Today we’d like to introduce you to Tia Loren-Marie Haynes.
Tia Loren-Marie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My family encouraged my artistic endeavors in different ways. My father taught me discipline, my mother gave me freedom, my sister gave me constant encouragement. My father’s parents were educators/community leaders and my mother’s parents were artists/architects. I moved from city to city because my father was in the military and my mother worked for the airlines. I observed the cultures of the American Northwest and the Southeast (and Europe); all very different places, they made me a very observant person and I had to quickly adapt to new surroundings out of my comfort zone.
I spent most of my teenage years in Tallahassee, Fl. After highchool, I attended Florida A&M University, as an architecture student. The program was rigorous. I learned perseverance and how to take constructive criticism among other things, but toward end I wanted to explore more of my interests. I went looking for different outlets for the ideas I had. I found myself in the art department, volunteering and taking courses. As I explored I also found I had a great fondness for anthropology.
I found the art group Alien Astronauts my last year of college. Alien Astronauts helped me find a voice in the art scene, by allowing me to create the art I wanted (part installation; part illustration/book art), showing it to an audience and getting feedback, which is invaluable for an artist. A2 also allowed me to be a curator and create an experiences as well. I enjoy both sides of the coin. I had my first group show the day of my college graduation, this was a game changer for me.
After college, while creating art and curating art shows, I worked at Jasmine’s Cafe in Tallahassee, FL, the owner Roger, allowed and encouraged the artists to create and payed them to do so for his businesses. That was a very creative time for me, being a server allowed me to have a lot of flexibility to travel, create and sustain myself while teaching me a great deal of humility and hard work. During this time, I was also model for Avlon Haircare and interned as a seamstress with A Beautiful Piece By Harmony, a small online ready to wear fashion boutique.
I moved to Atlanta in October 2016, I felt like the city was waiting for me, sort of a magical feeling. I’ve only felt like that with two cities, Paris and Atlanta.
Since in Atlanta, I’ve been on several architectural design teams, my freelance projects ranging from Tiny homes in the Georgia mountains to a tree house village for rapper Lil Boosie (still in progress). I’ve worked with Atlanta City Studio on a bike rack mural located in cascade heights. Last year, I released PING: A Visual Anthropology Zine at Atlanta Zine Fest Hosted by Murmur. I have also helped curate Red, Bike and Green’s Bikerversary in 2017/2018 and BUGS (A national organization) Southern Porch Party fall 2017.
I currently Manage a tea boutique, JUST ADD HONEY, its located in the Municipal Market off of Edgewood Ave. The Sheltons are super supportive and Brandi is a great boss lady, working for her is like entrepreneur/design ethics boot camp. I also freelance (art and architectural/interior design) and volunteer at PeterStreet Station.
Has it been a smooth road?
Smooth? Well, that’s a loaded question, I mean, whose journey is completely smooth? But, to be fair, I’m not living on the Gaza Strip or anything. I would have to say that my main struggle was learning to be assertive, creating boundaries and overcoming insecurities/trusting myself, I am a work in progress.
Advice for young women? I’d say, don’t compare yourself to anyone else, you have a unique voice and way that you do things. trust your intuition and take chances. If you fail, adjust your lenses and find out how you can learn from the situation. Lastly, find a tribe that encourages you to make good choices for health/personal life and are cheerleaders for the work you choose to do.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into your story. Tell us more about the business.
Oh gosh, I dread this question. I do so much, I am an explorer of creativity… I am an architectural designer, I curate events, I am an illustrator, I wouldn’t say I am a painter, I do paint. I enjoy expressing myself creatively and learning the skills to do so. When I am gifted with an idea that I am excited about I find a way to make it happen.
I specialize in designing spaces (interior/exterior) and/or documenting them “visual anthropology”.
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
Favorite Books: the Harry Potter Series changed my life as did The Alchemist.
Contact Info:
- Email: the.fairchild.art@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Thefairchild
Image Credit:
Tabitha Lisbee- Parker; Alvin McBean (SomethingYouGottaSee *company*); Phyllis ILLER
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
