nARTIST STATEMENT

Once upon a time there was a lost boy growing up in Miami, Florida. He became lost when his heart was stolen from him at four months old. His father was killed by senseless violence that is still more prevalent today, than it was back then. He lost his light to show him the light. The light to show him what to do and what not to do. The light to guide the way through the dark tunnels and woods of the world. That light was stolen from him and replaced with glimpses of dimmed lights around him. Some lights were not so great and others were so great that they barely were there or were pushed away to shine elsewhere because of fear and other obligations. So, he looked elsewhere for some type of light fixture in the city from friends; relatives, some close and some far; sports and academics.

Neither of them filling that void of darkness, he eventually found performing. Acting, singing and dancing which allowed him to escape the reality of not having a bright light shining to guide him the rest of the way to adulthood. Performing became his life to where he couldn’t eat or sleep without even thinking about it. Watching movies, reciting scripts from different movies, dancing at every family function to draw an audience or even singing in random moments just so people can notice. Performing became that void of not having a father figure watching him every step of the way and encouraging him. Instead the audience he performs for became that father figure h never had. He needed someone to just pay him attention and so performing became just that.

The artist in that little boy flourished into the man he is today. Disciplined, driven, motivated and a self-taught individual. He was always vigilant of circumstance by less unfortunate people surrounding him the he couldn’t see himself or his future kids partaking in it. He always wanted better and so he tries to do better every day. This boy who is now a man stands on the backs of his mother and grandparents for always working and making sure he had all the things he needed and not need. Also, he saw how working non-stop took them away from their family and he did not want to have his kids to have a parent who just provided and didn’t have any nurturing qualities when it was time to come home. His art became his friend, confidant, lover, absent relative or close friend that didn’t pay him enough attention. This is my art and this is why I do it.