Zoe Pawlak is very easy to be jealous of. Not only am I jealous of her paintings, but she also has a beautiful studio that she shares with Fiona Ackerman {yet another huge talent!} at 1000 Parker Street… an old four storey warehouse that is overflowing with amazing artists. I have recently had the pleasure of meeting Zoe in person, and it turns out that she’s not only a gifted artist, she’s also one of the loveliest people you’ll ever meet. Oh, and speaking of meeting lovely people, Zoe did just that for her guest post:

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I am jealous of Talwst (pronounced ‘Tallwaist’) Santiago.

Talwst is a gorgeous, enigmatic man on a mission to create meaningful art and music about social issues, personal triumphs and love. So, what is there not to be jealous of?

I met up with the charismatic Talwst in Toronto a few weeks back to ask the man what makes him move. These are a few musings we came up with to make you super-jealous.

The man is on FIRE. Working with one of the top producers in the world, Illangelo (co-producer of The Weekend), Talwst is kicking it into high gear with his music. As for his art practice, he has plans for an upcoming fall group show at the AGO and a solo show next year at Fuse Gallery in NYC.  Taking his own unique style and and authentically channeling the African Aesthetics that were introduced to him at an early age by his favourite artist, his brother, Talwst looks to artists like Kerry James Marshall, and musicians Kanye and Outkast who have pioneered the way in making relevant work that merges their heritage with social topics in a most revolutionary fashion. Talwst’s “All Black Everything” series speaks to the heart of his mission: informing the world about water. “Water and the role it will play in the future is my absolute creative focus these days.” If that doesn’t make you jealous enough…

Talwst is going to make art and music. That’s right. Both. Jealous? Talwst has currently aligned himself with Creative Advisor Danny Lee and Music Manager Joseph Segarra to help him fuse a new model for making art and music. This is a whole rebranding process wherein these two men take Talwst’s ideas and help him channel them into a cohesive body of work so that he can continue to have vision and make soul felt work that will no doubt blow up. Get this. Talwst paints his face most mornings to remind himself that ‘everything in you that is true and creative, even if it is dark, must be expressed.’ That is effortless, true cool. So, if that doesn’t make you jealous yet, let’s get to the heart of the matter…

Talwst is a family man. “I wear my heart on my sleeve.” says Talwst. Though he himself has not yet found ‘the one’, she is out there and he is certain their life together will be filled with babies and travel and continuing on the meaningful artistic work he is aiming to do in the next era of his bourgeoning career. He calls his future wife his ‘running partner.’ Get in line ladies, the man is a LOVER in the truest sense of the word. He speaks most highly of his parents and plans to spend winters in his homeland of Trinidad (Peter Doig is also down there… jealous?) caring for them into their old age and making art.

When I ask Talwst what is means to be a Lover, his response is clear.  “It is the best way to be in the world.  I was taught this by my mother.” he says, “It opens you to the world. Travel also opens you and let’s you move through the world with an open heart.”

The man travels a lot. Definite Jealousy.  It is no wonder that some of the most highly creative individuals like Illangelo are wanting to work with Talwst. He claims that there are people all over the globe making music and art about some of the most difficult current topics. With idols like Yoko Ono and Malik Yusef, you can be certain that any fame that finds this man will be leveraged for good. That is something worth being jealous of.

{Titles: 1. Slick the Smuggler  2. Shakye West  3. When they said all black everything I didn’t know they meant the water  4. She Awake  5. Painter  6. Startrek  7. Farmer}

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Thanks Zoe – Fabulous post!