Faces of Antyx: Bryan
We thought it was time to start featuring our amazing staff here at Antyx and tell you all a bit more about us! This week our #FF is none other than the Spoken Word Artist, Bryan!
Bryan has two awesome programs lined up for this fall: every Thursday from 3:30-5:30 at the Forest Lawn Community Association he’s facilitating the Free Youth Poetry + Performance group to teach all about spoken word, performance and writing poetry. Also, on November 13 he will be hosting an online poetry open mic night where you can show off poet, MC or spoken word artist!
To register for these programs, email bryan@antyx.org!!
Q: How long have you been at Antyx?
A: I have been full time with Antyx for about 3 years starting in 2017! But I have been involved and first started working with them for about a year or two before that as a Spoken Word Artist and facilitator.
Q: How did you find your passions and how have you incorporated them into your life? Do your creations have a message you are trying to share?
A: My passions for hip hop, poetry, and movement started as a young child with older cousins getting me into West Coast Gangster Rap, golden age hip hop, martial arts and action movies, etc. However, it was only through my work with Antyx that I was able to create and seize opportunities that incorporated those passions into a job and career.
I'm very lucky to be living the creative lifestyle that I get to lead. And it only started being possible once I started asking myself questions like "who am I?", "what kinds of things make me as a person?", and "what impact do I want to leave on the world around me?". So I think the overall message I try to convey to people in all my creative works -- whether it’s on a stage, classroom, dancefloor, octagon/cage, etc.-- is to find, create, and express the authentically best version of yourself that makes you feel like the most genuine version of YOU. Usually, that version of you is someone that does pretty cool stuff and people (including yourself) like being around.
Q: What was the biggest opposing force that you encountered on your creative journey?
A: LOL, probably myself. I'm definitely an overthinker when it comes to a lot of things so it’s hard not to overanalyze my thoughts, actions, feelings, etc. when I'm trying to do something creative. That critical voice inside of our heads can and does push us to have high standards but it’s important to balance that out with self-love, celebrating small victories, and forgiving yourself for being frustrated and/or learning as you go.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
"Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent." -- Jim Jarmusch
Q: What are you currently working on?
A: Surviving the apocalyptic hot dumpster fire that is 2020, getting more amateur fights and becoming a better martial artist, and trying to hear some DOPE youth poetry/raps in my programs with Antyx.
Q: What is your biggest motivation?
A: Seeing the amazingly talented, kind, and hard-working people and communities I get to surround myself with on a daily basis and then saying to myself "hey, I belong here".
Q: What is your dream project or goal?
A: Leaving the world happy with the things I've experienced and in a somewhat better condition than when I first found it.