Jeremiah Brown interviewed by Jahfare Ford
Jahfare Ford (00:01): Good evening, good evening, good evening ladies and gentlemen. I am Mr. Ford. Jahfare Ford, you know? I'm here with a young brother right here. Would you like to introduce yourself?
Jeremiah Brown (00:14): I'm Jeremiah.
Jahfare Ford (00:16): All right, Jeremiah. We're here, um, at the art program, media arts class in Groveland Correctional, you know. Just here to talk about art, um, the meaning of art, and, you know, just to get more insight on my young brothers. How you feeling today, man?
Jeremiah Brown (00:34): You know...exactly what's going on, exactly what's going on right now, but you know, we'll make it through, we'll make it through whatever. Be strong kings.
Jahfare Ford (00:41): Yeah, yeah, rightfully so, rightfully so. So, I'm kinda just gonna get straight into it as far as, you know, the interv--this interview and art or what not. So, my first question I have for you is, um, what made you interested in in enrolling in this class?
Jeremiah Brown (01:02): Um, my passion for art, be honest. Um, I'm an artist in a tunnel. I'm actually a entrepreneur, uh, and I look forward to excel my experience and excel my learning with a uh, the excellent teacher we have and I feel like, um, me being consistent with my art can progress my future.
Jahfare Ford (01:30): Mmm, okay, okay, I definitely can dig that. Yeah, we definitely did have a good art teacher as well.
Jeremiah Brown (01:37): Mm-hmm.
Jahfare Ford (01:37): Definitely have art. So, you said you was doing art prior before, um, doing this program-
Jeremiah Brown (01:43): Yes, sir.
Jahfare Ford (01:43): Like out in the street?
Jeremiah Brown (01:44): Yes, sir.
Jahfare Ford (01:45): So, you was already like, would you say you was like out in the street like Picasso or you was like Picasso in training or did this class help that, did this class help you like improve your art skills? Like, did this art class make you have a different perception of how you look at art in your art?
Jeremiah Brown (02:03): Mmm, that's a good question. I could say I wasn't as good as Picasso, but I was smart like him.
Jahfare Ford (02:14): Okay. Yeah.
Jeremiah Brown (02:16): I was open to any learning experience. Um...I don't know. I just feel like this class, like, if you got a passion for art, I feel like this class could really, like, give you like, the good terminology of what art is and the definition of what art is and how can art, and what, how does art affect our life right now.
Jahfare Ford (02:46): Okay.
Jeremiah Brown (02:46): Everything is art, to be honest. You look around, everything is art.
Jahfare Ford (02:49): Naw, I agree. I agree. Even, like, from our point of view, like, uh, even music, you know, music, fashion, movies, like, the life is art. So, I definitely agree on what you said. Um, did you feel like you had to face any, like, new challenges as far as your way of art in this class? Like was it new, was there new, like, barriers you had to overcome or like, was it like, new different types of techniques you learned in the class of how to better your art?
Jeremiah Brown (03:24): Mmmm...it was different because, it was different. It was a couple of techniques that we learned that opened up my eyes to various of ways of how to draw stuff and how to pinpoint and how to get like the true definition of like a picture you're trying to draw. And I feel like some of my, some of those ideas could like come a long way, like once you start practicing them.
Jahfare Ford (03:55): Right.
Jeremiah Brown (03:55): You start to excel in what you do.
Jahfare Ford (04:00): Yeah. I agree. I ain't gonna lie, like the, the portrait, portraits I seen you paint, I like, "Man, this dude," like you know what you doing.
Jeremiah Brown (04:06): Yeah.
Jahfare Ford (04:07): Like, like I say, I ain't the best portrait, like, I seen some of my pictures, man, but I, I can tell based on what you just said about doing art, art before this program, like you knew what you was doing.
Jeremiah Brown (04:19): Yeah, I take it serious. I appreciate that.
Jahfare Ford (04:21): Yeah, I can definitely tell. So, uh, that's good to know, man. Um, do you feel like this program can help, like other incarcerated individuals? Or, like, do you feel like this program can help inspire other incarcerated individuals while they do their time? Like inspire them to, to, to know they worth or they potential or seek out what they really wanna do-
Jeremiah Brown (04:45): Yeah, absolutely.
Jahfare Ford (04:45): After incarceration?
Jeremiah Brown (04:47): Absolutely. In the durings, I see a lot of artists that like, really do this, you know what I'm saying? Like-
Jahfare Ford (04:52): Yeah.
Jeremiah Brown (04:54): They sleep this, they walk it, they talk it. Like they wake up doing this, they go to, you know what I'm saying? And they got a lot a, they got like a fan base.
Jahfare Ford (05:05): Hmm.
Jeremiah Brown (05:05): I mean, so, a lot of people, they'll, they'll draw like a car, they'll draw like a portrait, and that's how they progress with succeeding. I was inspired, I'm always inspired by that because when I see they art work, I be like, "Damn."
Jahfare Ford (05:20): (laughs)
Jeremiah Brown (05:20): "Wish it was me." You know what I'm saying? Damn, I have to get that good-
Jahfare Ford (05:20): Yeah.
Jeremiah Brown (05:20): You know what I mean?
Jahfare Ford (05:20): Yeah.
Jeremiah Brown (05:20): So, it's like, it's kind of a challenge, but it's also like, you're learning lesson because my flaws is not their flaws. Know what I mean?
Jahfare Ford (05:38): Right. Right.
Jeremiah Brown (05:39): So, I tried to build my flaws off of their perfection.
Jahfare Ford (05:42): Mmmm. You gotta, you gotta, you gotta repeat that one right there. You gotta say that over.
Jeremiah Brown (05:46): I try to, my flaws is different than any other artist so I try to build my flaws off of their perfection.
Jahfare Ford (05:57): That's deep. That's uh, that's a good analogy. I definitely, definitely like that analogy.
Jeremiah Brown (06:03): Thank you.
Jahfare Ford (06:03): Yeah. Do you, do you, uh, feel like with this program, your experience in this program, it, it made you take art more serious, like after, uh, release, are you, like what's your plans for like furthering your art talent? Like, what do you plan on, like, going to school for it when you get out or like doing your own art program or volunteering inside art programs?
Jeremiah Brown (06:32): Um, I feel like, I feel like, I got sat here for a reason 'cause honestly I wasn't really focused on my craft when I was out there even though, like, I had my business and stuff, I still wasn't focused, I was still in and out. And...I feel like this really woke me up, like, it's like The Man Upstairs gave me like an opportunity, like, if you really want this, if you wanna take this, like if you invest all that money that you did before, I'm a sit you down with me so you can take this serious, so you can excel in your future, so you could be successful, so you could get the things you want.
Jahfare Ford (07:16): Right. Right, naw, I, I definitely agree, man. Definitely, agree. Um-
Jeremiah Brown (07:20): I ain't gonna lie to you. I learned all my skills from YouTube University. My word.
Jahfare Ford (07:23): (laughs) That's like the best-
Jeremiah Brown (07:23): Yeah.
Jahfare Ford (07:26): Best university you can learn. Free, free ninety-nine-
Jeremiah Brown (07:30): Listen.
Jahfare Ford (07:30): Know what I'm saying? Go with education right there.
Jeremiah Brown (07:32): Yes, sir.
Jahfare Ford (07:38): Um, you know, um, I'm gonna assume, you know, where you was born and raised, you know, we don't have to say where you was born and raised, it's optional if you want, but I'm gonna assume where you was born and raised, it was, uh, a lot of poverty, like, like, a lot of like, violence-
Jeremiah Brown (07:53): Yeah.
Jahfare Ford (07:53): Or, you know, gun violence, gang violence, drug violence.
Jeremiah Brown (07:58): Yeah.
Jahfare Ford (07:58): Um, do you feel like this program right here can help the youth in your community to have a different outlook on life? 'Cause you know, um, unfortunately, there's a lot of young people, like, dying from gun violence and drug violence from, like, urban communities. So, do you feel like this program can, uh, help change the outlook and perception on these young, young dudes? Young people?
Jeremiah Brown (08:25): Honestly, I grew up in Rochester.
Jahfare Ford (08:28): Okay.
Jeremiah Brown (08:29): Rochester, New York. So, it's like, not all parts of Rochester is bad, but once you get into like the inner city, that's when you live, learn, and laugh.
Jahfare Ford (08:41): Hmm.
Jeremiah Brown (08:42): So, like, I believe, like, my generation, the generation before us, and the generation after us-
Jahfare Ford (08:50): Right.
Jeremiah Brown (08:50): Will always have, forever have talent, but some of 'em, they just, I think some people just, they could just get stuck in they shell where they just get, they don't have too much self-confidence to expose their dreams or expose their artwork.
Jahfare Ford (09:07): Right.
Jeremiah Brown (09:07): So, they just keep it quiet until like, somebody open up they eyes and be like, "Oh, yo, you should do this. Oh, yo, you should do that. I see you doing this. I see you that." That's how they, you know what I mean? Go on about the-
Jahfare Ford (09:18): Right, right. Yeah, yeah, I, I definitely agree. You know, uh, I'm, I'm from a urban city too, you know, uh, New York City. So, it's, you know, I definitely understand and can relate to the violence that you seen growing up and the effects it play on, you know, the youth.
Jeremiah Brown (09:37): Mm-hmm.
Jahfare Ford (09:37): Uh, uh, I have one more question.
Jeremiah Brown (09:41): What's going on, brother?
Jahfare Ford (10:00): Uh, who's your favorite artist?
Jeremiah Brown (10:01): Who's my favorite artist?
Jahfare Ford (10:01): Yeah, and it don't necessarily have to be, you know, like actually art or paint, you know, 'cause I like to ask art from music, art, painting, movies, music, you know, like whatever. Like, who's your favorite artist that inspires you to get you going in your art?
Jeremiah Brown (10:06): It all depends on my moods. I definitely, um, listen to different genres of music.
Jahfare Ford (10:11): Okay.
Jeremiah Brown (10:13): Um...everything is equal. So, like, the mood that takes how I feel, the song, the genre, or, you know what I mean, like everything that takes the movement of the mood.
Jahfare Ford (10:28): Okay.
Jeremiah Brown (10:29): I can't really say it, my favorite artist, but my favorite rap artist is probably G Herbo.
Jahfare Ford (10:37): Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Jeremiah Brown (10:37): Yeah, okay, okay. Mine's is more like, you know, like Kendrick Lamar, J Cole.
Jeremiah Brown (10:41): Okay.
Jahfare Ford (10:42): You know? But um, yeah, yeah. All, all of them had they own unique, express their own unique art in they own way, just like us. So, um, I appreciate your time-
Jeremiah Brown (10:54): Always brother man.
Jahfare Ford (10:55): Young brother. Yeah, yeah, appreciate your time-
Jeremiah Brown (10:57): Yes, sir.
Jahfare Ford (10:58): For that interview. Um, hope to hear more from you and when we're both released a couple years from now-
Jeremiah Brown (11:05): Uh-huh?
Jahfare Ford (11:05): I'd like to go to a art exhibit and see you as a new, new and improved Picasso, you know?
Jeremiah Brown (11:11): Yes, sir.
Jahfare Ford (11:11): Buy a painting from from you for, for like a million dollars or something-
Jeremiah Brown (11:13): Yes, sir.
Jahfare Ford (11:13): You know what I'm saying?
Jeremiah Brown (11:14): I, I, I--
Jahfare Ford (11:15): Appreciate it, man.
Jeremiah Brown (11:16): And I'd like to come to one of your shows. I hope you do have a show.
Jahfare Ford (11:19): Yeah, definitely.
Jeremiah Brown (11:21): You know, I'll definitely come up. I definitely read you, I definitely read a book of yours or anything you got going on with your, with your work.
Jahfare Ford (11:28): Yeah, yeah.
Jeremiah Brown (11:30): I like that.
Jahfare Ford (11:31): Appreciate it, man.
Jeremiah Brown (11:32): Yes, sir. Yeah. Keep it up, man.
Jahfare Ford (11:32): Yep, till next time.
Jeremiah Brown (11:34): Till next.