We had the good fortune of connecting with Noraa James and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Noraa, how do you think about risk?
More often than not throughout my life, I’ve thought about risk with fear. Because of this survival trait, I did things like dilute the truest me, forego opportunities that seemed too daunting, and pretended to find 9-5’s tolerating. It got to a point where I was quite miserable and to continue down that road would have likely proved fatal. It’s ironic to think about it; being in perpetual survival mode bringing about my ultimate untimely demise. All of the things I wanted to do required that I risk something. I risk the identity people thought they knew, a job I’m burnt out in, and possibly unleashing a potential I dream of. I figured those were good odds to take. So I’ve been taking steps to consciously incorporate risks of varying degrees into my every day life.

I’m now at the point where I’ve since declared my career path as an Artist and am undergoing a career change that would put my intentions behind that label into the first priority seat. Ever since the declaration, I’ve continually magnetized opportunities that aligned with my own brand. I’ve also since started to feel more like me and less concerned with what others think of that. Risk is my nemesis and eventually will become my super power.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve been in love with art since I was a child and its been so much an integral part of my life. It’s been my vehicle of expression, my escape, and my biggest teacher. I took art with me all the way to college graduating from Old Dominion University with a Bachelors in Drawing & Design. In my tenure there I worked as a graphic designer by day and a freelance graphic designer by the name of SReal (surreal) by night. Around this time I also discovered the genre of Afrofuturism and I felt like it embodied all of the things I loved and imagined. My art and design shifted to creating art through photography and photo-manipulation to center POC’s in sci-fi and fantastical scenes exploring the mother, divinity, beauty, unity and ancestry. I’m filled with gratitude for inspiring so much people with this art.

This definitely wasn’t an easy journey. I’ve had to push through burnout (still), depression, and despondence for nearly 2 years where making art became a very hard task. I’ve only recently gotten through much of that to where I’ve redefined myself and evolved from SReal to Noraa James. Coming into the new me and defining that with intention and style is an every day goal. It’s allowed me to start taking my art in a different direction but still in the realm of afrofuturism and afrosurrealism. In this new space, creativity has become spiritual for me. In the work I’m creating now, I’m actively expressing my love for dark skin and Black people as well as giving reverence to my ancestors from the lens of a Black man who was completely separated from his African lineage but is still aware of a permeating power unifying us all within the African diaspora. In my work, Black people are both the creators and the literal embodiments of the cosmos around us.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I moved to Georgia right before the pandemic happened so I’ve yet to experience the full potential of the city but my favorite places always point toward the parks, the art galleries/museums, and food spots (black-owned if I could help it). I’m not vegan but Slutty Vegan and Piedmont Park definitely are must dos whenever I’m in the city. Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to shoutout The Loveland Foundation founded by Rachel Cargle. This foundation’s purpose is to provide therapy support and many other opportunities to women of color.

I also want to shoutout my wife, Jaznel, for being beside me as a major supporter and inspiration in my journey these last few years.

Instagram: noraa.james

Image Credits
N/A

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