Blog Interview with Mixed Media Artist Debbie Yati Garrett
I recently had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing local artist Debbie Yati Garrett. Debbie is a multi-talented artist whose skills include, but are not limited to, digital art, fabric art, and film. She has also been involved in promoting other local artists through various art projects and exhibits throughout Tampa Bay like the Tampa Bay Chalk Festival and the Tampa Bay Black Art & Film Festival.
This blog interview is a little different from my past interviews. Due to time constraints and schedule conflicts, Debbie and I interviewed by telephone. The interview responses below represent my summaries of Debbie’s responses to my questions.
Debbie’s Bio
Debbie Yati Garrett is a mother, artist, entrepreneur, art instructor, filmmaker, director, writer, actress, and designer. Originally from New York City, she attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. At Eckerd, Debbie was awarded Visual Arts Honor. As a mixed medium artist, she works and teaches in a variety of mediums including fiber, ceramics, quilting sewing, crafting, painting, and drawing.
Debbie is the founder and the creator of ART FROM THE SOUL D.Y.G. She specializes in creating jewelry, garments, and home decor with Adinkra SYMBOLS as the core of the works. ART FROM THE SOUL D.Y.G is a joint business with her daughter Joy Garrett. To learn more about Debbie’s work and projects, check out these links:
https://debbieyatigarrett.com/
Interview Questions
Question: What led you to become an artist?
Answer: Debbie comes from a family of artists. She grew up in Harlem, NY. Her mother had no professional training but was a great self-taught artist and crafter. Debbie’s father worked in the Garment District in NYC and would often bring home fabric. Debbie began sewing at the age of 8, working with fiber and textures.
Question: What is your favorite medium to work in?
Answer: Debbie does not really have a favorite medium. She likes working with mixed media and upcycling. [*Upcycling is reusing unused or left over material to create a new artistic or environmental piece or pieces.] Besides fiber art she enjoys digital art and film.
Question: How do you promote yourself and your work?
Answer: Debbie has a website that displays her own art: https://debbieyatigarrett.com/. Debbie also promotes other artists through her projects through Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project, where she is a teaching artist. The Diaspora Arts Project promotes art and creatives (particularly BIPOC, and youth and young adults from underserved communities,) in Tampa Bay. Debbie creates pop up events, exhibits and more through this Project.
Question: What has been your favorite art project that you’ve been involved with to-date?
Answer: Debbie enjoyed quilting projects she managed through the Youth Arts Corps. The project provided classes in fabric art as well as quilt-making, and took a group of 17 girls on a trip to NYC.
She also enjoyed the Bridges Project through Pinellas Diaspora Arts Project. This project exhibited the work of black and brown art students over the age of 50.
Question: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Answer: Debbie would like to create a collection of visual work and complete a filmology. She wants to do more film projects and documentaries. She currently is currently working on a film project called “SIMI The Series.”
Question: Do you have any projects or exhibits coming up in the near future that we can look out for?
Answer: Debbie has the Tampa Bay Chalk Festival coming up May 4, 2024 on the Deuces corridor in St. Petersburg, FL. For more information about the Chalk Festival, here is the link to the website: https://tampabaychalkfestival.com/. She is also in production on her SIMI project.