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

Hi Taylor, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
I know with social media comparing our lives to others can be easy. When people ask me questions like, what’s your story? Or what habits do you feel have helped you succeed? My answer is always simple. I fell in love with my practice. When you earnestly love something, you care about it. Then you nurture it. I would consider myself as a forever student. I am always positioning myself to learn. From learning new skills/ techniques, or by taking tips from my students’ creation process. They always remind me that I have the materials already to create new ideas, I just need to push material further by exhausting the ways the ideas I am trying to convey could be illustrated. My students also teach me to be free and enjoy the process. In my practice I don’t want to reach a point where I am content with saying I have mastered my practice.

As the daughter of a barber, who has been cutting hair all of my life. I love that my dad always looks to take classes, learn updated techniques and allow himself space to continue to grow. Putting blinders on yourself is my best advice. We are all different and have specific walks. I believe that what makes art special in the first place. The feeling and emotionality that I find in my favorite artists’ work that cannot be duplicated by others because their art is ground for soulwork and individualized storytelling.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a storyteller. I investigate my grandmother’s and great aunt’s photo albums. Through research I am able to retell stories from myself and family. Reflecting on bling culture/consumerism, identity, and race. In my grandmother/ great aunt’s photo albums, I am looking at the furniture, and asking myself what queues, such as plastic wrapped couches, can translate class or other the themes I am thinking about. In my researching process I am piecing together untold stories from a black middle class family.

In society there can be a washing over of black and brown stories. In my studio I am pulling directly from the archive and adding to that narrative through material manipulation. In my practice I consider myself an archivist, by saving old 1970s light switch plates, or by pulling signed old concert memorabilia to highlight stories of black land ownership. Some days the work done in the studio can be heavy because I am reflecting back to the African Diaspora. Nonetheless I believe this work I do is essential to preserve black history, and create a window into real stories that would have been lost with time. I honor the black collective memory, not only in Detroit but within blackness. I am excited about how deep my research will go, and what new ways will I manipulate material in order to create new thought/ new dialogue.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting the city, depending on the season it was I would take them to breakfast at the Dime Store or walk by Iggy’s Eggies to grab breakfast then side outside and people watch.

We then would then head to the Eastern Market, go by some of the vintage shops, maybe rent bikes in the Dequindre Cut to then grab Tacos from Jose’s located in the eastern Market.

On our agenda somewhere we will check out Mama’s Coos or any other vintage spot locally. (Lost and Found, Eldorado General Store or for hardcore vintage shopping- Salvation Army or Value World)

Record Shops are always a must stop/ my happy place. Even if you don’t own a record player it is still nice to browse and play a few records in store.

You have to check out an art show of some kind or stop by the DIA/ MOCAD. The Kresge Court in the DIA is always a nice place to enjoy wine or sometimes for special occasions they have live music.

We would end the night grabbing dinner from Ima Izakaya in Corktown. They have a great happy hour. Vesper Books and wine is a new spot to check out or Motorcity wine.

In Detroit there is always something to do, whether that is taking a ring making class in the Eastern Market, going to a game, or dancing at Spotlite, Paramita, etc. The love building also always has great community programming. An Detroiter’s tip is that, alot of the best events are hosted by community members. Social Media is a great spot to check out ALL of the things that are happening in the city. Or if you not on social media, if your out ask around. 🙂

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I grew up in an art high school where my art teachers were artists who had their own careers in art. There was one teacher in particular, named Manal Kadry. She was an interior designer that graduated from College for Creative Studies. She was fiery and passionate about art. Her mission was to create space for black students to thrive in the art/ design world. She organized many projects that allowed her students to have real world experience by working with creatives outside of the classroom. 
I participated in many projects that have shaped my philosophy with art and community. She taught me color theory in high school which is such a big part of my work. So when you see color in my work, please think of her. 🙂
After college she then hired me to teach a 7th grade art class in the same high school I graduated from. From there, I fell in love with teaching and began to understand how effective you can be in your community as an educator. Our community needs more people who genuinely care for our students’ well-being.
Unfortunately Manal passed in a car accident around my birthday. What I take away from her life story is how important it is to pour into our students/community while you can. I see everyday is a blessing/ opportunity to be better, and help others be better. 
 I often think of how she would be so excited/ brag to many about the person me and my peers have become. She is an example of why the time in the classroom should be cherished. Her legacy lives within all of her students she has touched.

Website: https://www.taylorchildsstudios.com

Instagram: @theurbanarmy @taylorchildsstudios

Linkedin: Taylor Childs

Facebook: Taylor Childs

Image Credits
PD Rearick

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMichigan is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.