We had the good fortune of connecting with Storm Cuff and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Storm, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I chose to pursue an artistic, creative career because I feel it is my purpose. I’ve always been an artist even before I truly knew it. The one part of history that is always left behind for reference is art, whether that be visual art such as paintings or photographs or performance art such as music, dancing, and poetry. My relationship with art has grown deep roots since I have claimed my own style within my artistry. I’ve become a passionate, committed student of the arts and I’m willing to give my contributions towards preserving it for future generations. I’m constantly inspired by my peers and my environments and through that inspiration I have found tremendous joy navigating the art scene and exploring the various mediums within it. A huge part of that purpose is to tell stories, whether it’s my own or others that look like me. I’m very protective of black artistry and a firm believer in altering the landscape and imagery of the black community in media spaces. These deep, growing roots aren’t just passion and a fire that will eventually burn out, this is my beating heart. I strive to continue to carve out canals for not only my art to thrive but allow room for others to flourish.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What sets me a apart from others is my heart. In everything I create, there is love behind it. What made me truly realize this was true was how my first solo exhibition was received. A good majority of the feedback I received was that love was a prevalent component in my work and that it was very visible. That is what I am most proud of. That my work is being received in the way I intend it to and that people feel just as intensely as I do actually creating the work, they feel the same way in viewing the work. I also find ways for my work to have overlap, connect, and thrive together. There have been moments where I felt I was neglecting certain mediums for others and began to feel like I was confining myself into a very linear path. But art is the opposite, it’s nonlinear, there is no straight line, there is no “right” way of pursuing it. Art is so unpredictable, it zigzags, it flourishes on its’ own terms. When I came to that conclusion, I realized I was a multidisciplinary artist. That’s the simplest way I could define it. All of the disciplines and practices I participate in started to work together, singing in harmony, which resulted in the name for my first solo exhibition, “When Thunder and Lightning Sing”. I got to where I am today by approaching art with pure curiosity. I learned that I will always be a student of the arts and will always be learning and shifting as the artistic landscape does the same thing. I was curious about the visual arts and how people were able to execute ideas solely of off what lived in their mind. It was not easy getting to where I am and I knew it was never going to be because then it wouldn’t have been as fulfilling and frankly, enjoyable. I was able to overcome certain challenges by accepting them for what they were. I didn’t try to cheat around them or find shortcuts, my feet were planted and I was present. I had to learn quickly that I wasn’t going to be a professional at something I was trying for the first time and that was a hard lesson to harness. I also had to learn that my journey is going to be much different from others, my way of practicing art and executing work was going to be different from others. As humans, we naturally feel the need to compare ourselves to others even subconsciously. I had to learn to ask myself questions to work through why comparison even came into the picture in the first place and where it was stemming from. I’ve overcome that damaging need to compare and allowed my story, my work, my drive to stand on it’s own as something untouchable, something that can’t be replicated and gave others that same courtesy. I want the world to know me as The Quiet Storm, a woman who may be quiet but is still very much a storm and my work reflects that same notion.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Everyday would be a different art exhibition or activity coupled with great food. I would take my first to the Brooklyn Museum and go for a walk on the high line. I would take them to this Black owned vegan restaurant in the lower east side called Cadence, they have this fried lasagna and gluten free cornbread that hits every. single. time! On another day we could go to Stuart Cinema & Cafe, which is a Black Latina owned movie theater in Brooklyn that serve great movies snacks and even have a liquor infused cupcakes! Then we would go see a show at the Studio Museum of Harlem following bar hopping, but not regular bar hopping, there will be live music and groovy tunes involved. So we can go to Beauty & Essex first, which is a speakeasy you have to access through a pawn shop, then we would go to the Coby Club, which has live jazz singers perform most nights, and end the night at a dessert bar in the lower east side called Spot Dessert Bar. For a more formal night out, I would take my friend to the Candlelight Concert then go to see an exhibition at the International Center for Photography then end the night at Tatianas, a very upscale Afro-Caribbean inspired dining restaurant.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to give a shoutout to the University Galleries at Montclair State University. Being a part of the University Galleries has greatly sculpted my interest in the gallery world and the desire to further explore my career following that path. I have gained tremendous knowledge about the functions of an educational, institutional gallery that creates a space where art is accessible for all ages and families with various backgrounds. I admire the dedication to fostering creativity and curiosity in the community. This gallery has provided me with the right tools towards pursuing my artistic career and I’m forever grateful to have been a part of such an amazing team. I would also like to give a shoutout to Bill and Lee, owners of the Honey Badger Motel Gallery for providing me the space to express my artistry for my first solo exhibition. I was building a concrete idea for my show and Bill and Lee were extremely supportive in assisting with the shows’ execution. They were excited about the exhibition proposal and allowed my art to take up the space it needed to reach people. Lastly, I always have to express gratitude for family. My family are biggest supporters in everything that I do and no story is worth telling without giving family their flowers for their contributions.

Website: https://www.stormzeyeview.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thequietstorm__/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thequietstormworld

Image Credits
Models: Gene, Noa, Bianca, Jade, Jonathan, Naya, Jervaris, Sanjaya

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