profound level? How do we connect with each other past the barriers of language, time and space?

That to me is an artist. We envision what can be and give voice and imagery to what we cannot necessarily express ourselves. Artists are the first to venture into the unknown and we bring beauty or meaning on the other side. Who else can say that as part of their job description? That is the power of an artist.