On Instagram, however, very Jaidah falls under a different name. Their Instagram handle : @sm8llfry<\/a>. Their writings, short films, photographs, and movie reviews are in constant circulation as one of the most respected voices in the St. Louis art scene. Jaidah travels often and is finishing school in a matter of months at Columbia University in Chicago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n han : Where are you from and what was it like being Jaidah growing up?<\/kbd>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n They smile, \u201cI was a wild child tomboy who was always getting into it with my siblings. I guess you could say I was bad\u2026 I used to chase my brother and sister around with a pen and pretend like I was going to stab them. A lot of people have a hard time believing that because of the laid back demeanor I have now. But I was still always creative and kind of eccentric. I had my own spunk to me and refused to be like everyone else. Even my parents were very supportive and loving me even through my boy phase.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n han : So what is the story behind your Instagram name?<\/kbd>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy instagram handle is pronounced \u201csmall fry\u201d with an eight, you know, substitute the \u201ca\u201d for an \u201c8,\u201d and thats my handle. I\u2019ve had an Instagram since I was about 12 years old, I remember downloading the app in seventh grade. Now I post my photography, my writings, my film work, and movie reviews as of recent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n han : What art medium did you fall in love with first?<\/kbd>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWriting most definitely came first.\u201d She responded without hesitation. \u201cAnd then photography was next. I originally majored in writing when I went to Columbia, and then I took a film class and fell in love with that too. \u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n han : What is your creative process?<\/strong><\/kbd><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUmm\u2026I tend to watch a lot of movies and listen to a lot of music, that usually inspires me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n han :\u00a0Explain the ambiguity of your Instagram? A lot of people know your work but not your face, is that intentional?<\/kbd><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes it is intentional, I like my art to speak for itself. I feel that if I would post my face people would flock to how I look instead of letting my work and the deeper meaning behind ir. I dont want people to be like: *mimicking voice* Oh she\u2019s a woman or he\u2019s a guy so their perspective on this is narrow. So if people don\u2019t know who I am they can just appreciate the art for what it is. \u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n han :\u00a0What would you consider your muse?<\/kbd><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI would say the world is my muse, if anything that inspires me I feel like I have to capture it. Nothing in particular is off limits for me. Black women also play a major role in my work. Sometimes I feel like I was made to create art for black women.\u201d She slows for a moment before continuing. \u201cPersonally, it took me a long time to be comfortable as a woman and there was a point where I didnt even want to identify as a woman. Now, I feel like I revel in the power of being a woman, it feels like my purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf there is one thing I want my followers to take away after experiencing my page it is to appreciate blackness. A lot of people still view black people as the bottom of the barrel, but they really are so beautiful and should be seen as such.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n han:\u00a0Can you pick a favorite out of your past projects?<\/kbd><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe hair project I did that focused on the beauty and appreciation of black hair was my favorite so far. I reached out to people and asked to photograph them in their element with their hair. I went into their homes and sacred spaces and interviews them about the products they used and what their hair meant to them. It was a very organic process that took no more than 20 minutes. It was really fun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n han :\u00a0Talk to me about your boy phase and what that part of your life means for your art?<\/kbd><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was already a tomboy. And in middle school I felt like I never really got attention from guys so I figured I might as well become one. I started dressing like a boy so I wouldn\u2019t be as insecure about not getting attention from them. I am androgynous so I chanel both masculine and feminine sides of myself. And when it comes to my art, I think it gives me an advantage to have feel both of those energies, it\u2019s all a balance and I feel I can appreciate both perspectives in socially and with my art.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n han :\u00a0Where do you see your art taking you?<\/kbd><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI see my art taking me all across the world. The messages in art are universal and I\u2019d love it to reach as many people as possible. Aside from the fame, which is not that important to me, I really just want people to be able to appreciate my work for what it is and learn and grow from it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n han :\u00a0How do you begin your writing process after you decide on a topic?<\/kbd><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWriting is not something that happens over night for me, I\u2019ll have the inspiration while Im listening to a song for example and then I\u2019ll pull out my phone and free write. If I don\u2019t like it I\u2019ll come back to it and the process usually starts from there. Im a capricorn perfectionist, and we love to be perfect with our shit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n han :\u00a0I\u2019ve noticed you open up a lot of space for conversation and feed back on your Instagram, what drives you to do that?<\/kbd><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIm a very empathetic and curious person so I love hearing other peoples perspectives on things. Everyone has a story. That is also a big source of inspiration for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n han :\u00a0Tell me the difference in how you experience photography vs. writing?<\/kbd><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHmm, that\u2019s a good question. Writing is more vulnerable for me. \u201cJaidah pauses again slightly then gently places a hand on the nearly empty glass. \u201cI have an eye for photography and it captures my world view, but my writing is my personal experience of what I, and other people go through. Writing is a lot more personal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n han :\u00a0For those who are pursing a similar craft to yours, when did you start feeling Validated as an artist?<\/kbd><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn 2016. My freshman year of college, thats when people started reaching out and wanting to work with me. It was surprising at first like wow you\u2019re interested in my work? But college has also taught me a lot about myself and who I am. I really value that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n han :\u00a0When is writing\u00a0Better?<\/kbd><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWriting is better all the time.<\/strong> There isn\u2019t a moment when I\u2019m not at least thinking of a concept that couldn\u2019t be written down. So yeah, there is never a time where one moment is better than the next for writing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n View more of sm8llfry\u2019s work on :<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/betterinprint.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/000486620007.jpg?460ef8&460ef8\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/betterinprint.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/IMG_2471.jpg?460ef8&460ef8\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/betterinprint.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-25-at-5.13.21-PM-1.png?460ef8&460ef8\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/betterinprint.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/IMG_3188-576x1024.png?460ef8&460ef8\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/betterinprint.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/IMG_3189-576x1024.png?460ef8&460ef8\")