Meet Eric Marable Jr. | Multi – Medium Artist/Co – Executive Director of The Flourish Alabama

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eric Marable Jr. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eric, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I believe that the success of The Flourish Alabama can be attributed to the strength and purity of our mission. Our mission is to help young artists BLOOM! Since undergrad, my brother/Co-Executive Director Jahman Hill and I have planned and discussed how we would come back and make better days for the next generation. My friends and I have always had a strong conviction to show the world a healthier and more compassionate path to walk in life. It’s been 2 years and we’ve had nothing but support and love from those who share our passion for fostering imagination and empathy in our students. As long as we continue to put the needs of our students first, I believe we can continue our success for years to come.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is all about confronting that bittersweet melancholy that pervades our waking hours. I seek to explore the questions that keep us restless; Why do I exist? Do I wanna die or am I just to afraid to live? What is true love/connection and am I enough to give it? Do I have anything to give? I think what sets me apart from other artists is that I have an entirely different lexicon to work with. My experience with multiple artistic disciplines (poetry, theater, hip hop, classical voice, directing, screenwriting, dance, arts education, etc…), the stories that have shaped my views of reality, spirituality, and humanity are unlike anyone else’s. My life experiences coupled with my imagination form an experience that is uniquely my own.

To be honest, I’ve been struggling with depression for the last few years and this struggle has fostered resistance to making art or doing anything that brings me joy haha. It has been difficult, but I am proud and grateful for the things that I have been able to create as well as the projects I have been able to help my friends create. I am proud that the things I have been able to make look and sound more and more like “myself”. I’m finding my voice more and more and that is exciting!

My journey has taken me through varying degrees of horror and ecstasy (as it does for us all). The only reason that I am alive today is through the love, patience, and forgiveness of my friends, my family, and my peers. Through my support system, I have learned that you can’t do everything at once, that you can’t do anything alone, and that patience/diligence is the key. Once you start, you got to find a way to keep going. Please get your rest but don’t stop.

I just want the world to know that I’m tryna get a handle on my existence just like everyone else. Being a human and being alive in this world is so hard. It really is incredible that we decide to get out of bed. But if you are getting up, showing up as best you can, and keeping your world then you are doing enough. You are love. You are enough. I hope that you find these sentiments reflected in my art.

We gone be aite y’all.

We are already.

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?
Fam! I’m really more of a home body BUT if you rolling wit me….

First we’d start the morning with coffee or breakfast from the Pancake House in Five Points.

Then we hitting nature! Birmingham Botanical Gardens. Ruffner Mountain Quarry. Oak Mountain Park (to see the waterfall). Especially this time of year! We gotta hit Railroad Park and then Avondale Park and kick it at the Amphitheater. Then we can drive around and look at all the fancy houses in Redmont Park, Mountain Brook, and around the Southside.

After a lovely morning/afternoon in the sun, we can do lunch Taco Morro Locos in Avondale. The food truck not the store haha. We can hit the Pizits Food Hall and nom on some Ethiopian food from Ghion Hall. Or we can bounce over to Avondale and get Puerto Rican from Tropicaleo. OR we can get my favorite chinese food from China Luck in Pinson if you wanna me a lil trip.

Then we can hit The Shops in Leeds and then hit up the American Thrift store in Roebuck and Lovelady Thrift in Irondale. Those 2 are my favorites and I always find dope sh*t there.

Once we’ve spent all our money it’s time for naps haha. Then we can spend a little more and get dinner at some fancy spots. We can hit up the Thai food at Surin West in Five Points or the Indian Cuisine at Bay Leaf. We can hit up The Club and dine with a fantastic view of the city. OR we can hit Hot Spot or Exotic Wings & Things for some grease and Cajun ranch fries.

After we are broke and full, I’ll roll a back wood for my quest and then share stories and talk about our dreams.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would be remiss if I didn’t show love to The Core 4! My Co-Executive Director Jahman Hill (@jahman_rondo) is a nationally recognized poet, and award winning playwright, an incredible performer and the definition of loyalty. Our Director of Media Janavian Young (@janavianadreme) is an incredible videographer, photographer, dancer, and artist and she is the most humble spirit you can come into contact with. Our Director of Communications Jada Dumas (@jaysun_kissed) is also an incredible videographer, editor, graphic designer and social media maven. Jada is the youngest member of our team but she is an absolute force!. Over the last 2 years we have laughed, cried, and laughed some more as we hit the grind to make our dreams a reality. Not only is my team unbelievably dope at what they do, they are also incredible humans with so much love and compassion for their community. When one of us is down, we’re picking them up. When one of us has an idea we want to make happen, the others are down to build. We haven’t known each other that long but we have become a family. I don’t say it enough but I love and appreciate y’all so much!

Website: www.theflourishal.com

Instagram: @ejdamarvel

Twitter: @ejdamarvel

Facebook: Eric Marable Jr.

Other: https://linktr.ee/mrvllus