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Interview with the Artist: Dyana Jean
Her words, thoughts, and what it means to be queer

We recently had the opportunity to interview an amazing artist, Dyana Jean, our favorite girl from Philly, who has had her work displayed in many venues. It’s always revealing to sit down with an artist and find out what makes them create, who inspires them, and how they see the world. So, without further adieu, we would like to introduce you to Dyana Jean.

What is the inspiration for your work?

DYANA: First, I guess I could tell you that when I decide to write, it's usually because I’ve heard a song, a melody with some lyrics that reached some part of me, and inspired me to write about the feeling it invoked in me in my own way. By writing poetry, or my own lyrics, or even composing my own songs…I am inspired to write, to do the photography. I have received so much positive feedback from other women who have seen my work, that it makes me want to keep reaching people and find ways to connect us all.

[Laughing] Maybe I should have received these questions in advance to keep my answers shorter!

Your photography has ethereal elements to it. When looking at the self-portraits, you feel you're seeing through a dreamscape, seeing but not quite seeing. What are you trying to convey to your viewer?

DYANA: Originally, the photos were supposed to accompany the poems, side by side. Certain photos go with certain poems and I wanted it done that way because the poems inspired the photos. I believe that the photos are there to help bring up feelings, to help spark feelings like the poems do, because to me, if I want to call myself an artist, then I have to create the kind of art that makes sense to me first. That's what I think art should do: evoke feelings, capturing the feelings visually that the poems are trying to articulate. You can read things different ways sometimes, but I think when you actually see something, there is a better chance at being understood.

Of course, the way my photos and poems are laid out right now (on my Web site), it's not accomplishing this and I would like to try and change that but it will take a lot of time...

[Laughing] Next question. I see in your bio that you have a very strong theological background. How does that affect who you are? I know, broad question, but bear with me. We have a method to our madness, I promise!

DYANA: [Laughing] No worries! You know I had to live with my older brother, who is in the military and a police officer, a very straight kind of macho guy who berated me at the dinner table while I was in seminary about how it wasn't going to get me anywhere, and why was I wasting my time studying religion because there wasn't anything I could do with it that would make any money. And you know, he was partly right. Right in the fact that I wouldn't make any money. But, people in seminary um, already know this! [laughing].

Where he was wrong was in the fact that it wasn't going to get me anywhere. Because it did.... it got me somewhere with myself and with the universe, because before I went to seminary I was one of those cafeteria Catholics.... picking and choosing what I was going to believe in and so forth. Very wishy-washy when it came to faith... and very conditional with god... I would strike deals with god all the time. Like, if you do this for me god, I swear I will give something up for lent this year... like, how lame!

So, I decided when I was in college that I wanted to teach. And I wanted to teach theology because I was inspired by one of my religion professors so much so because he showed me an intellectual side to religion that I didn't know was there... so I applied to graduate school and went to seminary...and you know what, I really would not be the person I am today had I not gone...and I am a better me for going because I learned how to be a spiritual person who had integrity...and stopped being a catholic if I did not want to be. And stopped compromising my spirituality based on what others told me I had to be, and I had to believe

What a wonderful answer!

DYANA: It was the first step in my journey to find my authentic self

So, it appears your spirituality and relationship to God is very strong. Given that, how do you reconcile the current atmosphere of intolerance and hate towards gays and lesbians?

DYANA: I simply do not see it as an issue... I went to seminary, I studied the bible, I studied and taught all religions, I have had experiences talking with mediums who work with others who have passed on, and all my knowledge, which is quite diverse if I may say so, tells me that God really doesn't give a flying rat's ass if you are gay / straight / bi / TG / lesbian / queer / etc.

What matters is if you love and how you choose to go about doing it. I was taught by the world's finest theologians at Union Seminary in NYC, many of whom were queer...all of whom were queer friendly, and so I’m trying to say...that I learned how to be a spiritual being from a community that expected you feel open to just be out instead of having to fear "coming out." and I tell you, it was the most freeing experience for me in the entire world as a 21 year old lesbian at the time. And for that, I will always feel eternally grateful to god/goddess for placing that opportunity in my life.

[Laughing] People will think I’m crazy because I mentioned talking with mediums 

No worries. If the early prophets of the Bible spoke to spirits and angels, why can't we? I mean, if there was a John the Baptist today, going around preaching as he did in the days of Jesus, people would label him a kook!

DYANA: Exactly! [Laughing] Some people thought Jesus was a kook. So I’m in good company.

Right! Here’s a tough one. Given your answer above, what do you tell the questioning individual who lives in a less urban, less queer-friendly place, who is struggling to reconcile what they have learned their entire life: that the Bible they read says homosexuality is wrong. That the God they're taught to love will condemn them to Hell? I mean, one of the things that the Evangelical right wing are so proud of is their ability to beat someone over the head with Bible verses that seem to condemn anyone who is gay

DYANA: Well, I would have them start with Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Honestly, ask them if all the laws make sense to them. And if they say you have to live a certain way and a certain lifestyle, why is it that we don't still follow all the laws? Why don't Christians consider themselves Jewish. Why don't Evangelicals ever want to talk about the other side of things? Fear perhaps? Fear is a very powerful powerful tool used by others, and used by ourselves to keep us in a certain place. When we do it to ourselves and it makes us miserable, I think you have to really ask yourself is it worth it.

Is it really worth it for me to hate myself, based on what others say and knowing there is a whole other world out there with differing opinions. Questioning your faith only makes you stronger when in the end you can still say you believe in God. Asking the questions is the hard part because you feel like you shouldn't. But who tells you not to? Someone else!

Amen, sister!

DYANA: Whew! That was a tough ass question, girl!

Sorry, I told you it would be [laughing]. You forget I live in the middle of most of the hate-mongers in the country. Gives you a unique perspective

DYANA: Wow, I don't know how you do it. And I still can't believe it still goes on!

Oh, yeah. The community in which I live is very white, very Republican, and very hush-hush if you're gay. Lots of gay guys and some lesbians around here. But you wouldn't know it

Well, Catholics did and do the same thing in a way... but it's the opposite. The Catholic Church doesn't push the Bible on its followers in part because it doesn't want its followers to come up with questions!

[laughing] No kidding! I was raised Pentecostal, so you can imagine how that was, reconciling it with my faith and who I am. Had quite a few talks with God over that one

Fear compromises integrity of all sorts

We took a little sidetrack there, so, let's see if we can get back on the train of thought about your art.Many people seem to be all about labels these days: Who they are, how they are represented. How do you see yourself? When you look at yourself through your art, do you see lesbian? Do you see artist? Lesbian artist? How do you want the world to see you through your art?

DYANA: I have this written on my website... that being a lesbian doesn't define me. It’s just one thing that is defining about me. As is being an artist, being a writer, being a singer, I don't think anyone can be just one thing, just one label. However, there are different reasons we identify as certain things politically, I will identify as a lesbian. Sexually, I think I should identify as bisexual, because I have had boyfriends before, I have had sex with them, heck I was even in love with one of them. But, when I decided that I wasn't fulfilled completely in a relationship with a man, that's when I declared that I was queer...not lesbian, but queer. Lesbian, to me, had political connotations. Queer, to me, is just all encompassing. And I know some lesbians who read this won't get it, and will be put off by me using the term "queer," but so be it.

It is important to me that I am considered a lesbian, but also as important to me to be considered a woman, a daughter, a niece, a sister, an aunt, and a cousin... I am proud to transcend anyone's attempt to label me as just one thing.

Personally, I hate labels. I don't like attempts to pigeonhole people based on stereotypes, so I’m in agreement. I want to touch on one thing you said above for further comment.You said, "Lesbian, to me, had political connotations..." this intrigues me. How so? What do you mean?

DYANA: Basically, it's just like how you are either Democrat or Republican (and if I had to pick a party, then it's Democrat). So if society wants me to pick one, it would not be straight, it would be lesbian. So, yes, I am a lesbian. But, I am also queer. Being queer is more than just being lesbian to me...claiming my queerness is empowering to me! It’s taking back some asshole's attempt to use that word to put me down for being a lesbian, and I won't let anyone have that kind of power over me. I will say it loud and proud: I’m a big queer...who wants to make something of it?

Straight people don't think of asking you if you are queer. They ask if you are a lesbian.

[Laughing] Okay, but for those readers who aren't quite as "with it" as others, I know they will want to know the difference between what's queer and what's lesbian. How do you define that? [laughing] This is like one of those questions on IQ tests: "If all gorks are morks, and some morks are mindys, then are all mindys gorks?"

DYANA: True! When the general society latches onto an old notion in my book, I feel like we have a lot more work to do. So, let's keep working and keep pushing because just maybe they will be a little more sensitive eventually. I think society has had a while to get used to the term lesbian or gay but it just refused to use the term queer. I may be a lesbian, but I am part of not only the lesbian community, but also an entire queer community. I am just as connected to gay men as I am to lesbian women, bisexual women and men, transgendered, etc., and that's what makes me queer.

And you know, I really just still need to say one thing. That even within our queer community, gay men outnumber lesbians, bisexuals are generally thought of as "fence-sitters" and TG's are not hardly included much at the dinner table at all. To me, we really have a lot of work to do within our own community before we can make more progress overall

I agree completely. It’s very much so in the community here

DYANA: Yes...the queer community is very much gay male centered. Surprise, surprise!

Not much different than the straight world. Power is where the money is, and the money has typically always been with the men. There’s a lot of change that needs to be made in a lot of areas

DYANA: Right on!

As an artist, who inspires you?

DYANA: Well, it's an eclectic group for me: Salvador Dali, Georgia O’Keefe, Ansel Adams, Picasso, Bernini the sculptor. His sculptures made me want to run up to them and make love to them when I was in Italy [laughing]

Just a bit of trivia here. Did you know Bernini's real name was Michelangelo, but he hid that so his work wouldn't be confused with the other “Mike” guy?

DYANA:  [laughing] no, I didn't know that! Makes so much sense now.

Musically, Marvin Gaye, Miles Davis, India Arie, Paula Cole, Madonna, neo disco house music is what I currently get inspiration for when I am writing.

Overall, my mom is my biggest inspiration.

How does your mom inspire you?

DYANA: Well, she is a retired jazz diva. I was breast-fed jazz and I am a proud nursery school drop out [laughing]! I did nothing but cry when she tried to leave me at the school, so I got to stay home and watch her rehearse with her trio. All the time, I got to go to the recording studio, the concerts, and the jazz clubs and watch her perform.

In the mid 1990’s, she was diagnosed with lung cancer and it killed her career, but not her spirit. So she enrolled in a Master's program for theology at the same school I was attending. She commuted to New York twice a week from Philly to pursue something that brought her as much joy as singing. She loves to learn.  She used to be a teacher also, so watching her get her Master's degree after I got mine, knowing she overcame all that she did, was really amazing to me.

How is she doing now?

DYANA: She's still doing great, although she only has one lung now. She can still bring the house down from time to time. She just can't do it as often as she would like, or rather, the rest of us would like.

I like that. The next question doesn't really have anything to do with your art or theology or anything of that nature. However, given the phenomenon it has sparked, I must get your input about The L Word. What do you think about it?

DYANA: What do I think of The L Word? Hmm, when it started, I was like, “Look at this...they are all so skinny and so beautiful. How is this going to relate to our so very diverse community?!”

Agreed. There has been much said about it online and in print

DYANA: Eventually, I just let go of all of that and began to watch it and I’ve come to really appreciate it as a queer woman. I think it's hot, I think it's courageous, and I think it's daring. And I hope to one day be some part of it directly.

Maybe we could see your art on Bette Porter's gallery wall!

DYANA: Artistically, I am jealous that I am not writing for it or not acting in it [laughing]

As most artists go, when we get inspired, we can “disappear” so to speak. That’s tough on a relationship. How does your girlfriend handle all the attention your work receives?

DYANA: She is very supportive, thank goddess, but as you can imagine, she wonders why I do put naked photos of myself up there for the world to see!

It takes a very secure woman to understand that, so you’re fortunate she understands. That would be hard for the majority of lesbians, given how insecure the lot of us can be at time!

DYANA: Sigh...even the best of them!

If I had a beautiful body, I’d probably put myself up. But as it is, people would probably pay me to take 'em down [laughing]

DYANA: What I imagine having my career to be like is going to be challenging for both of us. I really don’t think I have a typically beautiful body. I think I was just clever enough to highlight my best assets [laughing]! Two of them in particular!

One final question. What advice do you offer the budding artist?

DYANA: Well, given I am still one myself...[laughing]. You just have to find the courage to face your fears, to go after everything and anything you always wanted. Be clear with your intentions, and don't be afraid to be a trailblazer and burn a path that has not been burned by any other trailblazer who came before you...

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and blaze a trail." —Ralph Waldo Emerson. It's one of my favorite quotes.

DYANA: Awesome! Yeah! That’s it exactly!

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