ARTISTIC STATEMENT

What Makes Me

Growing up in the “hood” of West Philadelphia there was only 1 true outlet expressed and or “praised” in the community for boys, and that was playing sports. I truly enjoyed playing and watching all kinds of sports, but that didn’t satisfy the true burning passion that was inside of me - The passion and desire to tell stories. Outlets for this were not available in my neighborhood, and the ones outside of my area were too pricey for me to ask of my parents. Peers would laugh and make fun of me for bringing up anything that I did and loved in the arts.

                My art comes from my life experiences, the good times, and the pain. Teachers would express that I had a gift of writing/storytelling, but I would keep it hidden from most for fear of being ridiculed. What inspires me the most is sharing parts of me in each story that I write and perform, sharing it so that maybe it could inspire a child not to hide their talents and to seek positive outlets to express them. Writing and performing have always been “me.” I was a young boy the first time I performed professionally on stage at the Keswick Theatre in Pennsylvania. Reading that script for the first time showed me that I can do this. And, even though it has taken me years later to have the opportunity to bring my own works to life, it has been well worth the wait.

                My writing reflects pieces of my life. The characters that I play are living because of the experiences that I bring to them. My motto is “Life is Art, as Art is Life”. I went to college to sort out more knowledge of the craft and will continue to learn more each day through experiences and acquiring information from those who do it. I will always tell stories that are worth telling because I will always live a life worth living. My late mother always said she could already see me doing it, and now it’s coming to pass.