Meet Amber Spivey | Artist & Entrepreneur

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

Hi Amber, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
My absolute favorite quote is by the legendary Toni Morrison. “When you get these jobs that you have been so brilliantly trained for, just remember that your real job is that if you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power then your job is to empower somebody else. This is not just a grab-bag candy game.”

This quote is a consistent reminder that I am here to serve, I am a servant leader. It’s a reminder that it’s not all about me, my success, how much I can attain and my personal success. I am in the business of serving people, of leaving every person better than I found them, through my art and business. I heard someone once say: “if you’re not a people person you don’t need to be in business.” Any measure of power, freedom, success, breakthrough or wisdom I experience must be shared with others or I’ve done nothing. I have learned that giving to others in a sacrificial manner like this is a gift. I ask myself what good would I be to keep the gift to myself? As an altruistic leader, I am deeply aware that people crave encouragement, faith and a renewed mindset. There are so many people with broken and tainted belief systems and too often seeds of discouragement are sown and hinder others from achieving greatness. Meditating on this perspective keeps me grounded and encourages me to be an agent for change by speaking life into people.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I AM ART N MOTION is at the intersection of business and the arts, comprised of artistic promotion, programming, performances, and education. We specialize in designing experiential programming for community engagement, centering dance as a vehicle to achieve fitness goals and experience optimal health and wellness.

The company’s dance collective collaborates with and contracts freelance dance artists to entertain for a variety of venues and events. I serve as a producer and choreographer while still dancing myself. Initially, I set out to do business under the company as a freelance artist, but I ended up creating a space where other dancers in transition could find performance opportunities and be compensated for their artistry and work. I absolutely love having the opportunity to support, empower, and create with other artists. I’m always thrilled to serve and engage my community by teaching dance, because it truly brings out the best in people. As an artist, professionally trained dancer, and educator my mission is to combine all of my experience, training, and passion to help people live healthier and more fulfilled lives through movement, story-telling, and provoking curiosity.

I am most proud of my ability to “go beyond intention”. It’s critical to take the ideas and visions that God gives us seriously. It’s one thing to ponder and then meditate about a new and intriguing idea, but you reach another level of audacity when you’re brave enough to write the incomplete ideas down and allow it to expand. Nevertheless, the ultimate level of belief and ownership, is when you actually do something about it. What steps are you taking to bring your vision to life? It’s not real until you actually do something! And if the truth be told, taking action is the scariest and most intimidating part of the process. Nevertheless, I am so proud of myself for taking ownership of my life, and taking my faith seriously by acting on it. I think for me it’s about personal integrity and the respect I have for myself. If I say I’m going to do something, challenging or not, I refuse to let myself down. I’m going to execute.

I would say that where I am professionally is attributed to the relationships I have built and sustained over time and in real time. Networking, mentorship, creative collaborations, and the professional development I purposely sought out is the result of my success today. I think you would be surprised how willing most people are to have a conversation, provide feedback, offer mentorship, advice and even provide recommendation for an opportunity that’s perfect for you. Most of the opportunities I received were supported and recommended by a mentor, friend, colleague, or supervisor. Expanding your professional network and building genuine relationships are keys to unlocking your potential, your next opportunity and increasing your income. It’s also important for me to mention how valuable it is to nurture those relationships by communicating, checking in, and always expressing gratitude. Equally important, just as a financial advisor would highly recommend diversifying your investment portfolio to maximize your financial reach, it’s important to connect and build relationships with people outside of your industry. You don’t want to miss an opportunity to be a blessing or receive your blessing.

Along the way, I’ve learned that my professional success will be a direct result of what I feed my mind, thus what I choose to listen to, watch and consume will impact my belief system and then my ability to execute. Whoever has your ear, controls your thinking.
I’ve learned to be very intentional about my personal development, expanding what I believe is possible, and feeding my faith in God.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way and contributes to my success is the ability to “move on”. Knowing when your well has dried up, when your season is shifting, you’re not growing, feeling like a caged bird, or when the environment is unhealthy are vital indicators that you need to make a decision. The word “Decision” means a conclusion, final judgment, resolution, settlement, or agreement. The etymology of the word and Latin prefix of (de) means “to cut off” or “to cut off from”. This provokes the notion that when I make a decision, it is a serious act in which I cut off all other possibilities in order to move in the best direction.

I’ve learned that getting started is half the battle. You have to get something on the plate, create a rough draft, just get it out of your head. Be brave enough to let it be imperfect, even ugly and have the grace to let it evolve into something beautiful. I’ve learned to have more patience and respect for my artistic process.

My brand and philosophy were conceived out of my personal struggle to believe that I was enough and to embrace the adversity I was experiencing. A lot of things were happening that were out of my control, like coming out of college with a semester left to finish and an unstable family dynamic. It was also my attempt to define the concept of art and examine the complexities of the human experience. The name was birthed in 2013 and it has evolved over time.

I want people to know that it’s all hard, even the things we love and are called to do.
The Hebrew root of “ I AM” means (being) or (will be). I AM ART N MOTION reinforces the value that we all have in spite of the uncertainty, setbacks, and trials in life. It recognizes the vicissitudes of life to be the catalyst of evolution in our human experience; with a promise for a resilient path ahead, if you keep moving forward. It is the declaration to ourselves and the motion of pressing through struggle that demonstrates our refusal to be defeated by life’s challenges. Regardless of your industry, I want people to be encouraged about their journey, taking pride in setbacks and having faith that they are the building blocks for success. Art allows us to be expressive, authentic, and vulnerable, thus creating an opportunity to identify, resonate, and build community with other people. Our goal is to represent and inspire people to see themselves as a work of “ART” because of their commitment to not give up on themselves.

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?
Here’s a little itinerary of the simple yet comforting and fun things I’d do if my best friend were visiting the area. I’m an art lover and there are wonderful exhibitions at both the Delaware Contemporary Museum and the Delaware Museum of Art. The art reflects the vibrant and growing landscape of the diverse perspectives and culture of the state’s artists. I’d start the morning out by visiting Milk and Honey, a black-owned Coffeehouse and art gallery on Market St. in Wilmington, DE to catch the vibes and authenticity of the community. The cafe has a wonderful atmosphere, incredible service, and good food. While we’re in Wilmington we would go to the Riverfront to take a stroll and sight-see. Brandywine Park is a great place to experience beautiful scenery of nature, and hear the sound of water rushing down into the river. We would catch TIO’s happy hour at the Christiana Mall. My personal favorites are the grilled shrimp and fried fish tacos, a side of rice & beans, the mango habanero “house wings” and a strawberry-mango margarita. I wouldn’t leave the Christiana Mall without doing some tax free shopping and checking out the Main Event for bowling, more food, games, and laser tag! Since this is a week-long trip for my friend, visiting Bay Venture Outfitters in Northeast, MD on a sunny day would be perfect for a double kayak or paddle boarding.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
OMG! My sister Destiny Spivey deserves the biggest shoutout. She has been my rock, my sounding board, my business partner, the company sound tech, videographer, photographer, and my therapist. The list could go on, but you get the picture. I am where I am because she believes in what I’m doing and her support is unwavering. I am indebted to this girl and beyond grateful for her contributions.

Also my friend LaChelle Dickenson has been a tremendous support to me. She is the ultimate plug. I’m so grateful for her friendship and sisterhood. If it were not for her recommending me for opportunities, praying with me, and pushing me out of my comfort zone, I would not be where I am.

Website: www.iamartnmotion.com

Instagram: @m.amber_spivey | @iamartnmotion

Linkedin: M. Amber Spivey

Facebook: I.AM. ART N Motion

Image Credits
Shakira Hunt Creative Studio, Moon Loop Photography, Destiny Spivey