Indigene Theresa Gaskin shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Indigene Theresa, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Creating art with my three year old grandson. I get to experience the joy he gets from creating and it also gives me a chance to be playful and carefree!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am artenprenuer, under the name of Indigene Art Forms and utilize various ways to sell art that I create.
As an Afro-Caribbean artist and visual storyteller rooted in both Black Southern and Caribbean traditions; I use bold color, layered textures, and mixed media collage to bring the heart and soul of my subjects to life. My work celebrates the legacies of women across the African diaspora—honoring history, spirit, and heritage.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
I’ve stopped working as an administrator in non-art related work. Working in this capacity supported me in rearing my children and getting them both through college. I put my talent and hopes on the back burner for a lot of years. I will never regret it, because we all make decisions based on our own personal experiences, but it’s now my time to boldly go and put myself and passion first.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of rejection and failure has kept me in a chokehold throughout my 20s through my 40s! What really helped me was being able to name it, become aware of it and seek support to work through it. The work I did around this aspect of my life was different as I let go of some of the things I feared. Fear will always be a part of life, but I’ve designated it as a passenger, not the driver in my life.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I once believed that learning was something that needed to be achieved through an accredited education. This was a strong belief held throughout my 20s and early 30s. It was truly naive and held me back in so many ways. True learning can happen anywhere, any place and from a child to and elder! My life experiences have been more valuable than my school learning. That’s not to take away from formal education, because I know that’s where I honed my critical analysis skills.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I think people are going to tell the story of what they experience with me and how I made them feel. Believe me, that will differ depending on who’s doing the telling! I want my art to be a visual story that represents me, yet resonates with my community. I also want whomever I spent any length of time with, to know that I genuinely cared and/or loved them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://indigeneart.com/
- Instagram: @indigene_theresa_gaskin
- Linkedin: Indigene Theresa Gaskin
Image Credits
Indigene Theresa Gaskin
Lanecia Rouse
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