Speaker 1 1:45

We're excited to launch this new season of the Hilltop Glove podcast. Today we have our very first guest, Dominique Hodge, also known as Jakeem Da Dream, a Columbia-based visual artist, muralist, and educator. He specializes in acrylics, but skilled in multiple mediums. His afro-futuristic art transforms the black experience through three through themes of dreams, spirituality, and ancestry. Beyond creating, Jakeem teaches, hosts, he teaches, hosts community events, and has completed public murals. Known for his originality and risk taking, he stands out as a visionary within local galleries and art studios. Join us as we dive into the creative mind of the artist Jakeem Da Dream. How are you today?

Speaker 3 2:33

Doing excellent. How about yourself?

Speaker 1 2:34

Doing good. Thank you for being here.

Speaker 3 2:36

Thank you for having me.

Speaker 1 2:37

And you guys know Skip, he's usually in the back, but today he's in the front. Yes.

Speaker 2 2:42

Yes.

Speaker 1 2:43

And special shout out to Kendra. She's helping us out behind the scenes producing. And of course, we are at Celeb Studio. So, for our guests who do not know you, can you tell us a little bit about your upbringing and what was it like as a child?

Speaker 3 2:56

Okay, well, um, I was born and raised in Sumter, South Carolina. Um, that's you know my hometown. Uh I've always been interested in art. Um, art's been a big part of me from when I was younger, watching cartoons, different animations, anime, reading comics, uh stuff of that nature. I've always been drawn to the arts. Um, so I knew in sixth grade somebody artist. I didn't know what type of artist. At the time, I thought of being a cartoon animator, and then I realized how much work goes into animating it. I don't know about that. So um, yes, I I I continued, I mean, drawing, you know, basic stuff, you know, kids our age was drawing Dragon Ball Z characters, Pokemon, you know, and sketchbooks. Um, I used to get in trouble all the time for drawing in class. Doodling. Yeah, but now it's like it's fascinating because now I get paid to draw in classes, you know, like it's really fascinating. Um, but yeah, so uh Sumter was my home where I grew up in. I went to Charleston for a college. That's where I went to Art Institute of Charleston for graphic design. Realized that I was not interested in doing logos and in brochures and stuff. So from there I started working with small, you know, small galleries, um, stuff of that nature, and just I realized teaching is something I kind of fell into. Yeah. Um, and I've been besides pursuing my artwork, um, teaching has been my other passion.

Speaker 1 4:27

I like I like your upbringing. I would have never guessed Sumter, South Carolina. You know, everybody says Sumter's so small. Um but talk about how you were inspired by the small town of Sumter.

Speaker 3 4:39

Um, so for me in particular, uh there's a lot of history in Sumter. Um in South Carolina in general, when you realize that South Carolina uh kind of started the Civil War, I think people kind of forget that. Um so very steeped in history, and for me, um a lot of my work in particular is Afrocentric or Afrofuturistic, showing black bodies. And one thing I will say about Sumter is I didn't see that represented in artwork there. I didn't see uh black people representing artwork until I got to college. So I'm I'm 18 years old, I'm just now seeing positive black imagery. So for me the lack of is a reason why is one reason why I chose to pursue that. I feel like um we're born to fulfill a need or and a purpose. So my purpose is to bring that to the forefront. Excellent, excellent.

Speaker 4 5:34

And you know, and that's one of the things I think a lot of people don't think about either, especially um being from spite rural South Carolina being small towns. We don't think about even though South Carolina, especially in a lot of communities, are predominantly black, especially towards like we go towards the coast, right? Especially in like at some drink at T region, all through like 95 region, we don't think about the fact the presence of the art, presence of art, especially positive presence of art, right? Oh absolutely an assumption. Um, so with that said, um many artists, you know, they're born, you know, they're they're they're born with a gift or talent. Um others they have to dedicate thousands of hours to get good, right? Like me, I'm not a drawer, right? So if I want to draw, I would have I've never I would have to actually learn in practice. Um with that said, um, can you just tell us of the many ways you developed as an artist and how your work transformed over the years? Sure.

Speaker 3 6:25

Um it's a quote by Bob Ross, I love that uh talent is applied interest. What you put time into, you develop. That's kind of the natural sort of you know progression of things. So for me, again, I've been drawing since I was in elementary school, but as far as developing my skills, it was a daily process. Like I'm drawing all the time. Um, and it's fascinating because I'm known for you know, people see my colorful paintings. I was someone who did not like color. Like I said, I'm never gonna paint, I'm never gonna use color, I just do black and white drawings and sketchbooks. Wow. Um, and it's fascinating because now since I teach, I run to a lot of my students who have the same issue, and I realize that it's based around lack of knowledge. So because you don't know how color works, you're afraid to use it. No one wants to do a great drawing and then turn around and mess it up because they colored it wrong, they mixed wrong colors. So I'm like, okay, that's one where I've seen my work change drastically. Um and yeah, just like I said, work, you know, like it is all work. I don't think people realize that for us to be from a creative standpoint, is we're putting in so much time developing this skill. Yes, you may have you know a little bit of natural ability, but if you really want to get good at it, it takes a lot of work, and I've just been working at it every day.

Speaker 1 7:46

I've literally seen him at an event for Black Neuro Mafia drawing while a whole lot of performance is like right in front of him and he's sketching while also paying attention.

Speaker 3 7:55

So Yeah, I believe you stay ready, you gotta get ready. So like people who see me on and about oftentimes see me with a sketchbook because that's for one, I get it's hard for me to focus on things. Um, and I grew up in situations where like, you know, you're stuck someplace and your mind is boom boom boom boom boom, but you can't do anything about it. So for me, my sketchbook is my escape, you know. So if I go someplace and maybe I lose, you know, focus or whatnot, I can get back on there through just so if I'm in my sketchbook, I'm paying attention, but I'm channeling at the same time.

Speaker 1 8:27

Yeah, so that kind of helps people with anxiety. Like if somebody has anxiety. Absolutely. And I'm pretty sure.

Speaker 3 8:33

I'm someone who like has have who who deals with anxiety. So that right there for me is it's it's I guess a security blanket, a comfort for me to just yeah, I know if nothing else, I have my sketchbook.

Speaker 2 8:44

Yeah.

Speaker 4 8:45

So I got a question. Do you get your sketchbook now?

Speaker 3 8:47

It's in my car.

Speaker 4 8:48

Okay, close, close.

Speaker 1 8:50

Yeah, stay ready. Stay ready. So, okay, being an artist, can you tell tell us about how do you stay relevant with the rise of technology? You know, with the AI generated stuff now. Um what do you think about it?

Speaker 3 9:08

Okay, um, for me, art is something that goes beyond human comprehension. Uh I'm a big fan of like superheroes. Okay. So one of my favorites is the Flash. Uh-huh. If you've ever seen the show or you don't know anything about The Flash, he's super fast. And he gets the speed from what's called the speed force, this cosmic force that the speechers tap into for their ability. I feel as artists, we do the same thing. That there's some primordial cosmic creative energy out there, some force that just desires to exist for things to exist. And as artists, we are conduits that tap into that. So for me, uh when you bring up AI, you're trying to go around that. I don't I don't have the natural creativity, I don't have the ideas. Let me plug something into a machine and let it do the creating for me. I'm like, that's not what creation is supposed to be. And the reason why I hold that belief system, I believe, is for example, if you've ever had an idea for something, for me it could be a drawing or a series. I don't share it with anyone, I don't talk to talk to it, talk to anyone about it. I don't put it on my phone, I don't talk out loud about it, it stays in my head, but it's an idea. And then months, maybe a year later, you see someone do the exact thing that you were thinking. That's because it doesn't really belong to you. But we're connected to this source, and it's like, hey, this needs to be born into the world. I'm a I'ma feed it to the creatives and see who picks up on it. So for me, that's another way I keep my sketchbook on me, because for one, let me put ideas down, let me put ideas down because I'm I'm receiving these messages, but so are other people. So I'm gonna manifest what is meant to be manifested. So like I'm not concerned about AI. AI is is it's not going to make actual artists irrelevant. You know, like as long as you have a soul and you can create, like, you're all gonna be relevant.

Speaker 4 11:05

Yeah, that makes sense because essentially, and what you hear a lot of times too, um, when you hear conversations about AI, especially when it comes to art, all it really does, or any type of data, all it really does is just compile what's already in existence and just spit it, it spits it back out, you know, whatever combination that you request. So, yeah, and so I like you said, so based off of that, I can see where there's always gonna be a need for ours. Always, always will be.

Speaker 1 11:29

I like that. And with also with that being said, I feel like we all come from a creative source. So we all have that within us. It's just the finding it and tapping into it. What is your art form?

Speaker 3 11:39

Exactly. It's like this natural spark that every person has, and you see it. That's why I love working with kids, because you see it naturally in them. I feel the world we exist in is designed to kind of beat it out of you, yeah, and turn into this cookie cutter, this is what you do. Because art is is alive, you know, it's not something that you can contain. Um, it's constantly evolving and changing. And we exist in a system that wants something that they can control. You can't control artists. That's why we've always been the glitch of the matrix. Yeah, I like that. So I love working with the kids because again, you get to see them raw creativity. Hey, I don't know what's gonna happen, but I'm gonna do this because it's an idea that popped in my head. I think we as adults have to operate the same way. The best artists, I believe, are the ones that maintain their inner child.

Speaker 1 12:23

Yes, inner child. That's true. And kids help with that. I can tell you that right now. They help with that. Absolutely.

Speaker 3 12:31

I learned from them as much as they learn from me, honestly. Like, I'm like, how did you they'll they'll show me something or say something. I'm like, I never would have thought of that.

Speaker 1 12:39

Yeah.

Speaker 3 12:40

So how did you get started on working with students? Okay, that's that's funny because I never thought I would be teaching kids. Like graduating high school, I'm like, I have no interest in being in a school, being around kids. But when I look back at it, I've been working with kids most of my adult life, honestly. Uh I started out working, well, back when I was in church, I was uh I would do like summer, you know, the summer campus, summer program with the kids. Then um I started working for a small studio in Sumter where we would do after school programs with the kids, summer programs with the kids. Um, and it all led up to me working with the Auntie Karen Foundation. Okay. Um, where I've been working with them since 2018. Um, I've been to a number of schools throughout South Carolina. Currently I'm in King Street, South Carolina at Kent Gardner Leadership Academy. Been there about six years now.

Speaker 1 13:30

Congratulations.

Speaker 3 13:31

Yeah, but like time is flying, it's just so fascinating. But like for me, working with kids is amazing because I feel it's giving back. It's the ultimate way. I think every adult should work with kids at some point because they really are the future. Like we're pouring back into something that's going to absolutely benefit us. And when we look at, for example, some of the negative aspects of society right now, it comes from these young kids who have not been poured into properly. Yes. So I don't believe in complaining about a problem that you aren't actively working towards solving. So for me, teaching, working with kids, showing them that there's other paths to go down is very important, especially for our young black boys and girls, like black boys in particular, because I feel that being one, you know, growing up, if you aren't athletic or musically inclined, there wasn't a place for you. And I think about, for example, in school, we were in high school, every black boy wanted to be in the NFL or the NBA. Everyone thought that's where they were going. That's what their entire lives were dedicated to. But I look at it and see how many of y'all actually went. So your entire life is dedicated towards thing that in most cases will not be obtained. So what happens when you're rejected from the one thing you thought you were going to be good at? Then you fall to the wayside, you haven't developed any other skill sets, you're angry because you feel like, oh well, they they told me if I worked hard at this, I would be this. I'm like, I know tons of professional artists, musicians, poets, photographers, dancers, these people who are working creative fields, who are employed, who are living their best lives. And I'm like, no one told you that you could do that.

Speaker 1 15:16

Pursue that. It wasn't even an option or anything. It wasn't.

Speaker 3 15:19

And I want to I want to be the person who says, hey, maybe you're good at this. Yeah. Try this out. It's okay. There's nothing wrong with this. You know, just pursue something to create. I think everyone should have a creative passion that they pursue. Even if it's not from a monetary standpoint, just pursue it. So, yes, I think the kids definitely, I think that would also help with a lot of anxiety, their emotional states is a lot of them have emotion that they don't know where to put. I say with my young boys, especially. The young girls seem to be a lot more leveled, but the young boy, there's so much emotion, they don't know what to do with it. So it default, it goes to anger.

Speaker 2 15:54

Yeah.

Speaker 3 15:55

They're mad and can't explain why they're mad because you're not actually mad. You're frustrated because you're not being understood. But art allows you to translate, it's a form of uh alchemy. You're you're transmuting something, taking one thing, breaking it down to its basic parts, and then reconstructing it as something else. That's what I teach.

Speaker 1 16:11

I love that. We have to bring him that kid goes.

Speaker 4 16:13

We got to. You gotta meet our kids. Oh, absolutely.

Speaker 1 16:16

I love they all love you. Yeah.

Speaker 4 16:18

Yeah, and I just love the fact, like I said, that you that you explained like how you use art to be able to teach. And a lot of times I feel like art gets put into a box when it comes to education for children. Because it's like if you do art, you only you can it only applies to artistic things or creative things. Absolutely not. And just what you explained, it shows how art is important in other aspects of life. And I think that's something as a society that we tend to forget.

Speaker 1 16:46

Yeah, that kind of goes back to what we you have a master's in arts, I have a bachelor's, and we do a bunch of different things. Like you do a little bit of designing with graphic design. I we like to do photography, videography, but just exploring the kids to media arts in the different ways that the arts can help thrive.

Speaker 3 17:04

Art touches everything, like it does. Even within a school setting, a lot of times it's seen as a special area or related arts, but in reality, art connects everything. Like when in art class, we're going over mathematics, you're learning about two-dimensional, three-dimensional shapes, you're learning about dimensions. Um, and from a science standpoint, mixing of colors, understanding that's the science, art history, ELA, you're writing artist statements, artist bios, like it touches every aspect of education. And I feel like when you study the the the old masters, education and the arts were unified. It wasn't taught separately. Like you look at the Da Vinci's of the world, like they art and music, art, music, mathematics, all this stuff was brought together into one. And when you realize that, you realize that you know what, we've been teaching things wrong now. We're trying to we want you to focus on ELA and math, but like maybe if you taught the students something, you know, their ELA with music, their mathematics with art, color, stuff of that nature, it would bridge that gap because they're already thinking from a creative mindset. You're trying to break them all the creative mindset and put them into this box, and automatically they're fighting against it. It's natural because that's not no, I I want to I wanna sing, I want to dance, I want to do it. Okay, well, let's just find a way to tie ELA math social studies into that that you're naturally already gravitated towards, and you will learn it a lot easier.

Speaker 1 18:27

I think that's what we're trying to do with the kid gloves thing. Yeah, yeah. It's just working.

Speaker 4 18:32

It is, it is. Um, I know like last week, um, one of the things that we talked with the kids about was, and I guess this is more or less this has to maybe do with more, this is more like the ELA, but we were teaching the kids about open-ended versus closed-ended questions, right? And then I guess this kind of goes even to scientific into science in a sense too, right? Um, like scientific method in a sense, right? And just knowing how to like how do you find like reach, like find learn information, how do you find things, and you'd be surprised at how many students aren't aware of that, those concepts. But we just teach it through podcasts, yeah.

Speaker 3 19:09

So and they're learning, yeah. Like I think everyone's a teacher. I I don't know if like I don't know if you realize it, but you are a teacher. If you're imparting knowledge, wisdom, and understanding to someone that's teaching, and doing that to our kids is the ultimate form of teaching because I feel they're the ones going to use the information the most, even if they don't on a surface level realize it. It's stuff I learned from teachers that at the time I was like, man, I want to learn this. Yeah. Now, like years later, I'm like, yo, that was like, thank you. So important. I wish I could find that teacher. There's one teacher I had back in third grade, my third grade, ELA social study teacher. I ran into him a year later at the Sumter Art Gallery. He's a member, and it's just like, thank you so much. Like, I thought you were mean, but like he sought structure, discipline, and he cared. And I think that's one thing that we're missing a lot, especially our young people, is people who just care about them. I don't want anything from you. I just care.

Speaker 1 20:01

Yeah, I know showing up is a a big thing. Because if we miss one week, they're like mad. Where were you? You weren't here, and we're like, oh my gosh, I didn't know you guys cared about me that much. They really do.

Speaker 3 20:13

So I don't miss work because I'm a contractor. Yeah. Um, so I'm there every day. So if something were to happen, I think I missed work like one day, and they thought I just left them. Like when I say it's like because for one, kids don't have a comprehension of time the way we do. I feel like as we get older, our comprehension of time solidifies. Yeah, to them, a day, a week, like these are large spans of time. So, yeah, like they they never never underestimate how much showing up means to a kid. Yeah, like they love you just being there, you ain't got to do nothing, just seeing your face. And one thing about the school system the school system experienced a lot of turnover. Yeah, the school I'm currently at, I mean, I've served under three different principals. Um, I've seen entire staff changes. And one thing kids need to learn is consistency, they need to see the same faces. So for me, that's one where I keep showing up to the same school because I've had options to go, you know, to other schools. I'm like, no, I want to stay here because if nothing else, they know they're gonna see Mr. Hodge there.

Speaker 1 21:14

Yeah.

Speaker 3 21:15

That's true.

Speaker 1 21:16

We pres we're presented with that situation right now. You don't want to leave the day ones, you know. That's my day one. I don't I don't want them to forget about I don't want for them to think I forgot about them.

Speaker 4 21:29

Yeah. That's cool. And I know one of the things too, and you probably I know you and I already have a feeling that you already do this, and I didn't realize the benefit of this until uh last year is just being present, even when you're not required to be present. Oh, absolutely. Um I didn't realize how huge that was because a lot of times like with the program um that we um work with now, like we're supposed to be there on Thursdays, right? But I still, every now and then I'll go up there on a Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday or I'll stop by on a Friday just to go grab stuff, or if I need to go talk to somebody, and I'll drop in, you know, just say hey to the kids. And I didn't real and I didn't start realizing how big of a deal that was until one of the students had mentioned that and stuff. And so it's something about, and I guess, and I'm pretty sure you do the same thing.

Speaker 3 22:15

Oh, yeah, their face lights up because I don't think we understand. One thing I learned about working in schools, I work in low-income areas, so Title I schools, is that a lot of these kids don't have the support system at home that we assume every kid has. Or like we'll judge it from our own standpoint, like, oh well, I had you know, I'd support why some of these kids are raising their siblings, some of these kids are the ones who have to make sure everyone's fed, like like and I teach elementary school. Some of these kids, that child sleep in class. Well, because he stayed up all night because his mom wasn't home, so he had to watch his baby sibling, you know, like stuff like that. So like having adults who just care and will show up for them, it means everything.

Speaker 1 22:58

Yeah, and definitely saying, I'm proud of you. Oh, yeah, because that goes a long way. I'm proud of you, are a good job.

Speaker 3 23:04

And and they're looking for, and that's one thing I've learned that they're looking for that. A lot of them like they need that positive reinforcement. They just want someone to say, you know what, I'm proud of you. Hey, that's a good job.

Speaker 1 23:13

Yeah, you know, so kind of shifting into art as therapy. Um, can you explain the benefits of creating art and the ways it has helped you over the years?

Speaker 3 23:24

Creating art, well, first of all, I'd say I'm an artist at heart and soul. Like, that's who I am, that's my very being. So I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I was an artist. People are like, you know, if I wasn't this, I would do that. I don't know what I would do. Like, I don't have that option. Like, it's very, it was in my nature. Um, and it's extremely therapeutic. Like, sometimes like I'll Be um like in my class, for example, and I'll get like an observation, or like one of the other teachers will come in, like, yo, I just want to sit in here and and draw what you I'm like, come on, anytime like you know, because it's like you realize that it's tapping into something that a lot of us have suppressed, a lot of people suppress, or it's been drawn out of them. Um, one thing I always hear from people is, oh, man, yeah, back in the day I used to draw too. Yeah, it never failed. It never they'll they'll see you drawing, man. Yeah, back in the day I used to, but someone didn't nurture that in you and it fell off. But like it's like riding a bike when you get back to it, it it is a level of nostalgia and an innocence to it that it really helps you a lot. So for me, art's been the one thing I can count on no matter what. You know, people come and go through your life, but like my art has always been there and watching myself grow artistically. One thing I tell my students or anyone else, I'm like, don't throw away your artwork. I have sketchbooks, journals, painting, piles from years because it's a living testament to your progress. If you throw everything that's that looks bad, you only have the good, you don't realize how far you've actually come. So, yeah, like for me, I love sometimes I'll just have a a nostalgia day where I'll look through old sketchbooks and just oh my god, I can't believe I used to draw like that. Like that, that's ugly, it's horrible. But I'm like, it allows me to appreciate like when I feel like because when you're progressing, I feel you don't really see it because you're in it, you know. So you have to have something to judge it by like, okay, well, this was me five years ago. Wow, I can't believe I used to, you know, work like that five years ago. Now look at me now. So I'm like, okay, I see I am progressing. Because sometimes again, time is a fascinating concept because the way we perceive it. Yeah. So I'm like, okay, man, I feel like my work has progressed. I feel like I'm doing the same thing. But then you look at yourself a month ago or two months ago or beginning of the year, but hold up, I am progressing. So that I feel uh boosts your self-esteem and your confidence also that you are moving forward.

Speaker 1 25:50

I want people to understand, like it's the suffering part. You feel like you're suffering, but you're actually growing during the suffering.

Speaker 3 25:57

People think I think people think it's always about to feel good. Yeah. And it's not like, no, like as an artist, like there's plenty of days I want to just lay in bed and like curl up and like I suck. Like, like, but I'm like, no, that's not that's not real. You know, that's not really it's it's it's something you've created in your head because for me, I judge myself against myself. Like, I don't compare myself to other artists. So I have this, I'm hypercritical. I'm like, I should be here, I should be here. I'm like, I shouldn't be anywhere. I'm where I'm at.

Speaker 2 26:27

Yeah.

Speaker 3 26:27

This I'm like, where like where do I think I should be? Right. I ask anyone who's creative, like, where do you think you should be? I should be performing on this stage. But I'm like, no, you should be where you're at.

Speaker 1 26:38

Yeah. Because all you have is now.

Speaker 3 26:39

This is all you like now is the only thing that actually is what we're doing right now, is the only thing that actually matters.

Speaker 2 26:44

Yeah.

Speaker 3 26:45

The past is gone, the future has not manifested yet. So it's just now. Enjoy the now.

Speaker 4 26:53

I did a question for you. So when you are working, um, whether or not, like I said, even through like a therapeutics um standpoint, if you're working on pieces, um, do you go through like certain stages where you're trying to learn or master certain techniques or maybe certain things that you might have been inspired by? And you're like, you know what, I really like the way this, the I like the way the color, like I like the lines in this style work, right? Or I like the way the color palette is set up or designed in this piece. Do you go through like stages or phases where you really focus and hone in on like specific um skills? Oh, absolutely.

Speaker 3 27:28

Um, so I so I have a library in my house. I've I perfectly believe everyone should have a library. Um I my goal is to have a study. I want like one of the old school wall-to-wall libraries, big mahogany desks. Um, so for me, whenever I see a book about art, um, I buy. And I don't just like the complete works, I like getting like journals. So, like the behind the scenes stuff, like okay, this is the artwork of this animated movie, or this is you know, this artist's sketchbook, just to see the behind the scenes and see like within the mind of the artist. So for me, I spend a lot of time researching. People think it's just, oh, these are made. How you come up with these research? Like right now, my phone's already out of memory because every time I see something that, oh, oh, cool, I like that technique. Screenshot that. Okay, save that. So I have like 10,000 photos I have to go through trying to find some. But for me, research is a big thing because like for one, knowledge is something I value. I don't want to be ignorant. I feel like being ignorant is a choice, especially in the day and age of technology and information, like from your phone, you can look up anything in the world, you know. So, like for me, I spent a lot of time researching things. Um, some of my big influences, for example, like Hayo Miyuzaki, um, his studio Ghibli, like the fact that it's an animation studio that still does hand-drawn animation, um, his moves like Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, or things that captivated me. Um, the artist uh John Gerard, also known as Mobius, like the his use of color and his imagination, amazing. Um, so yeah, I'm I'm a big, I'm a big either I'm reading something or visual media, like movies like I love directors. I I love when you have an artist that has a signature look to their work because that allows you to really study and be like, okay, cool, why does he does do this? Like, I know a Quentin Tarantino movie when I see one, that's because he's honed a certain style. And I like as an artist, your style is your voice. Um, I I I know you have a lot of artists who speak against it, and all your style is your signature. Like, I can see an artist's work, and I know I'm up that so-and-so's work. It speaks for you even when you're not there. It also, I think, tapping back on the AI concept, it helps, especially when you have so many people stealing and copying work, to where when you are able to really focus in on your style, work on something, it allows other people to realize when it's not you. Um, that's one thing we see really rampantly right now. Um, I like why would you claim something you didn't do? It's the weirdest energy to me. But uh, yeah, like as far as I'm concerned, studying my studying whether it's uh anatomy books, uh books on perspective. Uh I study different African tribes for my like my color palettes and stuff of that nature. So just things of that nature. Um research, yeah. Research is really the core of everything.

Speaker 1 30:26

I like your use of lines. That's one thing I admire. And um, I can definitely see your artwork. If I see it out, I'm like, yeah, I know who that is.

Speaker 3 30:35

And that's the goal. So, like, okay, so my use of lines is based around, yes, I paint. I don't really consider myself a painter, though. Like, I know like professional painter, I know people who paint. Like, my mind doesn't even work like a painter's mind does. I see myself as an illustrator, I just do large-scale illustrations and paints the medium. Like, I don't consider myself a painter. Um, so I grew up on again comics and stuff that where you know you have these really bold colors, these bold line work. Um, so that's really what influences my use of lines in my work.

Speaker 4 31:08

Excellent. And I think another thing I like about your work too, I like the solid colors. I love solid colors. I don't know, like I said, I love all, I love various kinds of work talk, different pieces. But it's something about the solid colors that really stands out to me. Because it's because you know, and I guess because I think about when I think about blends, I think about fields and um like trees and clouds. I like the boldness.

Speaker 3 31:36

Let me explain that. That right there. Okay, so someone someone asked me that before, also. Like, why do you use like the colors you use? Like, why you use these bold colors? The way I look at it is imagine if you had someone who had never seen before, someone who's blind, could not see, then they gained sight. Imagine how vibrant and strong those colors would be to them. Or go back to when you were a kid. So kids, children, we we we don't realize they're really different from us in the sense that they're new to this world. So their senses, everything's dialed up to 11. So they see things more vividly, they hear things, they like they all that. So, like when it comes to color, like I can imagine how a child, like, remember when we were a kid, the world seemed brighter. Yeah, like for whatever reason, the world seems dull now. Like, what's like hold up? You get the McDonald's, like you want to McDonald's be bright and beautiful, right? Like, what's going on? But like, aside from the world already kind of shifting in that direction, it's also how we perceive things over time. Like, do we lose that ability to see things in that bright vivid nature? So I want my work to elicit that feeling in you again. Like, oh man, yo, this is like when I first saw my favorite Saturday morning cartoon. Yeah, or you know, when like I would go into the toy section of a store and like it'd be like eye-catching. Like, that's what I want. I really want my work to pop and just catch your attention and take you back to a simpler time.

Speaker 1 32:56

Talk about um the use of color and how it ignites emotion and why it's important in the classroom.

Speaker 3 33:03

So it's fascinating because my general attire is black. I love it, but like that's my aesthetic. So it's like when people see my work, but hold up. Like that's him, like yeah. So, like for me, um, and I think it possibly affects mood. Like, yeah, I can't be upset looking at something bright like this. Yeah, you know, like if I'm having a bad day, I see some bright artwork, it's like, you know what? It's not that bad. You know, like I and I think for that, again, like as as people, we we our our vision is first thing, like is our primary means of data processing. Um and I feel that when we use like bright vivid colors, it it allows you to it reworks your mind. You're no longer in that dark space because I think a lot of us are in dark places mentally, emotionally, spiritually. So sometimes we need this physical, bright element to you know shine within us, which is also a major aspect of the light that shines out the third eye of all my pieces.

Speaker 1 34:03

So is that your signature on all your pieces?

Speaker 3 34:05

I would say yes. Um, and uh it just ties into having knowledge of self. Um, I think a big issue we're facing right now is people looking for others to define them.

Speaker 2 34:17

Yeah.

Speaker 3 34:18

Like, but you're you, like you can't have someone else define you. The way I look at it is everyone was a main character of their own story. So a lot of times we operate and we look around at people and don't realize that, yes, you have your problems, you're perceiving them one way, but they're existing within themselves. Like right now, we're in this room full of people, but how many versions of me do you think exist right now? You think it's just one of me here? No. Every person here perceives me differently, so therefore, they've created a new reality. Oh, yeah. So that multiverse concept is real, like you're not just a singular being, like, you perceive yourself one way, but every person you interact with sees you differently. For example, my mom sees me as her son.

Speaker 2 35:02

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3 35:03

You know, my brother, I'm his brother. You know, like like you know, like every person you interact with sees you in a different light, so you adopt a new persona, a new you is born. So for me, um having knowledge of self is very important because it's very easy to get caught up in the roles you're playing in other people's lives instead of realizing that I'm the main character of this story.

Speaker 2 35:21

Yeah.

Speaker 3 35:21

So yeah, again, we have knowledge of self, no one can tell you about yourself.

Speaker 4 35:26

It makes a lot of sense. It makes a lot of sense that you break it down like that because a lot of times people can get caught up in living up to other other people's expectations. Absolutely. And that's what's doing what's truly uh what truly makes them happy.

Speaker 3 35:38

But you ask why, like, you know, like why does what you think of me matter?

Speaker 1 35:44

Right. You know, everyone thinks of you.

Speaker 3 35:46

When did it happen? When did it trump your story? Exactly. Like right now, people are walking around unhappy in their lives because they're trying to meet other people's expectations. And even if you succeed in meeting their expectations does not mean you will be happy.

Speaker 2 35:58

Yeah.

Speaker 4 35:59

And that's fulfilled. That makes sense. And that's what makes it so dope too about working with kids. Because they're still at that stage where they're free.

Speaker 3 36:07

I'm like, no, be like, I'm weird. Yes, you're weird. Good. I'm weird, be weird. Yeah, like what like it's acceptable. What is normal? Yeah. Breaking yourself and and deforming yourself into this thing that you're not, that that's weird. So no, be your and those are the I think the kids I graduate gravitate towards the most, the ones that are just like, yeah, that child's that child's different. But it reminded me of me, you know, before, you know, I think a lot of us as adults, we we have to relearn ourselves.

Speaker 2 36:39

Yeah.

Speaker 3 36:39

And that's it, that's disappointing. So I'm like, I'm trying to inspire the next generation, just be yourself from the get-go, and you can save yourself that trouble of being bogged down with being someone else, and then having to relearn yourself in your adulthood.

Speaker 1 36:53

Can you talk about uh your artist's name? You know, some people use their real name, and some people have an artist's name. So, how did you decide on that or how did it come about?

Speaker 3 37:04

So, Jakim the Dream, I created in high school. Um I was inspired mainly by hip-hop because I'm like rappers are dope. Like, rappers, you know, most rappers don't go by their real name. I don't know many rappers' real name, they they have personas. Um, so for me, uhem is actually an acronym. It stands for just a king enjoying everyday moments. Um, and like for me, that that was very important because high school was not the greatest time for me. Like, I wasn't, you know, I wasn't one of the popular kids. I won't you know, I was one of those weird kind of kids, you know. Um where did you go to high school? Cresswood.

Speaker 2 37:38

Okay.

Speaker 3 37:39

Yeah, Crestwood High School. Okay, what my two of my good friends went to Cresswood. Bad, yeah. But uh for me, it was just like, okay, also the notion that the name you have is a name someone else gave you.

Speaker 1 37:50

Right.

Speaker 3 37:51

And that's cool. There's nothing wrong with that, but I should be able to define who I am myself. I saw I saw also saw an interview, so I have a lot of go-bys. Joeem the Dream is probably my most prominent, uh, my most prominent art persona, but I have others, you know, uh, whether it's you know Six Path Sage, um, just like a lot of different names I go by. And the reason why, because someone recently asked me that too, I saw an interview with Rizza from Wu Tang, where they were asking, you know, like he goes like Riza has all these different names, and they really like, yo, so why do you have so many different names? He was like, Okay, well, um, it says there's 99 names uh of God or Allah, right? He's like, I'm working on mine. He's like, right now I'm at like 12 because he had like 12 different names. I'm like, yo, that's dope. Like, what if every aspect of myself that I discover, I gave a name? Yeah, so that's what I do, you know. So every time, like, you know, like there, there's the inquisitive side of me, there's this side of me. Let me name it. Yeah, you know, like instead of it just wandering, because I feel like when you name it, you really empower it. So like instead of it wandering around and you're confused, and why do I feel no? No, that's just another persona with me. So yeah, like when you interact with me, there's different versions you may get. Like, some people think I'm quiet and soft spoken. I did a lot of people think that, but that's uh that that's that's a part of me. Other people may be like, he don't never shut up, like he talks all the time, you know. Like, oh, like he's like he's always taking pictures, he must be a photographer. I'm like, no, I've just there's so many aspects of myself that I feel that giving myself a name was very important. But Jakeem the Dream, again, that right there is my primary creative persona, and it was meant as a positive affirmation, you know. I'm like just a king enjoying the everyday moment.

Speaker 1 39:30

So are we here with Jaquim or are we here with somebody else?

Speaker 3 39:32

Yeah, this is Jakim the first one. Okay, okay.

Speaker 1 39:34

I'll go under it.

Speaker 2 39:36

Yeah, okay. Okay.

Speaker 4 39:40

Um, yeah. So with that said, I know we gotta get ready to wrap up. Um I'm wondering, um, how do you find um balance um between you know like work and life?

Speaker 3 39:50

Hmm. So for me, that's actually something I'm actively working daily on because teaching art can be difficult at times because you're teaching art. So it's like, okay, you're working all day, and it's like go home. Well, I did art today. Like, no, technically, I didn't. You didn't, I didn't actually do any work. So for me, um, people know me for being like on the road a lot. Um, they they people know where I live at, people like, man, yo, I thought you lived in Charleston. I thought you were in Columbia, I thought you were in Charlotte. Because like I believe in going where the art is. So for me, that's how I find the balance. Like, my day start my Monday through Friday, my day starts at four o'clock in the morning. If there's an art event going on at six that evening um in Columbia, I'm gonna be there. And in Charleston, I'm gonna be there. You know, I've driven out to Atlanta for a day just to go see Black Boy Art Show and then come back because I had to work the next. Like, that's for me, pursuing the arts, anything involving art, I'm gonna go for. So for me, that's the balance. Because I feel like when I just teach, it's not me. Like, I I say I'm a I'm I'm a teaching artist, I'm an artist who teaches, I'm not an art teacher. You know, I'm someone I'm an artist first and foremost. So as long as I'm feeding into whether that's me interacting with artists, like I love just being in the space with artists. Um, I'll talk all day, all night long. Like, hey, we have to go. Like, oh my bad. I'm I'm I'm I'm because this is these are my people. So for me, connecting with my people is very important. Um creatives, artists of that nature, where conversation is easy, where you don't feel like that weird kid anymore. You were never weird, you were just around the wrong people. So when you start getting around your actual people, you're like, yo, you really start finding who you are. You didn't even know who you were. Like, I didn't know who I was before I started getting around artists. Well, you know what? I don't do too much. You know, my personality isn't too big. Like, I was just in the wrong spaces. So for me, I go with artists. I tell people all that's what I do. I go with artists, and that rejuvenates me and allows me to keep the proper balance. So I mean, this week's been busy. I've been back and forth between Charleston, Columbia, Sumter, but I find me a day to rest and then I do it all over again.

Speaker 1 42:06

Do you have any um current projects coming up that we can look forward to?

Speaker 3 42:10

So my biggest project I have coming up, um, I'm a so I'm a doing a opening, uh, a solo exhibit, my bad, at the Sumter Art Gallery in January. Okay. So that would be my second solo exhibit. I just recently did one at uh Cobra Center through Jasper Project. Shout out Jasper. I mean, that was that was that was amazing. And then it happened like around my birthday too. Oh wow so I had my show on Juneteenth because I'm like, yeah, so like, yeah, my my next big one is going to be the Sumter Sumter Art Gallery. So yeah, I'm looking forward to that and just you know, whatever else life brings. I'm a student of life.

Speaker 1 42:51

Are you a Gemini?

Speaker 3 42:52

Yeah, I figured hard Gemini, yeah.

Speaker 1 42:54

I because you said you like to talk, and I'm like, Geminis like to talk, they're very creative, you know. I just be I like to guess people's signs, and plus the do the duality, you know.

Speaker 3 43:04

Like, I I find that a lot of people are in conflict with themselves because they are trying to be just one version of themselves. I'm like, no, I embrace every aspect of myself. So that's why I'm so happy. Like, why would I be? Like, I'm dope.

Speaker 1 43:16

We have to have art day. This is just confirmation.

Speaker 3 43:19

Yeah, we gotta do an art day.

Speaker 1 43:20

Let's do it, yeah. Because we have met so many artists over the span of doing the podcast, and I feel like a lot of us can benefit from just a therapeutic day where we could just create and not have to worry about anything else. And everybody does different forms of art, so it's digital, you know, painting, illustration, um, pottery.

Speaker 4 43:41

Yeah, yeah, at the end of the year.

Speaker 1 43:44

Yeah, something maybe maybe a rhizome.

Speaker 3 43:47

It nourishes your soul. And I think a lot of people are depleted right now, so I think that would help.

Speaker 1 43:51

So we do have a live audience with us today, and I want to just check in to see if anybody has any questions. Yes.

Speaker 43:59

I was just curious, what's the inspiration for the art beh that's currently behind you?

Speaker 3 44:06

Oh, glad you asked. So this piece is um part of a series called Enlightened Beasts. And the premise behind it is how black men in particular are perceived as these aggressive, um, confrontational individuals. And while we do have a primal nature to us to a degree, we're also full of light and energy and you know, just positive support, knowledge, and that's what we see coming from the third eye. We're admitting that. And I feel the mask itself is designed to show that, yeah, don't don't don't try us because we're willing to you know get aggressive when it comes time to protect, but we also have a lot of positive energy to give. So, yeah, for me, this series really stands out. You know, being a black man my whole life, I've walked into spaces and been seen as a threat when I literally have done nothing but exist. Um, and it's like, why am I being persecuted? Um because of your fear. Um in particular, uh, an event happened in Charleston that still still sticks with me. Where I was walking, it was late at night, I was walking, I was on the phone with a girlfriend at the time. Um walking through like a shopping center, everything was closed. I got off the phone, turned around and walked back to my dorm, and a cop stopped me and pulled me over. You know, they asked me, you know, if I had identification, um, they called up a partner, so a second cop car pulls up, never mind you. I'm like 18, it's middle of the night. Um, they they they they pat me down, frisk me, you know, and then send me on my way. But and this happens like roughly before, like shortly before the Trayvon Martin incident. So for me, it was like I've never experienced that. Just you know, being profiled in that way. I've done nothing, I have no ill intent, but for someone to see me, and that goes back to the notion of uh we all we're all uh main characters of our own story, people's perception of you is fascinating. Like you may see me one way, but someone else can see me a completely different way. So for me, this series is very important because we're a lot more than what you see on the outside, it's about the internal light that we have. So, yeah, thank you for that question. I hope I answered it.

Speaker 1 46:19

Well, thank you for being on this episode. I really enjoyed it, and we will definitely be reaching back out to you to be on Kid Gloves um as a teacher for the kids. Okay. And we just appreciate you. And um, where can people find your artwork or contact you?

Speaker 3 46:34

Um, so right now, most of my work is up on Instagram at the Dream Designs. So The Dream Designs is my primary handle on Instagram. Uh, or you could if you're interested in purchasing, you can email me at the dreamdesigns at gmail.com. Perfect. But thank y'all so much. Y'all are dope. This is awesome. Yeah, you're dope, man. We all dope. Yeah, we're all dope, yes.

Speaker 4 46:57

Yes, yes, indeed. Um, with that said, um, I do want to um just drop a few shout-outs. Um, of course, um shout-outs to Slub Studio. So long time sponsor and supporter um of the um Hilltop Club. And um, of course, if you guys like this space, you guys can actually record here too. Um, we do have um, this is a peer space, so you guys can rent the space out because we're not always recording every week. Um, so we'll have information about that in the descriptor. If you if you want to start your pod, like I said, if you're somebody that's more experienced, we even can help you figure out how to put this all together for you. Also, shout out to um alternate roots um, because this is a rhizome event today. So, this is the opportunity we want to um give people a chance to network and learn more, not just about Hill Talk Well, but even just provide information about alternate routes. Organizations help um fund many of the um different projects that we've done. Um with that said, I just want to just thank um Jakeem for joining us today. And spend another episode of Hill Talk Well Podcast. Peace.

Speaker 2 47:55

Peace.