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

Hi Hydéia, how do you think about risk?

I look at the word “risk” in a positive sense. I believe that being able to take a risk is a blessing. It’s a privilege that some people can’t afford. Thankfully, I have some powerful risk-taking women in my family like my mother, grandmother, and great aunts, who I can always lean into for assistance should a risk become too detrimental. The concept of “risk-taking” is a lot deeper than the action of just exposing oneself to possible unforeseen change. It’s getting oneself out of a constant, often one we’ve been in too long. Risks are the reason we see differently outside of our norms and, as an artist, it plays a MAJOR role in my life and career. I’ve pivoted careers off risk-taking and it’s paid off. After graduating college in May 2019, I went directly into overnight factory work. Once the pandemic hit, I started doing delivery driving through apps. Eventually, I landed in front desk hotel work and political canvassing then to outreach coordinating for a community college. Now, I work full-time delivery driving. That final career jump has brought me a clearer and more conscious life outlook I desired since taking that risk back in May 2023. My primary reason for taking chances in regards to life and career after I graduated are my passion projects, most of which I couldn’t seem to find time to focus on due to other obligations. These responsibilities, some we all have, involved jobs, bills, my sleep schedule, freelance work, and my relationship with my free time. It was like being stuck in a loop of a survival mode game with different levels. At the base of my issues, I’d find myself unsatisfied in the different spaces I’ve worked outside of my business, yearning to take a risk for more. Realizing that more would often lay within the power of my own personal creativity that I was abstaining from.

Through life most recently, taking risk has given me time freedom and change has brought me power. I’ve been able to establish my “CapturedByHydéia” brand increasingly more with photography, videography, and screenwriting since taking my last career risk. I find power in being able to do what I love as an artist in the midst of today’s more conservative world. For me, the risk of stumbling, and maybe tripping, along my ordained path is far less greater than the risk of staying stagnant and unsatisfied in my career. My brand, afro-centric based, is forever evolving and has seen more consistency and, subsequently, found more identity as I take risks and propel myself further into my artistic lifestyle. I’ve gained a wonderful community that reflects more of why I took those risks and whom I find inspiration from. A risk can be as broad as a career change or as narrow as a picture flipped for a different look. The word “risk” often has a negative connotation in certain work settings but I believe risk-taking is pivotal for an artist. The world changes and, being part of this world, so should I. I embrace adaptation, I welcome it, and I transmute it, usually into art. I’ve risked the comfort and convenience in certain aspects of my life to pursue my art in a more balanced and authentic way suitable for myself. Naturally, it took years to come to that resolution. Years to understand my outright power over my current life and the life I want to unravel into. Risk may come with loss, reward, or both; however, I grew up playing sports so, I love a good challenge!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

The road into any artistic journey is often the one less traveled. Nothing easy about that. It brings about question, sometimes of your sanity, your patience, your dedication to your craft. I’ve been challenged through risks. I’ve ran into blocks, whether it be with entities or through the physical work I’ve produced as a creative. I’ve learned artistic rejection is one of the simplest forms of redirection. It’s usually quick and to the point. And that’s the beauty in creating art. There is no perfect formula. There is only a feeling, and it all feels differently to each one of us. Within my brand, CapturedByHydéia, I highlight stories of those often gone unseen, unheard, or simply devalued. A lot of that storytelling centers around Blackness and celebrating the culture through visual art, whether it be documentary filmmaking, screenwriting, photography, and, most recently, audio mixing. Within the last year, I’ve produced my first ever mix for a digital project called Cousins On Easter Sunday/Momma’s Boys made in memory of my late cousin Jabree, shot photography and videography for Janelle Monaé, Wondaland, and friends, ran early campaign media for a Black women running for North Carolina Senate and, most recently, finalized and copyrighted my first feature-length script about a Black girl’s youth. I love telling our stories, simply put. I’m excited to get the chance to share more of those stories in all ways possible as well as gaining the chance to collaborate with other artists creating the change in their artwork! I genuinely hope my brand creates a sense of exposure for community outside of myself who have layers just as deep as me. I hope the art I create will put me in rooms to continue creating and uplifting shared stories, often unseen, unheard, and devalued.

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?

Monday is the perfect time to introduce my friend to the Mad Miles Run Club at 6:30 at Camp North End. We can walk/run a mile and spend some good time with community. After changing, we’re definitely checking out Red@28th, doesn’t matter the night. But they have a fun karaoke night on Monday, the DJ is always providing the right vibe, plus the food menu is made fresh and affordable.

Tuesday afternoon, we’ll grab the most amazing shrimp tacos under $4 from either Party Locos Tacos food truck, preferably off North Tryon, which is a little over 10 minutes from our next stop – Rosie’s Coffee and Wine Garden! After eating and drinking wine, The Independent Picture House will probably have a dope new film for us to watch. It is Discount Tuesday and they don’t participate in the discount at that theater but the bill is on me because who doesn’t love the grit of independent film? After the movie, a home cooked meal will be served, with enough for leftovers.

Wednesday, we start our late morning/early afternoon off with Einstein Bros Bagels or The Original Pancake House (Midtown) en route to an unplanned downtown photoshoot because carpe diem! After the photo shoot, Pins Mechanical, which opens at 4 pm, would be a cool place to venture to during the week day. Bar arcade with free activities like ping-pong, skee ball, giant jenga, and original play station games, as well as cheaply priced mini-bowling, indoor/outdoor seats and swings?! After leaving that, we gotta settle down and eat leftovers so we can watch the new episode of Abbott Elementary.

Thursday morning/early afternoon, we could do a friendly workout and then rest. Shortly after, we head to Mr. Charles Chicken and Fish off Cambridge Commons and eat well to prepare for an almost weekend night at Tilt, one of the only bars that stays open until 2am every night in Charlotte. After leaving Tilt, we gotta find the nearest Cookout or Waffle House, no if ands or buts about it! The locations on North Tryon are reliable!

Friday, we venture to Optimist Hall for photo ops and lunch, and then to Camp North End for photo ops, plus they do a free movie night on Friday evenings with free arcade games, and drinks and snacks for sell. It’s real cute! Directly after, only 8 minutes away, the Lorem Ipsum Listening Bar would be a great time. It closes at 12 on the weekends and the space is very intimate so we’ll want to get good seating early. We can leave Lorem Ipsum and hop around to places like Red@28th, Cloud, Lost & Found, or Imperial, or we can go straight to Midnight Diner for the shrimp and grits. I’d leave the choice up to my friend!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shoutout to my hometown family from Dover, Delaware and beyond, I’m out Delaware! Shoutout to my Charlotte family, DREAM, mentors from the Milton Road Boys & Girls Club, Northridge and Rocky River friends still rocking with me and the lovebugs who’ve poured into me since <3. Shoutout to my God-Sun, Mason! Shine bright absolutely as you are, little cousin. Shoutout my mama Erinn, happy Mother’s Day because we celebrate that every day! Thank you for believing and speaking life into me. Shoutout my (kinda) grown baby brother Jabari Elzie, who INSPIRES me to be an artist that takes more risks. You are amazing at your artistry and in tune with the zest for life. I love every bit of it! Shoutout to my many siblings, I love to see y’all fly! Shoutout to my grandma Denise, who proves a grandmother’s love is incomparable. She was also my first teacher! Shoutout to all the teachers, mentors, and guides of the world. Shoutout to Sesame Street and Dr. Chester Pierce! Shoutout to my family matriarch aunt Dee Dee, you wear the crown beautifully. Shoutout my aunt Jane, always there to listen, laugh, and give a helping hand. Shoutout to my aunt Moiré, the person who inspired me to play basketball and play the trumpet, we love a diverse Queen! Shoutout to my Howard Bison family, thinkin’ bout the moment when “Crew” dropped, love y’all!! Shoutout to Malaysha Belton aka Malaysianink, a friend and passionate visual artist. Our collaboration for your art students stays close to my heart! Thank you for thinking of me! 🙂 Shoutout to each and every kid in public school and affordable after school programs, the limit does not exist! Shoutout to Kia and Greg at Free Mind TV & Films and Beverly at Kendall Productions. I owe my first 3 feature-length onset experiences to those people. Thank you for the lessons and the preparation! Shoutout to the beautiful people who’ve allowed me to capture them via street photography, my brand starts from the ground. Shoutout to Janelle Monáe, Dee, Kiana, all of the wonderful Wondaland and Black Women Photographers for taking a risk on a small town gal like myself. I really love them folx! What you see is what you get and even better with community like that. Working with Janelle Monáe and Wondaland gave me an internal, spiritual boost towards my art. I’m forever grateful. Shoutout to Kevin Brown! Thank you for the interview spot, it means the world to share some of my story. Thank you to the tribe around me.

Website: https://capturedbyhydeia.myportfolio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capturedbyhydeia/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hydeiaharvey/

Twitter: https://x.com/ByHydeia

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@byhydeia

Other: https://soundcloud.com/capturedbyhydeia/cousins?si=9b105f8d71564a82997bef1b5a21a437&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Image Credits
CapturedByHydéia

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