Interview with Adejoke Tugbiyele Sedita
Newark, NJ
March 2007

Adejoke Tugbiyele Sedita is co-owner of Newark Art Supply and is also an award winning local artist whose
work delves in to the subconscious to understand and reimagine our contemporary lives with an eye on articulating
a responsive visual language.

Combining her interests in public policy, design, art as dialect and entrepreneurship she is not afraid to imagine art as
essential to rejuvenating the ways in which we build community and live. _


"...Most of the time verbal language comes forth after we have rationalized our thoughts. If this does not occur we might say that a person is speaking "non-sense." That "non-sense," when communicated visually, may in fact make complete sense because it describes the inner workings of unconscious thought."
- Adejoke Tugbiyele Sedita


Noelle Lorraine Williams|One thing that you and I have discussed before is the ability for visual art to express what might not be able to be expressed in words or our everyday vocabulary, words and experiences. The visual becomes another language that is not replicable by words. Can you please explain this more. How does this impact how we understand Home?

Adejoke Tugbiyele Sedita |Art is a medium of expression that comes naturally.

Over time, our society teaches children to suppress their desire to draw in favor of verbal language. Most of our living systems are set up to receive verbal communication alone. It is quite unfortunate. The problem becomes more apparent when we compare ancient societies to modern ones. Ancient societies may have lacked the technologies we enjoy today, however they were far more aware of their senses.

Most of the time verbal language comes forth after we have rationalized our thoughts. If this does not occur we might say that a person is speaking "non-sense." That "non-sense," when communicated visually, may in fact make complete sense because it describes the inner workings of unconscious thought. C.G. Jung went through great lengths to describe this phenomenon in the book, Man and His Symbols.

What all this means to me when put in the context of "Home" is that our bodies truly are our temples. Because of our societies puritanical roots, we shy away from exploring ALL parts of our bodies - physical, spiritual and mental. For many individuals, reclaiming their bodies - their Homes - has become a life-long pursuit. Art is a tool that can help us reach areas that have long been placed off-limits, so that we can learn how to feel at home in our own skin - as we did when we were babies.

Noelle Lorraine Williams |In contemporary periods you make a direct connection between art, economics, and culture and art empowerment? Why? How exactly does Newark Art Supply do that?

Adejoke Tugbiyele Sedita |When you say art empowerment I take it you mean artist empowerment. Yes, all of those things appear to be reoccurring themes in both my academic and professional work. This is not purposeful but again, various things I have sensed over time. I sense the disconnect between art and the economy by observing how many of our systems truly lack meaning. Art imbues our lives with meaning and without artists there is no art. Too many people do not give artists the credit they deserve for simply creating interest. No one benefits when an area is depressed and boring. In fact, studies have shown that boredom can lead to neighborhood crime as well as job dissatisfaction. As Richard Florida points out, creative artists keep things interesting which in turn helps the economy. Cultural value is a big part of the equation.

While I believe in the provision of affordable housing for artists, I also believe many artists can do more to become successful entrepreneurs. One way to begin is by expanding the definition of art beyond paintings on a wall, to include finding creative ways to help solve major problems such as bad governance, homelessness, racism, crime and drugs. Some of the most creative artists do not believe it is their job to tackle these issues. Maybe so, but that means some of the best minds (with or without credentials) are not being employed in these areas. Given the right resources, artists can market themselves as creative problem solvers thereby becoming empowered.

Noelle Lorraine Williams |Your workshop is called ASE workshop? What does that mean? And what exactly does the workshop represent?