DESTINEE STEWART
dialogue with treehouse artists
Who are you and what made you that?
I'm Destinee and I made myself a filmmaker and actress through a lot of self-discovery and trial and error.
What have you been working on recently?
I've been working on a horror feature film exploring white feminism and white female slave owners, a short film based in the 60s as part of an anthology feature film that features all-female directors, and an experimental short doc on the over-sexualization of the black female body.
Why do you make art?
I feel the need to. I have always felt, even as a child. I didn't quite know what the feeling meant until I created my first story. Knowing that somewhere in this world there is a person - a person who may not even be born yet - who will connect with a story of mine makes me feel that I have a great responsibility to create from my truth.
What role do you think art has in society?
Art is healing. It has the power to open a person's eyes, change their mind, make them feel less alone, and nourish the soul. If we look at the pandemic we are in right now, you can see how many people have turned to the arts in order to survive this time.
Art is healing. It has the power to open a person's eyes, change their mind, make them feel less alone, and nourish the soul.
Destinee Stewart for Dialogue
How has the pandemic affected your life as an artist (good/bad)?
I would say it has affected me in a good way. I am fortunate enough to still work, which means life, for me, for the most part, hasn't changed. But through work, I am able to spend more time around my two employees who are incredible artists, themselves. Sharing this artistic space has been inspiring and educational.
Where do you want attention focused? What would prove a real change in this world?
I want attention for every artist to be focused on their own healing and stories. I am primarily focused on stories of my childhood and stories of African American history because I, myself, have a lot to say in this particular area and a lot of healing and processing I need to explore through the stories that are coming from me right now.
If I need to heal from it then the story I tell can become a vessel of healing for someone else
What advice would you give others during this time?
It's been said a lot during this time, but whatever it is that you do, take this time to go inward and unpack.