Why do I make the way that I make?

Because I am no one's role model but my own. 
Because I do not believe in the worship of institution but the worship of the artist. 
Because I do believe artists are that powerful. 
Because creating art is an act to become closer to God. 
Because my God is a Higher Power and is not a He. 
Because art is a deadline.
Where you present your soul's truth on a deadline and you present yourself exactly where you are. 
Because no one understood Grace Jones either. 
Because I am no longer frustrated by being undefinable. 
Because Prince was undefinable.
And was reduced his whole life.
Because I have watched white people take credit for the labor of visionaries of color. Because I envision and I no longer want to live in shame about my sight. 
Because I no longer want to live in shame. 
Because every time I make art, I feel myself growing downwards and feel the poison of shame getting sucked out. 
And it is replaced with light. 
Like literally I feel lighter.
Because I don't like being told what to do.
Because it is from my soul. It is from my heart. 
And sometimes the most effective thing one can do is to support and then get out of the way and let a bitch breathe.
Because the bitch breathing will let you breathe better too. Because financial support does not mean an automatic buy-in of an artistic say. 
Because that is what healthy boundary-setting is as an artist.
Because I am interested in celebrating and this includes being celebrated.
I am here to take care and nurture my soul. And my heart.
And if I am not nurturing my soul or my heart in my art then it is not true. 
Because I am interested in the truth. 
Because a well-made anything bores me. Unless I'm going out to dinner.
Because art is not a meal or a croissant. 
Art transcends. 
It gives me something to believe in. 
I want to give me something to believe in. 
Because in taking care of me, I hope to take care of others. But not until I take care of me, can I take care of others. 
Because I'm excavating pain. Because I make for my pleasure. Because everything I make is a relationship. 
Because I will be an artist no matter what and nothing and no one will ever take that power away from me. Ever. And that is true power.
Because money is energy. 
Because my body is a universe that sets the rules that I want to be governed by. 
Because admitting to being afraid is vulnerable. And vulnerability is power. 
Because I'm interested in being a visionary. That means someone who envisions. 
​Because I am the chef. Of the 7 course meal. And I choose the cooks in the kitchen wisely. Because the real revolution is when artists are in charge of the resources they are given.