Domonique King shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Domonique, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Wow. What makes me feel lose track of time is my creative thoughts. So many things enter my head and sometimes I’m like “Oh snap, let me act on it!” Even if I have a to do list that I’ve already spent immense amounts of time curating. But… my creativity also provides an attainable goal that I can see through and makes me hone in. This can be for minutes to years. So Id say my creativity makes me lose sight, then brings me back to reality.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello Eveeyone! My name is Domonique King, your friendly San Diego Native. I am a Master Fiber Artist just navigating this art world with as much vulnerability and technicality as I can muster up. I make a very unique type of art made from yarn and nails. I’m self taught and am creating new techniques as I go. For the past 13 years, I’ve been so focused on the technical aspect and process of my art and I think it’s very inspiring. But I am now more interested in interpreting my inside world, past experiences and projecting my ideology into my art. As I work through the creating comfort being seen in my rawest forms instead of from a perfectionist mindset, you’ll see more of who Domonique really is.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Funny thing is, I’ve never been what the world has told me to be. I’ve always gone against the grain. Never conforming to societal or familial standards for a woman in the U S of A. Sometimes this has gotten me in some very deep and ark places because I purposefully put myself in positions where ai will be cast or seen as different and I must prove my worth even though I am different than expected. I mostly struggle with who I tell myself I have to be. Perfectionism can make you great and can also be debilitating and I navigate through those parallels constantly. I think this is all reflected in my art. It’s different. Not seen often and I am pushing through boundaries to be seen and recognized. And I love it.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes! My mother passed recently and unexpectedly at 58 years old. The last time I saw her was an my solo show 7 days before. It threw me into a 2 year whirlwind. Reckoning with mortality, worth and spirituality. I barely made any art during this time. I felt it was a sign to stop. To quit. To move on and do something the world sees as more meaningful and successful. As we know, this art world can be precarious and you have to gauge your win levels of success. But I’ve recently been coming to the light. Reminding myself that my art is valuable and is a piece of me that I want to leave with the world. Even if my mortality reaches its intended time.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
As a Black American with ancestry from chattel slavery and the atrocities beyond, joy is a cultural value that I protect at all cost. No matter what was cast upon us, we always found a way to find joy. To laugh, cook, create and show love has created a resilience in us that has pushed us to the forefront internationally when we were intended to be cast into the shadows.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Caring so deeply about looking like I have it all together. I would be vulnerable and present and raw. Letting my family and the world understand exactly whom I am, how I feel and what I think. I would be less introverted and be seen by more people.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.WoodWoolSteel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodwoolsteel
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