Lecture: From Bawitdaba to da bang da dang diggy.

Portfolio Teaching Research & Writing Typography

Lecture Introduction
From Bawitdaba to da bang da dang diggy.
A post-graduate journey to find out how to care less.

10.9-15.2022

I was asked to be a Graduate Assistant at Vermont College of Fine Arts for their fall residency. In addition, we held the first-ever Alumnx Weekend, during which I presented a talk titled "What have you been up to since graduating?" Here is a sample from that presentation:

To quote a contemporary prophet, "From Bawitdaba to da bang da dang diggy."

A post-graduate journey to find out how to care less.

After completing the VCFA program in October 2017, I returned to civilian life in Louisville, Kentucky. I had started a small art gallery while working full-time freelancing. However, I soon realized that my income was not sufficient to meet my financial needs. In order to secure my future, I decided to travel to New York to freelance for short sprints at different agencies. This proved to be a wise decision as it allowed me to pay off some of my credit card debt and my car loan.

My experiences freelancing in New York also helped me to overcome my fear of moving to a big city. With newfound confidence, my partner Kelly and I sold our collected belongings, packed up our house and studio/gallery space, and moved to Brooklyn. To our delight, we both landed jobs within a couple of days of arriving in Brooklyn.

After a couple of months, my friend Chad and I were presented with a large project through our neighbors in the building we were renting from. Working together, we pitched a proposal that was surprisingly accepted. This led us to scramble to brand ourselves, set up an EIN, bank account, and build a proper statement of work. Our hard work paid off, as five years later our business has grown significantly. I am proud to have created an apprenticeship program and implemented a 4-day work week.

To keep my creativity flowing, I also started creating 10-minute posters in the mornings or at the end of the day. This has helped me to stay motivated and hone my design skills. Additionally, I have taught a thesis course to 20 students at the New School on Fridays. I am passionate about teaching and sharing my knowledge with others.

Last week, I became a homeowner and moved from Brooklyn to Cincinnati, where I bought my first lawn mower. This marks a new chapter in my life and I am excited to see what the future holds.