I worked for you on your previous Beyond the Stroke magazine, we covered some great artists, what motivated you to create it?

As co-founder alongside my business partner at the time, we both are artists and wanted to create something for us artists. For me when it came to certain art based magazines there was always highlights of the artist work but never a story about the artist behind the work. So our focus for the magazine was to get the spill on the artist behind the work. Hint- why it was called Beyond the Stroke. What their life was like, their upbringing, how did they get into their craft, what message were they trying to put into the world with their art.

Please tell us about the I AM ART Campaign, what it is about, how it works and if there is a way for people to get involved?

The I AM ART Campaign is my first baby I created while in undergrad back in 2014. At the time I was a full time graphic design major at Memphis College of Art. Over the years it has grown into a more strategic goal of support and empowerment for the next generation of artists. What a lot of people don’t know is it started out as a personal brand t-shirt line. For some reason I always wanted to have a clothing line so I started out with t-shirts. With ‘ART’ being the first three letters of my first name (ARTavius) and it was my passion, I figured this will be a good way to brand myself, so I went for it. Over the span of the first six months of launching the t-shirts I sold 100 shirts. I was completely shocked because it was my first time selling anything and it was doing well so fast. I later found out that the t-shirt was inspiring artists of many generations. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, I AM A MAN Movement, the t-shirt had the words “I AM ART” with the word ‘ART’ designed by many words that created the three letters. These words were in relation to art-based jobs, careers, and words such as Graphic Designer, Painter, Leader, Dancer, Entrepreneur, Risk-Taker and etc. Having such huge feedback from the supporters I realize that this was more than a t-shirt line. Being a sucker for positive influence and serving my community it developed into a movement.

During this phase it became a direct response to the naysayers who agreed that traditional art was the only “real art”, if it was untraditional it wasn’t qualified as art. I completely disagreed, I believed all forms of art is ART. So the direction of the campaign shifted as a force of empowerment, wearing the t-shirt as a badge of honor to state that they too are an ARTist.

As the years continue to past, I found ways to reach out to other artists in the industry both of traditional and non-traditional to share their stories of being an artist and what it means to them. Linking ideas and stories to the fact that the art community is well diverse among the traditional box some try to put us in. All of us are creative artists in one form or another.

Ways others can get involved is to support us by either following us on social media, buying merch or reaching out to us to possibly be featured or collaborate. Our website is www.iamartcampaign.com we’re on facebook, instagram, twitter and youtube under I AM ART Campaign as well.

What are your long-term goals for I AM ART Campaign?

To possibly become a non-profit organization and be able to serve the next generation artists-  youth- more in any way we can.

Please tell us about AV Productionz, what are your goals with it?

AV Productionz (Artistic Vision Productionz) is a business I created simply for my freelancing contract work I do. I plan to leave my 9 to 5 and pursue contract jobs and collaborations assisting other companies creatively.

You had some very challenging health problems early in life, can you tell us a bit about that and what got you through the most difficult parts of that?

I was prematurely birthed at 24 weeks and diagnosed with kidney disease at the age of 3 years old. I went on dialysis for 18 months and received a kidney transplant from my father at the age of 15 years old. It’s definitely been a long and scary journey but I believe kidney disease didn’t hinder my life it indeed BLESSED MY LIFE. Going through what I went through at such a young age gave me the knowledge and strength to be a living testimony today for those who may be currently going through it or for those who may know someone who have the disease. It’s such a taboo topic to speak on in the black community but it needs to be heard and paid attention to. Educate yourself on your health and find ways to take better care of you.

The way I got through it lays on the promise I made with God while on dialysis which was, “Lord, if you help me through this I promise to share my story with the world and help other people along my journey in any way I can”. Since then, now coming up on my 15 year post-transplant this upcoming July 15^th, I’ve been blessed tremendously to be able to share my story on many platforms and bring awareness to the topic and encourage other to become donors. I’m here today because of a living donor. For those who didn’t know, you can still live your life fully with just one kidney. My dad is still here today living his best life with just one kidney and I’m so blessed that he decided to be my donor and give me a second chance at life. You can do the same, register to become a donor today. Also, I finished a long awaited dream of finishing my first memoir, “Becoming a Living Testimony” sharing my life in-depth from birth up to now which will be out later this year as well. So I’m just trying to do my part, keep my promise and be a vessel to encourage, inspire and empower people through my journey in life anyway I possibly can.

You doing amazing performances and shows, were you always gifted with the ability to feel comfortable on stage or did it take time?

I’ve always had a love for acting and theater. I never dreamed of being an actor though. I just love the art form, bringing characters to life and making people laugh. Still to this day, I get very nervous before going out on stage. Believe it or not but I’m an introvert. A lot of people mistake me by seeing pictures of the things I’ve accomplished or shows I’ve done and think I have this huge entourage of people I hang out with all the time. You won’t see me in big crowds or hanging with a lot of people. If I’m not with my best friend, sisters or few select people in my circle, I’m mainly to myself and by myself a lot of times, that’s how I recharge and able to creatively think.

You were in When Love Lies, a nominated Memphis play of the year, I believe it was your first male role on stage. What was that like and how did it feel to be part of a play that received such recognition?

It was AMAZING! Shout out to my theater sister, Ms. Tymika Chambliss, she’s the writer and director of the stage play. Coming in to this cast was a little nerve wrecking in the beginning. Not only was it my first male role, but it was also my first all-black cast that I’ve worked with. I’m used to being the only black person on the cast when I do my other stage plays for my female character. So it was defiantly different to be around a cast that was all black. Needless to say, I was very proud to be among such talented black actors in Memphis, they received and respected me very well and we all developed a little family of support. I was more happy for Tymika when we all found out that the play was nominated for Play of the Year, she worked so hard and providing things for us actors and to be sure everything was on point, she deserved that. Even though we didn’t win the award she was able to win the Director of the Year so we all was proud and winners in that moment.

I grew up in Kentucky and left at a time when there was still much prejudice in regards to racism or anyone that is different. When I look at my old hometown online now, it is so much more diverse, far from perfect, but much more open- minded.  What has been your experience growing up in the South? When and where did you notice change?

Growing up In the south has its pros and cons, just as anywhere else. Here in Memphis, Tennessee, it has such a bad reputation for violence. It’s crazy, but hey, violence happens everywhere, so it wasn’t nothing big, at least to me, because I was raised around it. However, things got real for me when I came to realize I was gay at the age of 7 years old. Being born into a religious family who stayed in church was a tough one for me. At the time both of my parents were homophobic and I was taught what an abomination was in church sheltered me a lot from being true to who I was as a teenager. Things were different for us black folks especially in the south when it comes to being black and gay. Being a black man already comes with a strike against us when it comes to being successful in comparison to our white counterparts. Not to mention I’m also gay and feminine, that’s two more strikes against me. So imagine how much of a struggle that was for me early in life. Eventually I came out after graduating high school and was kick out of my mother’s house and abandon by some family members but as they say, time heals all wounds. Over the years I’ve been able to reconcile a relationship with my family and they accept me for who I am and are proud of the man I’ve become today.

I believe you are going to be in a short film soon, if so, can you tell us about it?

I can’t say much about it right now because it’s still in production. I will say it’s also written and produced by Tymika Chambliss company, Black Box Productions, and I’m so honored to be a part of this project. I feel like she wrote this specifically for me. I resonate so much with the character Timothy. It will definitely shock a lot of people and might make some mad, but all in all it’s the truth that needs to be told and I can’t wait for y’all to see it. Not to mention it’s my first starring role in a short film and my first movie poster that I am featured on by myself, AND I got the honor to design it too! I’m so excited!

Your Friday videos are fun and contagious—it always puts me in a good mood to run across them—what inspired you to create them?

Well, for those who follow me on social media know that I love sharing my journey in life with my supporters. Rather it’s good, bad, happy or sad. I try to be as transparent as I possibly can with my supporters. Of course still leaving room for my personal privacy, but I always wanted to show my progress through life. Not only for my supporters but mainly for me. I do all of this for me as self-therapy. When I’m going through rough patches or feeling down I like to go back to my post and read a quote, status or watch a funny video I posted to snap me out of that mental state and feeling better.

When it came to the Friday videos it honestly started when I began my new job late last year, and I now have weekends off at this job so Fridays are a celebration! (laughs) When I did it a couple Fridays I noticed the traction it picked up with people who be looking forward to them. I’ve even been called via facebook and instagram when I missed a Friday or two. I was told how they really enjoy my energy and the joy my videos bring them on Friday mornings. So from there I just kept doing it, connecting with my supporters and jamming to my favorite tunes.  Also FYI, I jam  like that every time I’m in my car going somewhere. I love music, I love to dance, sing, have a good time, and I’m thankful to be able to share that positivity and fun energy with the world every Friday. We need more positive energy and laughter during these tough times we’re in now.

You are so full of energy and life! How do maintain so many projects? What is your schedule like?

Honestly, I just love to have fun and laugh. Everything I do is because its fun to me. I have the motto of saying, “Do what I love, love what I do, when it’s not fun no more, then bye bye boo!”

At the age of 30 now, I live under my terms. I only participate in things that I love, that are fun, that makes me happy and things I’m passionate about. No matter what it is, when it’s not fun for me no more I let it go, period. I wasted so much time in my 20s being a people pleasure and trying to live up to other people standards. I use to have this thing where I will always over book myself and work crazy projects so I will always look busy. I’ve learned, just because you’re busy doesn’t mean you’re progressing and just because you’re not as busy doesn’t mean you’re not progressing. Go at your own pace, take breaks when needed and keep it pushing just don’t stop.

Believe it or not my schedule isn’t packed at all. I have a few projects I dedicate my time to but nothing too crazy. I like alone time where I have free days to treat myself and take care of my mental health. Being able to do whatever I want, rather that’s going on a date with myself or out to a movie alone, or if I just want to lay around the house and eat cookies and cream ice cream while watching HGTV all day that’s exactly what I will do lol! It’s all about finding those little nuggets of happiness that helps keep me going and coming up with new ideas.

Please give any news I may have missed, as busy as you stay, and give us all your social media to follow!

My website: https://artaviusveasey.wixsite.com/mysite-2

All social media (FB, Twitter, IG, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat): @artaviusveasey