As part of YES I Express Month we will be featuring young creatives across the OECS, learning about their experiences, sharing what they have learnt and hearing their ideas for development of the Creative Sector.
Serika Charles is on a journey to imprint all that she is through her passionate relationship with pencil and paper. Hailing from Grenada, Serika Charles is the co-founder of GLAM (Girls Leaders Advocates and More) a non profit focused on “empowering girls to reach their full potential”. Through the GLAM organization and her personal endevours to become one of Grenada's most prominent artists the multifacited soul, draws, paints, writes both stories and poems and also dabbles in graphics design. Picasso's resume may very well soon pale in comparison to hers in the up coming years.
OY: How do you view your art or what is your art to you?
SC: When I was younger I thought art meant to color within the lines and be an exact replica of another object. Life has taught me differently. Today my art is more of a visual thesis packed with hard concepts, symbology,philosophy with layers that touch on multiple areas of society. It is my voice and I hope others can find theirs in it too.
OY: What type of artist do you aspire to be? What fuels you to continue towards that aspiration?
SC: I want to be an artist that is fearless of judgement and uses her art to say the things that needs to be said. I want to invoke thought and wonder in people in a way that would facilitate the lifting of consciousness in the areas of spirituality, personal relationships and sociopolitical perspectives.
OY: Have you ever given up before? If yes, what ignited your desire to stand tall and continue?
SC: In high school during second form my school started offering art classes and I had intended to study it all the way for CXC but my family didn't think it was a wise idea because artists don't make money! So I never got the chance to develop my artistic skills. In January of 2015 I began my art journey again to cope with a difficult period in my life.
OY: What is one wish that you have for your skill?
SC: To improve! Every artist should get better at their style of art. As well as create a platform for it to be shared with everyone.
OY: Is there any advice you would give to your younger self, who was just beginning to master her skill, if you could go back in time? If yes, what is it?
SC: I would tell my younger self that it is absolutely okay to invest in your talents and gifts. Take a class, attend a workshop and learn whatever you can. Most of all do what you love and don't allow others to dissuade you from doing so.
OY: There are many people who may have a talent in art, but do not share their work with others. Did you ever experience this? What motivated you to share your work with others.
SC: Oh boy! Did I ? I ran like the wind. My friends have jokingly referred to me as a "trapped-in-the-closet-artist". I was so scared to even say that I was an artist because I didn't think I deserved the title since I never studied it seriously in school. I got the courage to "come out" when my friends started looking forward to my next creation since they wanted to discuss the meanings. I realized that art was more about the conversation it opened up and I was excited to discuss the ideas that came out of it with more people.
OY: How would you describe the feelings you experience when creating artwork?
SC: It's a natural high. Sometimes I feel like my body vibrates. I create in two ways. Spontaneous inspiration and calculated inspiration. Sometimes I'm on the train and a concept comes to me and I run home to put down before it leaves me. Other times I think about different concepts and how they relate to a certain event and piece together a conversation about it.
OY: Do you believe artists do not get public support because people don't understand all that goes into the creative process?
SC: Yes this is the main reason for the lack of support but I think the root of the problem is the way art is presented to us in school and as a society. Art is largely perceived to just be a hobby and many Caribbean parents who have worked so hard to give their children a future would prefer their children to take a more "tried and true" path of sciences. Also art is never really studied in depth but only the face value which is why many people just focus on the aesthetics and not the conversation or meaning behind the piece. Which brings us back to why so many people are ignorant of the creative process and in turn undervalues art itself, it is not seen as an intellectual area but just an aesthetic one. However there are areas of art that are wildly accepted in Grenada such as photography and cosmetology. These areas have been steadily growing in appreciation over the last couple years, mainly because it feeds a society that has largely become consumerist and focused on the self. Whereas other areas of the arts are more abstract and depends on the beholder to grasp the concept beyond the aesthetic.
OY: What are you as a young person doing to support / develop the creative arts in Grenada?
SC. I'm really trying to be a beacon in the little corner that I'm in. After going through a phase of doubting myself and silencing my voice I really make it my duty to share my art with people and the meaning behind it. I have to admit as an artist you kinda want people to just look at your art and start interpreting it especially if you have something meaningful to say but I've learnt so far that this isn't the norm where I come from and that the conversation starts with me. So I make it my duty explain to people the concepts and perspective of my paintings. So far I've received both love and criticism which I gladly welcome. I've had a couple people express that they themselves have found some inspiration to share their art with others which is great! In the future I'd love to have a little workshop on the creative process and embracing your art.
OY: What resources / tools should Grenadian/ OECS artists be provide with to succeed?
SC: The arts should be a staple to education. I think it would be great if kids had access to free art classes that didn't only touch on the aesthetic of art but also teach on history, the intellectual aspects, and how it can be used to voice opinions, start movements within society as well as documenting and preserving cultures. Another way to encourage participation is to create a platform. We have many extracurricular activities and competitions in schools for sciences but not barely any for the creative arts. Creating a platform will encourage young people to raise their voices and their brushes.
You can find more of Serika's work on Instagram @siwisoul
