|
D’Naia Bryant is a creative spoken word artist who lives in West Haven. She generously sat down with ArtsWestCT to answer a few questions so the community can get to know her better.
Who is the main audience for your work?
Teenage girls are my heart. I have a teenage daughter, and I remember what it was like with self-esteem issues. I also write for adult women. Being a mom, a wife, and out in society, I don’t believe in balance. You’re always gonna drop something. I believe in priorities. I may not make it to every soccer game, but I’ll make it to the championship. Some things are rubber, they’ll bounce back. Some things are glass, so you handle them with more care.
Who or what inspires you?
Right now I’m really into the work of writer and curator Mahogany Brown. She is the author of Black Girl Magic (2018). Also poet, painter, and visual artist Shanna T. Melton. She is the author of Unraveling My Thoughts: A Collection of Poems.
It may sound cliche, but I’m inspired by my past. My new work is a set of poems to my younger self. Growing up, I wasn’t exposed to tools to help make sense of my experience. I’m an introvert, so we tend to bottle it up. Writing and creating are great ways to express and to process.
How has this time of Covid been for you and your family?
It has been rough. My mom contracted it before we even knew what it was. She is disabled and breathing-compromised, plus she’d just had surgery. She was on a vent, we were making her decisions. It was really touch and go, but thankfully, she pulled through. Then my 17-yr-old became sick even though he was taking precautions.
I guess it taught me to prepare for the worst but also try to experience life more joyfully every split-second. Keeping the glass half-full is a practice.
I really miss performing on stage. In the beginning when events went virtual, I sort of lost confidence. I was teaching a poetry class to young girls and everyone's camera was off. Then, one by one, they came on. Seeing their faces made all the difference.
What are you hoping for these days?
I hope to expand my writing and put a book out. I have in mind a journal full of writing and doodling prompts, something fun. Finding ways to be more creative keeps me hopeful.
When you’ve had a traumatic past, it can be hard celebrating wins. Sometimes my life feels too good to be true. I was married three years before I really believed it was real! But it is better than I ever imagined.
What are your impressions of the West Haven community?
My family has lived in West Haven for 4 years, almost five. To be honest, I didn’t even know there was an art scene in West Haven. I knew there was in New Haven, and we’d go there or Bridgeport before the world closed. I just saw West Haven as this small, quaint town. Now that I’ve met a few artists, I’m excited to connect more. I want to collaborate with other artists, find space and set up programs for kids.
Follow D’Naia Bryant on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/dnaia.mincey
Here is her LinkTree
|
