Tito Gomez
As an artist, changemaking has really opened my eyes. I would honestly say that I'm still new to calling myself an artist or a filmmaker. I have always tried to help the community that I'm living in or helping my own Native community. Every little action helps and understanding that I could do this as an artist is brand new to me. It allows me to combine two worlds together, one world as a filmmaker and one world as a community builder. I'm still doing the work that I enjoy in making the community I live in a better place, while still working on my practice as a filmmaker. I'm still making my little dent in this world.
My artistic practice outside of the Artist as Changemaker program is filmmaking. I really try to change the stereotype that people may have about the Native community. I'm not interested in doing the leathers and feathers films. I am more interested in doing human based stories about people who happen to be Native.
I said yes to being a participant in AAC because it really opens my eyes to what art could really do. I have learned so much on how art could create conversations, change a mind set or even encourage a community to stand up for what they believe in. I have really valued the opportunity to go into a new community and learn so much and understand what their "big question" is. I have learned about different communities that I have never thought about learning about.
When I need to step back from a project, when the feeling of being stuck has overcome my thinking process I truly need to shut it all down. I don't really have a place to go for inspiration, I think that hits you when you are open and free to accept it. So what do I do? There is nothing more powerful for myself than music. When I say I shut down from a project, I don't think about it, I don't harp on deadlines, I try to not even look at it for one moment. I go for walks and drives and listen to music. I have a wide range of taste for music I will shuffle between, Kiss, Northern Cree, Bond, Garth Brooks, 40 Fingers, Tupac, Luke Bryan, Stoney Park, N.W.A and music scores. Needless to say my Spotify is very confused. When I'm not thinking of anything and just with music, that is when I find my creative answer to a project.