Artist Spotlight: Joi Sanchez Is A Creator
December 16th, 2013
Joi Sanchez is a creator.
As this NYC born and bred Gemini reflects on her first year as coordinator of Art Lov(H)er (a monthly open mic geared toward female artists) she’s gearing up to transmit her many inspirations and visions into more mediums in 2014. A mother of two, Joi is committed to leaving a legacy of creativity and expression her children can be proud of. And if she happens to build a community along the way, that’d be great too. If her imagination knows no bounds, why should her reality?
RN: When did you first begin doing what you do?
JS: All of my art has roots in my childhood. I learned photography and basic painting techniques from my grandfather, a lawyer and art enthusiast. The writing came from my grandmother who was an English teacher. She taught me the power if words long ago and so as I went through life, I always turned to writing as an outlet for all the things I couldn’t say out loud. My mom is a singer, my dad a producer & engineer. Sometimes I feel as if I was born doing what I do just because I’ve kept it as a hobby almost all my life. I guess thats why my eye is so developed, because I’ve always used it. I’ve always seen things a little differently.
RN: When did you become serious about it, and pursue it as a life path? Would you consider what you do your life path?
JS: It all happened as apart of my pre-30′s transition. around 2010, I found myself in a job that made me money but didn’t allow me to enjoy life. I worked two jobs, and had two kids that I didn’t get time to spend with. So I made a decision that year and let myself quit my job, so I could be an artist. I found another job when unemployment ran out and just jumped in. I knew that if I want to live a life I love, I’d have to change the life I’m living and do what i love. I thought about what I love: art, poetry, photography, people, making connections. So I started going to open mics to blow off steam, joined Wow Cafe Theater, started lending myself out as a photographer professionally, and found such comfort, support and positive feed back, I just kept going.
The conception of Art LovHer came from noticing a lack of women artists in every place I went whether it was a concert, open mic, gallery, underground or mainstream event. Men seemed to out number us 5 to 1. I found a space told some friends about the idea and started up . As we’ve grown, so has the vision. Now I’m focused on building Art LovHer into a non profit organization that not only showcases women artist monthly but also preserves our work through an annual anthology, teaches and nurtures emerging women artist though mentoring and workshops and creates opportunity and community amongst us. I want to build it into a legacy for the future generations.
RN: Why do you create?
JS: That’s simple, because I would die if I didn’t. Maybe not literally but definitely spiritually. When I think about what my life used to be like, I see me as a shell of a person. I wasn’t doing anything substantial, or fulfilling. I didn’t feel alive. Through creating, I live.
RN: Who are some of your major influences/role models?
JS: My parents first and foremost. They’re life long musicians that introduced me to every sound under the sun. There isn’t a genre I wasn’t exposed to growing up, from the big bands of the 20′s to 70′s disco, to rap & hip hop of the 90′s. Musically I draw on it all. I am also very influenced by Nikki Giovanni, bell hooks, maya Angelou, Og Mandino, The last poets, Sarah Kay, Hiwot A., Lisa B., etc.
RN: What inspires you?
JS: The way the world is moving towards an Age of Enlightenment and self empowerment. As much bad stuff and ignorance still exists in the world, I seem to be always surrounded by the most amazing people that are dedicated to building a better world that is free of the former constrictions and inequalities of stereotypes and oppressions that have guided our society. My kids always inspire me as well. Not just to be a better woman, but to continue to build a legacy for them that they can be proud of.
RN: What advice would you give a nineteen year old creative who wants to make their thing into their whole life?
JS: ALOT!!. Like take your time thinking about it and be sure you’re willing to do the amount of work that comes with it.There are a lot of small moving parts to be minded at once. Analyze yourself honestly and objectively, know what your weakness’ are and find people that are strong in those areas to be apart of your team. Building a team is key!! We are powerful and at times superhuman but it takes a team to be successful. No matter how much you can do, you never want to spread yourself too thin, because then you can’t give 100% all the time. And to be successful, you gotta have stamina and give 100% ALL THE TIME.
RN: What’s one of the most rewarding parts of your work?
JS: Seeing the finished product be received and engaged in with love. I am obsessive over details, more than I’d ever truly admit to, and so when I see the audience participating and connecting to the performers, it’s magical and fulfilling to be able to both create opportunity for an artists but also a quality experience for the audience.
RN: What’s one of the hardest?
JS: Budgeting!! As a person who is both a performer and organizer I always see both sides. As a performer I’d like to always get paid, so when I organize events, I am always working to make sure I can offer performance features something for their time to know they are appreciated. Some months it works out, some months I’m paying out of pocket. It’s the nature of the business.
RN: How do you get through blocks in your creativity?
JS: It really depends. I’ve developed and adapted a lot of writing and performance excersizes that help me break through. But if I see something isn’t flowing anymore, I’ll walk away from it until I feel it again.
My favorite method is freestyling. I have hundreds of unfinished pieces that I like to freestyle the endings to at jam sessions and open mics. So it’s like I’m actively working through poems on stage and edit them according to how I flowed. Things that work stay, and things that don’t, get re-worked.
RN: What have you got coming up in the next couple of months?
JS: A lot!! Art LovHer is in talks to launch a monthly spotlight series. An intimate cocktail hour musical series in collaboration with Auta Sessions. planning the Femcee Festival in March, an annual celebration of women in hip hop featuring some fire femcees!
Beginning to put together the first Art LovHer anthology; a collection of written and visual works by the featured artists of the past year. And EP planning/recording.. And of course, more Art LovHer every month at The Living Gallery.
