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adoring fans. “Validation shouldn’t
be important but it helps to keep one
on track.” Of course, validation often
leads people to belief that they are
doing something right.
After witnessing Jordan’s art, it is quite
difficult to imagine that its creator is
extremely shy and uses painting as
a conduit through which she is able
to communicate her thoughts and
feelings. Although Jordan is fearful and
at times doubtful, she remains diligent
and refuses to allow fear to take over
the process.
And it shows in her beautiful artwork.
I rounded off our phone conversation
with the following Q & A with the very
insightful Jordan:
Does art allow you to creatively
express the tensions you face as a
biracial woman? If yes, how?
about being biracial/mixed-race. In
2012, I co-founded 3MW Collective
along with Rema Tavares and Ilene
Sova. Our mission is using visual art to
deconstruct mixed-race identity. My art
has provided me with the opportunity
to connect with others and to explore
relevant issues.
Which of the two do you weigh more
heavily: your desire to use art as a
form of creative expression or the
effect that your art may have upon
others?
I think both are important; however,
if I had to choose one then creative
expression would weigh more for me.
I use art to express myself because
it’s what feels right. I think naturally
if I’m honest with myself the work
will always affect somebody. Art is a
universal language, and it has a way of
connecting with others.
Jordan Clarke
No Boundaries
By Nicole Seck
femininity in art has been Jordan’s
main focus. She has a vested interest
in empowering women of the Black/
African diaspora and racialized women
alike.
Yes, art most definitely allows me
to creatively express myself and
my biracial identity. It was actually
through painting that I initially began
looking into my identity. It all started
with a painting from 2008 titled
Nothing is just black or white. This
painting lead to my “mask” series of
self-portraits exploring mixed race.
This work has acted as a stepping stone
for where I am now as an artist. Before
this work, I wasn’t thinking critically
What do you believe to be missing
from Toronto’s art landscape (if
anything)?
Fearless art buyers.
Why art?
I choose art because it makes me feel
connected and complete. It allows me
to see the beauty in everything.
BOSS MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
For Jordan Clarke, artists’ expressions
through their work are inextricably
linked to their identity. Jordan, who
is biracial herself, along with two
other biracial women have formed
a collective called 3MW or 3 Mixed
Women. On October 3rd the trio
banded together to curate an art
exhibit entitled Complexion, which
also happened to be a featured as
part of Scotiabank’s Nuit Blanche:
an overnight showcase of art strewn
across Toronto’s metropolis.
Jordan posits that in Toronto there
is an open community of support for
artists that one would unlikely stumble
upon elsewhere. Where Toronto falls
short—in Jordan’s eyes—is when it
comes to forking up the dollars by
purchasing craze-worthy art, so as to
assist in eradicating the widely-held
“starving artist” image.
Art has always been something that
has made the burgeoning artist feel
“human, good and smart.” Even as
a graduate of OCAD, Jordan states
during our buoyant phone conversation
that she didn’t feel supported or
encouraged by her professors
throughout the course of her studies,
claiming they often sought to pigeonhole
her into focusing on producing
Africentric art, seemingly to keep in
line with the false belief that Black/
African artists are chiefly interested in
creating art that contains elements of
Africa, Blackness and nothing else.
Jordan’s art has known no bounds.
In fact, art has led her into unfamiliar
territory. While in her third year at
OCAD, art led her to Italy, where she
encountered new techniques and
became inspired by earth tones such
as burnt sienna and various shades of
brown, which can be found in many of
her paintings. As an artist who has not
been confined to the walls of academia
since graduating in 2007, integrating
Jordan finds it important to place
some amount of thought into
everything that she creates, claiming
that there must be a vision as to why
it is we do the things we do. “When
you inspire others they give back to
you,” says the self-proclaimed ubershy
artist. As life for most is a process
of learning and development, it is not
surprising that Jordan’s objective is
to continue along her journey toward
artistic development for the purpose
of creating inspirational pieces for
others. But behind her desire to
create inspirational works that others
can feast their eyes on, lies Jordan’s
admission of feeding off of aweinspired
and positive sentiments of
WINTER 2013 BOSS MAGAZINE
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