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

Hi Jameelah, how do you think about risk?
I think from the moment you decide that you want to create whether if it’s for a career or for a hobby, you have to be open to risks. I think being an artist is all about trusting yourself, and allowing what you think feel and see to be a reflection for yourself and for other people. The only way to do that successfully is to take a chance on yourself. You have to be apologetic with your creating process.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m definitely proud of the experiences that I’ve had that that have Lead me to be where I am now. I’ve had some really great opportunities working as an arts educator for some museums and Nonprofits around Pittsburgh. I’ve also had opportunities to work on the installation, and Art handling side of the art world. Being an educator Has been, and still is super rich! Getting to meet People of all ages, who are excited about art and creative lights of my heart! It’s always exciting being around people who are just as excited about art as I am! Being an art handler you also get to meet a lot of really great artist, and get to Understand technical side of what it takes to create a great exhibition. There’s a lot of hard work and labor that goes into it that people don’t see.

When you’re aiming to create full-time, you also have to be flexible. You have to know how to Identify the skills you have, monetize off of those and know what skills you may need to learn. Being an artist, you don’t always have the security that you would like. So sometimes that means having two jobs and maybe one of those jobs is an ideal, but it helps you get the paint you need, and the canvas you been waiting on. It’s not always that way, though. I guess the key is to know how to plan ahead. There’s a push and pull to it, but it’s worth it!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, if my friend is looking for something fancy, I will go to Spirit and tails, it’s a restaurant on the 10th floor of the Oaklander hotel. Beautiful views and great food. But if the plan is to be a little more within the community, I would go to Tasty Taquitos. They are family owned restaurant that expanded over the past few years, they make authentic Mexican food, and you can really taste the love in what they make. Then I will go to Phipps Conservatory, if you love plants and green spaces, this is one of the most beautiful places you can go in Pittsburgh, besides tons of parts that we have. There’s always flower shows circulating throughout the building. It’s somewhere I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of visiting!
We have to check out some of The museums here like the Carnegie, museum of art and natural history, the Warhol museum, and the August wilson Center. Then maybe we would go visit my friend’s dance studio Level Up Studios. Or see if there’s a show happening at the Pittsburgh Playhouse theater. Both spaces Environments to encourage dance, whether if you’re an observer or participant.

I’d also check out the Black Unicorn library and Archive Project. They’ve got an extensive collection of books and archives. They are definitely worth checking out!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate my shot out to my family Supported my career as an artist from the beginning. My parents exposed me to Art , the young age and allow me to immerse myself into it fully. I’d also like to dedicate this to every professor and educator that I had who helped mold me Into being inquisitive about The type of artist I am, and that resident with me. I read a lot of Bell Hooks, Look at works of teeny hair a lot too! They definitely influence how I decide to represent blackness within my art!

Instagram: Mimi_zaza

Linkedin: Jameelah Platt

Image Credits
Personal photo/headshot by Kitoko Chargois Description:holding paint brush in hand. (Remaining photos by Jameelah Platt)

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