Mixmaster presents "100 Creatives," in which we feature cultural entrepreneurs of Dallas in random order. Know an artistic mind who deserves a little bit of blog love? Email [email protected] with the whos and whys.
Taylor "Effin" Cleveland (not his real middle name, obviously, but he's badass enough to call himself whatever he wants) is a New Media artist based in Dallas. His body of work is so expansive that he has worked with almost everyone in town, from doing video projections with local performers, including Edward Ruiz, to dj-ing and vj-ing for fashion shows at WAAS Gallery, to having his portraits of local artists commissioned by THRWD magazine, to interning with Central Track, and to having one of his murals commissioned by Urban Outfitters at Northpark Mall in 2013.
Cleveland's aesthetic is on point with the trends occurring commercially in the art world. His work with body mapping and large-scale projection pieces that integrate sound compositions and performance utilize new media technologies in an inventive way that elevates any event he is involved in.
How did you first find your way into your craft? I found my way into New Media Art through a lifelong process of acting upon every burst of inspiration I get. Whether it's inspiration to make a painting, inspiration to make a song, inspiration to ride a bike, get a job, travel, whatever, every burst of inspiration I have acted upon has led me here.
If you had to describe your aesthetic in five words, what would they be? Synesthetic, technological, timeless, mystic, real.
Why do you do what you do? It's all I can do.
What in your daily life inspires you? Moments of peace, and positivity, and moments when it feels like everything is actually happening for a reason.
What brought you to Dallas? I was born here. Dallas is my home and is where my family lives.
What is something that you want Dallas to know about you? I would like Dallas to know that I am very proud of the city. Dallas has come a very long way while I've been here.
What's one art trend you want to see die this year? Egos. Egos from people that don't deserve them.
A mystery patron offers you unlimited funds for life. What will you do with it? Start a company that creates creative companies.
100 Creatives: 100. Theater Mastermind Matt Posey 99. Comedy Queen Amanda Austin 98. Deep Ellum Enterpriser Brandon Castillo 97. Humanitarian Artist Willie Baronet 96. Funny Man Paul Varghese 95. Painting Provocateur Art Peña 94. Magic Man Trigg Watson 93. Enigmatic Musician George Quartz 92. Artistic Luminary Joshua King 91. Inventive Director Rene Moreno 90. Color Mavens Marianne Newsom and Sunny Sliger 89. Literary Lion Thea Temple 88. Movie Maestro Eric Steele 87. Storytelling Dynamo Nicole Stewart 86. Collaborative Artist Ryder Richards 85. Party Planning Print maker Raymond Butler 84. Avant-gardist Publisher Javier Valadez 83. Movie Nerd James Wallace 82. Artistic Tastemakers Elissa & Erin Stafford 81. Pioneering Arts Advocates Mark Lowry & Michael Warner 80. Imaginative Director Jeremy Bartel 79. Behind-the-Scenes Teacher Rachel Hull
