Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7NmP2Ekmmw&list=PLOQvdw7d0cd9RZZkd2lZy2hmrnJv-cfLI&index=76
Evan: So we are back here on the Choose 954 podcast with local FAT Village resident artist, Michelle. If you didn't know what Choose 954 is, we started a social movement to cultivate culture and community here in Broward County, where I'm born and raised, to get people to know all the great things that are going on and just make this a better place to live, and also a better place to vacation. The point of the podcast is to connect you with amazing people like her, doing incredible things in the community, so you can hopefully find out, learn, and engage with the things that are going on. So, without much further ado, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself, Michelle?
Michelle: Thank you for having me on the podcast. I’ve been here at FAT Village for three years, actually, it's coming up soon in November. As an artist, I’m an oil painter and photographer, and I’m going to share a little bit about how I got my start, which kind of folds into some of the things I’ve been doing.
At eight years old, I used to go to the Art Museum in Detroit, the Detroit Institute of Arts. It has these huge halls with murals of pharaohs and all the old masters. I saw these kids in classes, and I wasn’t in the class, so I thought, “When am I going to be in that class? I need to get in that class.” So, I went up to the kids, talked to them, and they shared a little bit of information with me. Back then, there was no internet, so you had to go to a bulletin board to get your information. I got the information and called the lady on the phone, told her I wanted to do these classes, and she said, "Okay, what’s your information?" I probably wasn’t supposed to be in those classes, but she gave me a scholarship to the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Children’s Museum, and that’s how I really got my first foot in.
So, I was part of those classes, then I went to an art store and discovered that the owner showed me every medium. When I got to oils, I just couldn’t stop asking questions. I went home and talked to my mom about it, and I said, "You’ve got to be here on Saturday because I’m bringing my mom back and we’re going to get this set." My mom agreed, and that’s how I got my first set of oil paints.
Evan: Wow, so you were about eight when you started painting?
Michelle: Yeah, I started when I was about eight.
Evan: So what was the progression like from there?
Michelle: Pretty much through high school, I kind of stuck with it. My mom didn’t necessarily encourage it as a vocation because she thought I would starve. I’m sure she was like, "No, you’ve got to pick something you can afford to support yourself with." So, I went to engineering school. I started at the University of Notre Dame, then I finished my degree at the University of Detroit. I went into the automotive industry right out of college, and I pretty much stopped from high school all the way up until I was about thirty. For about fifteen years, no drawing, no paintbrushes, no nothing. But I would always think about art.
So, I decided to pick the brush back up, started small, and gradually got bigger. Then in 2014, I made the decision that if I was going to do anything about it, I was going to do it now. I started doing my research and thought I could go to New York, California, or South Florida. New York felt too far away, California had time zone issues for me, so I said, "I’ll go to South Florida." I completely left the corporate world, and although I love working, now I just do fine art.
Evan: And obviously, you picked it up quite well, from childhood back to resuming it later in life.
Michelle: Yeah, thanks to practice. You’ve got to practice every day.
Evan: No doubt. You’ve figured it out and have gotten into some very interesting things. Tell us a little bit about some of the things you've gotten into.
Michelle: Between ArtWalk and being a FAT Village resident artist, I’m involved in some other stuff, like with NSU and the Home Show. The Home Show actually had something called Art Ambassadors, and I was invited to be one of the artists over at Fort Lauderdale. They give artists space, and you outfit it to sell your art. I made friends with Lisa and Misty from the Home Show family, and I still take up opportunities to show my work there.
Evan: Awesome. So, art at the Home Show—that’s a great platform for artists.
Michelle: Yeah, they’re wonderful. Lisa and the whole team are like one big family. I even got Steve to start periscoping and Facebook-living with art. He’s addicted now!
Evan: Sounds like a great collaboration. What about your involvement with children’s diagnostic treatment centers and other community initiatives?
Michelle: Yes, I’m also involved with the Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center (CDTC) through ArtsUnited, an organization I love. They do an art auction every year to support children and families affected by HIV/AIDS. This cause became very important to me when I moved here. I found a letter from an organization my mom belonged to back in Detroit called the Dorcas Association, thanking me for creating art to support children with HIV/AIDS. I didn't realize the full-circle impact until I got involved with CDTC.
Evan: CDTC is an incredible organization. If people don’t know, Broward County is one of the highest in the nation for children born with HIV/AIDS. They do a lot of important work.
Michelle: Yes, and we support them through initiatives like the annual art fundraiser and the ribbons project. It's been great to be involved in that community.
Evan: And ArtsUnited has been a phenomenal platform for showcasing art and supporting different causes.
Michelle: Absolutely. I love ArtsUnited, and the platform they provide for artists is amazing. Whether you're part of the LGBTQ community or not, they have a lot of great opportunities for artists to showcase their work.
Evan: It’s truly an awesome organization. So, tell us more about what’s going on at NSU.
Michelle: At NSU, I started the New Art Collective, a meetup group for people who want to learn about art or just be around art. I thought I’d get about 30 people, but now we're close to 500 members. I also collaborate with the museum, where they let me host events like Starry Night during Black History Month. It's been an incredible partnership, and I’m really looking forward to continuing my work with them.
Evan: That sounds amazing. Where can people find the New Art Collective?
Michelle: It’s on the Meetup app under "The New Art Collective." You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram, and my website, which is just my name.
Evan: Awesome. And if you didn’t know, Starry Night is free admission at NSU on the first Thursday of every month, which is a great way to experience the museum.
Michelle: Yes, and also Family Sundays are free, so it's a great opportunity to bring the kids.
Evan: That’s awesome. So, what other types of things are you involved with or excited about?
Michelle: I’m really excited about working with Club 500, a tech startup in Miami. I’ve always wanted to mix fine art with tech, and this is my opportunity. I'm creating some really cool pieces, mixing canvas with tech elements like resistors, diodes, and circuits. It’s a fun challenge, and I think it’s a great way to get the tech community involved in art collecting.
Evan: That sounds like a perfect blend of your skills. Mixing art with technology is something that could really resonate with a lot of people, especially in South Florida’s growing tech scene.
Michelle: Exactly! I’m really excited to see how it all comes together.
Evan: Well, I’m sure it’s going to be incredible. Why don’t you tell us a little bit about this piece we’re sitting in front of right now?
Michelle: This piece is part of my "Sculptors of Canvas" series. It’s an award-winning technique where I mold raw canvas by hand, then paint over it with layers of oil. It’s both a sculpture and a painting at the same time.
Evan: It’s absolutely stunning. The colors really evoke that South Florida sunset vibe.
Michelle: Yes, this one is called "Steinfeld Up." It’s inspired by a singer named Scott, who always performs like she’s in front of thousands of people, no matter the size of the audience. She wears oranges, and her set always looks like this—just like a Florida sunset.
Evan: You’ve really captured that energy. So, where can people find more of your work?
Michelle: They can find me on Facebook, Instagram, and my website. Everything is under "Artist Yvette Michelle."
Evan: Perfect, we’ll make sure to link all of that in the comments. Thanks so much for sharing your story with us, Michelle. We’re excited to see what’s next for you.
Michelle: Thank you so much for having me. It’s been great!
Evan: And that’s it for today’s episode of the Choose 954 podcast. Be sure to check out Michelle’s work, and we’ll see you at the next Art Walk!
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