April 22, 2022 • 20 mins
This week's guest artist is Mississippi Photographer J'Marcus Alfred, who shares what it is like to find new confidence in the art world.
You can currently view his work in the BODY exhibit over at thelittleyellowbuilding.com
Find J'Marcus:
https://www.instagram.com/lightkeeper212/
https://www.facebook.com/jae.amersonbell
Thank you to the Friends of TLYB! Your membership helps fund the transcription of the podcast for the hearing impaired.
If you would like to become a member, visit https://www.thelittleyellowbuilding.com/store/c15/Membership_for_2022.html
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Derek Smith (00:03):
Hey everyone and welcome or welcome back to the
Mississippi artists to artistspodcast. This week we have Jay
Marcus Alford on as our specialguest. He's a Mississippi
photographer. But before we getto that, I just wanted to remind
you that we have the bodyexhibition going on at the
little yellow building.com. Youcan also find our other calls
for art out we have the upcomingshow, Mississippi outsiders. And
(00:28):
you can also sign up to getfeatured for the southern
exposure, where each week wetake a Mississippi artists that
has submitted their artwork andwe put them all over our social
media. So check that out. Giveit a try. But let's get to the
episode.
(00:57):
Welcome back to anotherMississippi artists to artists
podcast. I want to welcome JimMarcus Alfred, thank you for
coming on and sharing with usabout your life and what you do.
He's a photographer here inMississippi. He's done beautiful
work, conceptual stylephotography, but figurative. I
enjoy the work a lot. It wasjust in our past show that we
(01:18):
had. But welcome to J'Marcus,thank you for coming on.
J'Marcus Alfred (01:20):
Thank you for having me. This is my first time
on the podcast. So yeah, this isvery, very fun and interesting
experience.
Derek Smith (01:31):
Well, to get started off, why don't you tell
me about yourself growing upand, and your history with art.
Unknown (01:38):
Um, I was, um, from
J'Marcus Alfred (01:41):
I don't know with art. It's weird, because
for a long time, I didn'tconsider myself an artist. Like
I've just like taking pictures.
And that's kind of what I'vedone. Even when I was like
younger, like,I remember one of my early
memories is just like, me goingto Walmart where my mom and her
(02:04):
like having like the littledisposable camera and like turn
it in. And then like in apicture back I thought that was
just like, so cool.
So like, whenever we get out,like make sure just like data
camera, and just like, take apicture too. And so I think
growing up, I'm always justlike, let's have some sort of
(02:24):
camera. If it was like a webcamera, or was just like a
little point and shoot camera.
I just found them fascinating.
And soI wouldn't say it was it would
be into like 2013 Around thattime where I got my first like
DSLR and earlier just like waslike shooting things. So yeah,
(02:45):
and I think wasn't what I when Istarted out started shooting. I
was on like the Quidditch teamat Southern Miss. And so I was
putting photographer and thenlike, I got an injury and
couldn't play anymore. So I canadd this, like I have a camera.
Let's just take pictures ofwhatever. And then it kind of
(03:11):
just evolved from there.
Derek Smith (03:16):
So have you have you gone back and found that box
of photos from when you were akid and when you'd like first
started picking up and and tracethe timeline?
J'Marcus Alfred (03:26):
I have it I don't know where they would be.
Because I know we used to keeplike a photo books and stuff. So
I have to ask my mom she mighthave them somewhere in a book.
That'd be cool to go back andlook at
Derek Smith (03:42):
i i stopped you I've always done painting it's
been my big thing andphotography was is just a fun
side effect of painting. Youknow, you need to go take your
own pictures, you need to godocument your own things. And I
recently found a whole stash Istopped taking pictures with
actual cameras, probably around2005 or so. And like that was
the end. So I had documentationfrom like when I was seven until
(04:06):
2005. But it was interesting tofind it'd be it'd be neat to see
your work from back then like asa little kid, you're what you
used to take pictures of andthen compare it to what you
really enjoy now.
J'Marcus Alfred (04:22):
Most of the fun was just like embarrassing
pictures of my cousins.
But yeah, so definitely wouldlove to just like have that.
Just I don't know just some Ijust want to have that to go
(04:42):
back and kind of reminisce onthat time because those were
like fun times just being a kidand just having fun.
Derek Smith (04:49):
Tell us about your work. Now. The work that you had
in our previous show. You've hadvery intimate portraits, some of
yourself so what is your how doyou enjoy
That's a weird question.
What's your eye as aphotographer like?
J'Marcus Alfred (05:08):
That's, I think that's something I'm still
figuring out right now.
Cuz most of the more my morerecent work is, oh, man, that
was just due to like, thepandemic. And, you know, we had
lockdown. And, you know, it'slike, I'm in the house, I have
all my equipment here. Let'sjust shoot something.
(05:31):
And so something I did was like,I challenged myself to, like,
take a portrait a day, whilewe're in lockdown.
And like just how somethingdifferent every day if it's like
a different color, a differentangle, and in different
elements, something that kind ofchallenged my creativity. And
(05:54):
that a lot of what I'm doingnow, it's kind of just like,
resulting from that. It's justlike, trying to just trying
something different and seeingwhat what happens.
So you're, you're doing theportrait a day in your, your
pandemic, or from the from thepandemic work, but has there
been a time yet where you're,you've started to make that
(06:16):
mental shift from I'm, I'm notas photographer to I am, like,
this is an art and I am doingit? Are you still, because I
know myself? I struggle withthat all the time. But I it's an
interesting job to have. Forsure. I will say that was oh,
(06:38):
within that time, like, whenthings would open up and like
they were like small exhibitionsor something, I would just put a
photo or two and just to kind ofsee what happens, you know, and
I think that's when kind of thatturning point started to happen.
For me, I think the biggest onewas actually a couple months
(06:58):
ago, at the Marine Museum ofArt, their bicep competition,
which is like a pretty bigcompetition that I've known of
for like years, and just like,never what it was, like, out in
or anything in it. But some workin there. I had like, oh, photo
get selected for and I was justlike, what? Like, like, like,
(07:20):
that's, for me, that was reallybig. And it's like, okay, you
know, this is bigger than what Ithink it is right now. So I
think, you know, stuff like thatwas like something that's really
just like, really getting me tothis point. I was like, I'm not
just taking pictures. It's like,I am an artist. So yeah, that
(07:46):
that's something that's helpingwith that.
Derek Smith (07:50):
It's a it's all stepping stones, you know, you
have little bitty victories, andthen you have some good victory
and it pushes you forward. Andit's just flooding with, like,
reassurance. I'm doing what I'msupposed to be doing.
J'Marcus Alfred (08:04):
Yeah, I don't think there's always like this
clear, like, this is how you bean artist, you know, this is
like, what an artist says thisis the path that you go for our
shields, like, is different foreverybody. And so I guess for
me, it's like, I'm trying tofigure out my path for that.
Derek Smith (08:25):
Now, one of the things when when I was growing
up, I wasn't exposed to verymany paths that artists could
take. And there were you know,nobody ever talked about it. It
just wasn't really out there. SoI had no clue. How about you
when you were growing up? Didyou see like, were there any
artists out there that you saw,we were Chief saw, like a path
that I could potentially take tobe successful in this. Almost
(08:50):
like our idols, you know, like,you know, this is somebody to
look up to it was it was alwayssuch a struggle to find anybody
to look up to in the art fieldwhen I was growing up.
J'Marcus Alfred (08:58):
For me, I think that came later because, like
for me growing up, I always sawpeople that were like drawers or
like painters, so it was like,trying to paint is or like,
those are artists, you know, orlike they're like poets and
people that like to write and Iwas like, Okay, those are
artists and so for me, I neverreally had like a photographer
(09:21):
where I'm just like, Okay, thisis like an artist.
And like that's something Ithink I didn't get into until
very much later.
Derek Smith (09:34):
Well, who, who's some that inspire you now do you
pull from anyone?
J'Marcus Alfred (09:39):
I follow a lot of photographers on Instagram,
like, I follow like six otherpeople on Instagram and it's
like a lot of them and it's likedifferent photographers from
around the world.
say his name is vision. Yeah, Ithink he's from China.
(10:00):
And there's just like, like alot of just beautiful imagery.
And it's just I wish I could goout like, I wish I was on the
love roses, like, you know, wedo totally different styles. And
I was like, I wish I could dothat, because I have to send you
some other stuff because
Derek Smith (10:21):
please do because I mean, there's forgetting to do
this, I get to meet differentartists, and you all have, it's
all been so diverse. betweenphotography and sculpture and
painting and pesto and just allof it, it's also diverse. And
each one of you have thesepeople that you look to for
inspiration. And everybody'skind of shared that with me. And
(10:44):
to see this wide variety I'vebeen exposed to so many like
different things through doingthis, that it's been amazing. So
please, anything that you gotsend it to me because I love to
look at it I really, reallygood.
J'Marcus Alfred (10:58):
I was gonna say like, just like, oh, a lot out
then like, I'm always just likelooking, trying to just see, you
know, what works out then justlike, everything is just like so
different. And they really justfor me, reinforce that there
isn't like a set way to dophotography. It's like, we all
have our own style. We're allhave our own vision of what
(11:21):
we're doing. And oh, that'swhere reassuring to me. Is your
portrait a day project stillgoing on? Are you still doing
that? It's not I work full timeat Southern Miss. So, you know,
when we got back into office, mytop just kind of shrank. So I
don't have as much time for it.
I try to make time to do it likeonce a week at least. But you
(11:42):
know, it's kind of hit or missfor me right now.
Derek Smith (11:49):
How are you finding the work life balance
J'Marcus Alfred (11:55):
definitely takes up a lot of it.
To also outside of photography,I also do like martial arts, and
to do weightlifting, so it'shard to kind of fit everything
into less like the after five.
Because it's like you only havelike four or five hour things
like get to go to bed start towork. But again, it can get to
(12:16):
you I know it gets to me.
Derek Smith (12:22):
Just having that constant grind up routine. And
then all of a sudden, that timethat you had set aside, it's
just it's not there, you filledit with something else by
accident, you know? And then youhave to go and find it again
every once in a while.
So are you going to continuethat in the future? Are you
working on any other or have anyideas for projects or anything
(12:44):
in the works coming up?
J'Marcus Alfred (12:47):
I would like to continue with but and one is
just like the time because I'vebeen thinking about like, kind
of like the what's next now thatthat's kind of like in the
distance, whereas some time haspassed and I'm not really
producing as much and it's like,okay, what do I want to do? And
(13:11):
so I haven't quite figured thatpart out yet. And I'm so I'm
working on it, but I just don'thave what it is quite yet.
Derek Smith (13:21):
what's your day job? What do you do during the
day.
J'Marcus Alfred (13:25):
So I work as a digital media coordinator for
the Southern Miss marketing, mymarketing communications team.
And so, my main what I do mainlyis like edit videos for social
media. And like any campaignvideos that we put on different
platforms.
Derek Smith (13:43):
So you see a lot of the marketing and everything
else that techniques that aregoing on. Have you thought about
Well, is there any correlationto like the potential of
marketing your own work and howyou've been marketing the
university? Like is there maybehints and tips and tricks you
can take from doing that to?
J'Marcus Alfred (14:01):
I don't know, like it's something I've
definitely given thought to buthaven't really just sat down and
just like, kind of like with itkind of expand and like work on
it. So maybe it's something elseI look forward to down the road.
Derek Smith (14:20):
It's also new are the platforms and everything
else aren't new, just whatartists are doing on it are it's
evolving so fast. To keep upwith it's so so weird. Yeah, and
like the time span of somethingis like so much shorter now.
It's like, you know,
J'Marcus Alfred (14:40):
the thing hits and like you got to either keep
going or like someone else isgonna keep like just take that
momentum and just take off. Solike, social media is like a
very interesting thing becauseit's like, with algorithms and
just like overall just theattention span of things on the
internet it just It has a kit inthere, it's like great for like
(15:04):
a couple of weeks or a couple ofdays, and then it's on to the
next day.
Derek Smith (15:09):
staying relevant when, when cycles of everything
change within minutes. You canbe on the good side of
everything. And then, you know,the wind changes, and then all
of a sudden, it's like, oh, no,this is all bad. This is this
has gone wrong. It's a weirdbarbed wire fence to crawl over
(15:31):
and to get under.
So what would be like your dreamof going forward next
J'Marcus Alfred (15:40):
hour, like to just like, kind of expand my
artistry more.
I think that that would be likea big goal for me. Because like,
it's stuff that I enjoy doing.
So now that there's like, a lotthat goes on the business side
of being an artist, that issomething that's like, and you
(16:02):
got to learn. So I think that'llbe next for me is just like
trying to figure it out.
Just expanding as an artist andkind of figuring out how to
elevate our work.
Derek Smith (16:17):
So anybody that wants to find you they find you
on social media at Lightkeeper212. Does that mean anything
special.
J'Marcus Alfred (16:25):
So I was on the Quidditch team, as
I mentioned before, so that'swhere 212 came from. That was my
number for Quidditch. And thatwas also at the time, the song
to one to Basel Eubanks was big.
And so that's where 20 camefrom. And then my position and
Christine was keeper. And thenmy favorite digitus
(16:49):
DigiDestined, from BG moncartoon will have the crest of
light. So it's like like Kubrickto want to love it. I love it.
Derek Smith (16:58):
Is there anything else that you would want? People
who are looking at yourphotography are to experience in
your art? Is there anything thatyou would want them to know
about you that they wouldn'tautomatically get from your
photography?
J'Marcus Alfred (17:12):
I think there is because like I said, most of
us just like me experimentingand just playing around and just
having fun with it.
Derek Smith (17:23):
That's what I like about yours, it feels like you
know, it doesn't feel likeyou're trying to accomplish
anybody else's vision. It feelslike when you look at your
photography, it feels prettyintimate.
J'Marcus Alfred (17:35):
For sure, because
I just like have this like weirdmoments where it's just like, it
can be like two in the morning.
It's like I have decided to getI have to pitch it now. And so
it's just like knee jerk andstuff. I've been just like
setting stuff up. And it's kindof go for it.
Derek Smith (17:54):
So Lightkeeper212 go and follow J'Marcus on
Instagram, Is there anywhereelse they can find you.
J'Marcus Alfred (18:03):
I'm also on Facebook also lightkeeper212
Derek Smith (18:06):
Alright, so Instagram and Facebook
Lightkeeper 212. And the lastone I'd like to ask you is for
for people that are comingbehind you and wanting to be in
art or for you as a youngerself, what would be some advice
that you would have?
J'Marcus Alfred (18:21):
I'd say just go for it. I think we kind of get
in a head sometime or justthinking like, you know,
especially for me, it was like,oh, what I'm doing isn't really
art. It's kind of just takingpitches, but it's
I think a lot of us downplaythat sometimes it may get her
isn't ahead. And so I say justkind of go for it and just
(18:43):
follow where it takes you
Derek Smith (18:47):
thank you so much for coming on and and for,
no one else knows this. But Iwas beyond like today I'm so
glad that this actually got tohappen because I was not paying
attention and my mind waselsewhere that screwed up
royally and thank you so muchfor staying on like the extra
(19:07):
time and doing this interview. Ireally appreciate it because I
know how precious our time isand how how worth it it is to
have you to come on here andjust talk about your life and
your art. So I really appreciatethat. Thank you for having me
on.
For everybody else. We will haveanother artists next week.
You'll hear us again soon.
(19:30):
In a special thank you goes toour members the Friends of the
little yellow building. Bethbreelan Mary Hardy Gwen fury,
Mary Adams, Jenny Howard, JennyMo, Evelyn PV. The Evans Family
Janet Smith, Buffy Jordan,Jennifer Drinkwater, the Smith
family, bopper Zak and HannahHester, thank you for all the
support
Hey everyone and welcome or welcome back to the
Mississippi artists to artistspodcast. This week we have Jay
Marcus Alford on as our specialguest. He's a Mississippi
photographer. But before we getto that, I just wanted to remind
you that we have the bodyexhibition going on at the
little yellow building.com. Youcan also find our other calls
for art out we have the upcomingshow, Mississippi outsiders. And
(00:28):
you can also sign up to getfeatured for the southern
exposure, where each week wetake a Mississippi artists that
has submitted their artwork andwe put them all over our social
media. So check that out. Giveit a try. But let's get to the
episode.
(00:57):
Welcome back to anotherMississippi artists to artists
podcast. I want to welcome JimMarcus Alfred, thank you for
coming on and sharing with usabout your life and what you do.
He's a photographer here inMississippi. He's done beautiful
work, conceptual stylephotography, but figurative. I
enjoy the work a lot. It wasjust in our past show that we
(01:18):
had. But welcome to J'Marcus,thank you for coming on.
J'Marcus Alfred (01:20):
Thank you for having me. This is my first time
on the podcast. So yeah, this isvery, very fun and interesting
experience.
Derek Smith (01:31):
Well, to get started off, why don't you tell
me about yourself growing upand, and your history with art.
Unknown (01:38):
Um, I was, um, from
J'Marcus Alfred (01:41):
I don't know with art. It's weird, because
for a long time, I didn'tconsider myself an artist. Like
I've just like taking pictures.
And that's kind of what I'vedone. Even when I was like
younger, like,I remember one of my early
memories is just like, me goingto Walmart where my mom and her
(02:04):
like having like the littledisposable camera and like turn
it in. And then like in apicture back I thought that was
just like, so cool.
So like, whenever we get out,like make sure just like data
camera, and just like, take apicture too. And so I think
growing up, I'm always justlike, let's have some sort of
(02:24):
camera. If it was like a webcamera, or was just like a
little point and shoot camera.
I just found them fascinating.
And soI wouldn't say it was it would
be into like 2013 Around thattime where I got my first like
DSLR and earlier just like waslike shooting things. So yeah,
(02:45):
and I think wasn't what I when Istarted out started shooting. I
was on like the Quidditch teamat Southern Miss. And so I was
putting photographer and thenlike, I got an injury and
couldn't play anymore. So I canadd this, like I have a camera.
Let's just take pictures ofwhatever. And then it kind of
(03:11):
just evolved from there.
Derek Smith (03:16):
So have you have you gone back and found that box
of photos from when you were akid and when you'd like first
started picking up and and tracethe timeline?
J'Marcus Alfred (03:26):
I have it I don't know where they would be.
Because I know we used to keeplike a photo books and stuff. So
I have to ask my mom she mighthave them somewhere in a book.
That'd be cool to go back andlook at
Derek Smith (03:42):
i i stopped you I've always done painting it's
been my big thing andphotography was is just a fun
side effect of painting. Youknow, you need to go take your
own pictures, you need to godocument your own things. And I
recently found a whole stash Istopped taking pictures with
actual cameras, probably around2005 or so. And like that was
the end. So I had documentationfrom like when I was seven until
(04:06):
2005. But it was interesting tofind it'd be it'd be neat to see
your work from back then like asa little kid, you're what you
used to take pictures of andthen compare it to what you
really enjoy now.
J'Marcus Alfred (04:22):
Most of the fun was just like embarrassing
pictures of my cousins.
But yeah, so definitely wouldlove to just like have that.
Just I don't know just some Ijust want to have that to go
(04:42):
back and kind of reminisce onthat time because those were
like fun times just being a kidand just having fun.
Derek Smith (04:49):
Tell us about your work. Now. The work that you had
in our previous show. You've hadvery intimate portraits, some of
yourself so what is your how doyou enjoy
That's a weird question.
What's your eye as aphotographer like?
J'Marcus Alfred (05:08):
That's, I think that's something I'm still
figuring out right now.
Cuz most of the more my morerecent work is, oh, man, that
was just due to like, thepandemic. And, you know, we had
lockdown. And, you know, it'slike, I'm in the house, I have
all my equipment here. Let'sjust shoot something.
(05:31):
And so something I did was like,I challenged myself to, like,
take a portrait a day, whilewe're in lockdown.
And like just how somethingdifferent every day if it's like
a different color, a differentangle, and in different
elements, something that kind ofchallenged my creativity. And
(05:54):
that a lot of what I'm doingnow, it's kind of just like,
resulting from that. It's justlike, trying to just trying
something different and seeingwhat what happens.
So you're, you're doing theportrait a day in your, your
pandemic, or from the from thepandemic work, but has there
been a time yet where you're,you've started to make that
(06:16):
mental shift from I'm, I'm notas photographer to I am, like,
this is an art and I am doingit? Are you still, because I
know myself? I struggle withthat all the time. But I it's an
interesting job to have. Forsure. I will say that was oh,
(06:38):
within that time, like, whenthings would open up and like
they were like small exhibitionsor something, I would just put a
photo or two and just to kind ofsee what happens, you know, and
I think that's when kind of thatturning point started to happen.
For me, I think the biggest onewas actually a couple months
(06:58):
ago, at the Marine Museum ofArt, their bicep competition,
which is like a pretty bigcompetition that I've known of
for like years, and just like,never what it was, like, out in
or anything in it. But some workin there. I had like, oh, photo
get selected for and I was justlike, what? Like, like, like,
(07:20):
that's, for me, that was reallybig. And it's like, okay, you
know, this is bigger than what Ithink it is right now. So I
think, you know, stuff like thatwas like something that's really
just like, really getting me tothis point. I was like, I'm not
just taking pictures. It's like,I am an artist. So yeah, that
(07:46):
that's something that's helpingwith that.
Derek Smith (07:50):
It's a it's all stepping stones, you know, you
have little bitty victories, andthen you have some good victory
and it pushes you forward. Andit's just flooding with, like,
reassurance. I'm doing what I'msupposed to be doing.
J'Marcus Alfred (08:04):
Yeah, I don't think there's always like this
clear, like, this is how you bean artist, you know, this is
like, what an artist says thisis the path that you go for our
shields, like, is different foreverybody. And so I guess for
me, it's like, I'm trying tofigure out my path for that.
Derek Smith (08:25):
Now, one of the things when when I was growing
up, I wasn't exposed to verymany paths that artists could
take. And there were you know,nobody ever talked about it. It
just wasn't really out there. SoI had no clue. How about you
when you were growing up? Didyou see like, were there any
artists out there that you saw,we were Chief saw, like a path
that I could potentially take tobe successful in this. Almost
(08:50):
like our idols, you know, like,you know, this is somebody to
look up to it was it was alwayssuch a struggle to find anybody
to look up to in the art fieldwhen I was growing up.
J'Marcus Alfred (08:58):
For me, I think that came later because, like
for me growing up, I always sawpeople that were like drawers or
like painters, so it was like,trying to paint is or like,
those are artists, you know, orlike they're like poets and
people that like to write and Iwas like, Okay, those are
artists and so for me, I neverreally had like a photographer
(09:21):
where I'm just like, Okay, thisis like an artist.
And like that's something Ithink I didn't get into until
very much later.
Derek Smith (09:34):
Well, who, who's some that inspire you now do you
pull from anyone?
J'Marcus Alfred (09:39):
I follow a lot of photographers on Instagram,
like, I follow like six otherpeople on Instagram and it's
like a lot of them and it's likedifferent photographers from
around the world.
say his name is vision. Yeah, Ithink he's from China.
(10:00):
And there's just like, like alot of just beautiful imagery.
And it's just I wish I could goout like, I wish I was on the
love roses, like, you know, wedo totally different styles. And
I was like, I wish I could dothat, because I have to send you
some other stuff because
Derek Smith (10:21):
please do because I mean, there's forgetting to do
this, I get to meet differentartists, and you all have, it's
all been so diverse. betweenphotography and sculpture and
painting and pesto and just allof it, it's also diverse. And
each one of you have thesepeople that you look to for
inspiration. And everybody'skind of shared that with me. And
(10:44):
to see this wide variety I'vebeen exposed to so many like
different things through doingthis, that it's been amazing. So
please, anything that you gotsend it to me because I love to
look at it I really, reallygood.
J'Marcus Alfred (10:58):
I was gonna say like, just like, oh, a lot out
then like, I'm always just likelooking, trying to just see, you
know, what works out then justlike, everything is just like so
different. And they really justfor me, reinforce that there
isn't like a set way to dophotography. It's like, we all
have our own style. We're allhave our own vision of what
(11:21):
we're doing. And oh, that'swhere reassuring to me. Is your
portrait a day project stillgoing on? Are you still doing
that? It's not I work full timeat Southern Miss. So, you know,
when we got back into office, mytop just kind of shrank. So I
don't have as much time for it.
I try to make time to do it likeonce a week at least. But you
(11:42):
know, it's kind of hit or missfor me right now.
Derek Smith (11:49):
How are you finding the work life balance
J'Marcus Alfred (11:55):
definitely takes up a lot of it.
To also outside of photography,I also do like martial arts, and
to do weightlifting, so it'shard to kind of fit everything
into less like the after five.
Because it's like you only havelike four or five hour things
like get to go to bed start towork. But again, it can get to
(12:16):
you I know it gets to me.
Derek Smith (12:22):
Just having that constant grind up routine. And
then all of a sudden, that timethat you had set aside, it's
just it's not there, you filledit with something else by
accident, you know? And then youhave to go and find it again
every once in a while.
So are you going to continuethat in the future? Are you
working on any other or have anyideas for projects or anything
(12:44):
in the works coming up?
J'Marcus Alfred (12:47):
I would like to continue with but and one is
just like the time because I'vebeen thinking about like, kind
of like the what's next now thatthat's kind of like in the
distance, whereas some time haspassed and I'm not really
producing as much and it's like,okay, what do I want to do? And
(13:11):
so I haven't quite figured thatpart out yet. And I'm so I'm
working on it, but I just don'thave what it is quite yet.
Derek Smith (13:21):
what's your day job? What do you do during the
day.
J'Marcus Alfred (13:25):
So I work as a digital media coordinator for
the Southern Miss marketing, mymarketing communications team.
And so, my main what I do mainlyis like edit videos for social
media. And like any campaignvideos that we put on different
platforms.
Derek Smith (13:43):
So you see a lot of the marketing and everything
else that techniques that aregoing on. Have you thought about
Well, is there any correlationto like the potential of
marketing your own work and howyou've been marketing the
university? Like is there maybehints and tips and tricks you
can take from doing that to?
J'Marcus Alfred (14:01):
I don't know, like it's something I've
definitely given thought to buthaven't really just sat down and
just like, kind of like with itkind of expand and like work on
it. So maybe it's something elseI look forward to down the road.
Derek Smith (14:20):
It's also new are the platforms and everything
else aren't new, just whatartists are doing on it are it's
evolving so fast. To keep upwith it's so so weird. Yeah, and
like the time span of somethingis like so much shorter now.
It's like, you know,
J'Marcus Alfred (14:40):
the thing hits and like you got to either keep
going or like someone else isgonna keep like just take that
momentum and just take off. Solike, social media is like a
very interesting thing becauseit's like, with algorithms and
just like overall just theattention span of things on the
internet it just It has a kit inthere, it's like great for like
(15:04):
a couple of weeks or a couple ofdays, and then it's on to the
next day.
Derek Smith (15:09):
staying relevant when, when cycles of everything
change within minutes. You canbe on the good side of
everything. And then, you know,the wind changes, and then all
of a sudden, it's like, oh, no,this is all bad. This is this
has gone wrong. It's a weirdbarbed wire fence to crawl over
(15:31):
and to get under.
So what would be like your dreamof going forward next
J'Marcus Alfred (15:40):
hour, like to just like, kind of expand my
artistry more.
I think that that would be likea big goal for me. Because like,
it's stuff that I enjoy doing.
So now that there's like, a lotthat goes on the business side
of being an artist, that issomething that's like, and you
(16:02):
got to learn. So I think that'llbe next for me is just like
trying to figure it out.
Just expanding as an artist andkind of figuring out how to
elevate our work.
Derek Smith (16:17):
So anybody that wants to find you they find you
on social media at Lightkeeper212. Does that mean anything
special.
J'Marcus Alfred (16:25):
So I was on the Quidditch team, as
I mentioned before, so that'swhere 212 came from. That was my
number for Quidditch. And thatwas also at the time, the song
to one to Basel Eubanks was big.
And so that's where 20 camefrom. And then my position and
Christine was keeper. And thenmy favorite digitus
(16:49):
DigiDestined, from BG moncartoon will have the crest of
light. So it's like like Kubrickto want to love it. I love it.
Derek Smith (16:58):
Is there anything else that you would want? People
who are looking at yourphotography are to experience in
your art? Is there anything thatyou would want them to know
about you that they wouldn'tautomatically get from your
photography?
J'Marcus Alfred (17:12):
I think there is because like I said, most of
us just like me experimentingand just playing around and just
having fun with it.
Derek Smith (17:23):
That's what I like about yours, it feels like you
know, it doesn't feel likeyou're trying to accomplish
anybody else's vision. It feelslike when you look at your
photography, it feels prettyintimate.
J'Marcus Alfred (17:35):
For sure, because
I just like have this like weirdmoments where it's just like, it
can be like two in the morning.
It's like I have decided to getI have to pitch it now. And so
it's just like knee jerk andstuff. I've been just like
setting stuff up. And it's kindof go for it.
Derek Smith (17:54):
So Lightkeeper212 go and follow J'Marcus on
Instagram, Is there anywhereelse they can find you.
J'Marcus Alfred (18:03):
I'm also on Facebook also lightkeeper212
Derek Smith (18:06):
Alright, so Instagram and Facebook
Lightkeeper 212. And the lastone I'd like to ask you is for
for people that are comingbehind you and wanting to be in
art or for you as a youngerself, what would be some advice
that you would have?
J'Marcus Alfred (18:21):
I'd say just go for it. I think we kind of get
in a head sometime or justthinking like, you know,
especially for me, it was like,oh, what I'm doing isn't really
art. It's kind of just takingpitches, but it's
I think a lot of us downplaythat sometimes it may get her
isn't ahead. And so I say justkind of go for it and just
(18:43):
follow where it takes you
Derek Smith (18:47):
thank you so much for coming on and and for,
no one else knows this. But Iwas beyond like today I'm so
glad that this actually got tohappen because I was not paying
attention and my mind waselsewhere that screwed up
royally and thank you so muchfor staying on like the extra
(19:07):
time and doing this interview. Ireally appreciate it because I
know how precious our time isand how how worth it it is to
have you to come on here andjust talk about your life and
your art. So I really appreciatethat. Thank you for having me
on.
For everybody else. We will haveanother artists next week.
You'll hear us again soon.
(19:30):
In a special thank you goes toour members the Friends of the
little yellow building. Bethbreelan Mary Hardy Gwen fury,
Mary Adams, Jenny Howard, JennyMo, Evelyn PV. The Evans Family
Janet Smith, Buffy Jordan,Jennifer Drinkwater, the Smith
family, bopper Zak and HannahHester, thank you for all the
support
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