Creatives Corner: Marquelle Turner-Gilchrist
It’s no secret that the world has been going through some changes which requires us to go through those changes too. I wanted to check in with my guy Marquelle Turner-Gilchrist an see how everything has been going with his way. Check it out.
Pictured: Brooklyn, NY
Quarantine Energy: The first three weeks of quarantine were incredibly difficult for me. I am an em-path and I was soaking up and "consuming" all of the news around me. It was hard to constantly hear and see the impact of this virus. Ultimately, I made up my mind that I wanted to use this time to explore a platinum lining and I found that by re-focusing on things that are important to me, which included family and loved ones, strong, healthy bonds, and my well-being, my mood shifted and I have made the most of this time. I turned off the news and started calling and texting my friends more often just to check in on them. I put down the 3-cheese mac and cheese and started a new diet coupled with a new workout regimen. I've also embraced not being able to have a hair cut for over two months. It's allowed me to see below the surface. I've always chosen soul food over eye candy, so I've explored depth on a different level.
Pictured: The Sphinx + Giza Pyramids, Cairo Egypt
Motivation: Being a creative is like being a plant dad. To grow the plant it requires time, attention, watering, and energy. As a creative, we also have to dedicate time to the urge inside of us that incessantly requires that we create. For me, that means writing out my thoughts in a freestyle form of prose, blasting my favorite afro beats song and learning new dance moves, and using Pinterest to create mood-boards as inspiration for upcoming photo shoots. I also take days (on the weekend) to just sit and detach from social media and sit in my thoughts. I day-dream of the vision I have for the future, I speak positive affirmations and I ensure I am extending grace to myself and others. As time passes, I have found a sense of peace in this stillness and I hope to take away some of the lessons on the other side of Covid.
Picture: Seven Magic Mountains, Las Vegas, Nevada
Current Projects: Currently, along with my business partner Olushola Bashorun (@aqut), I am working on a print-editorial collective called The New Stereotype (TNS): STORIES. TNS: STORIES is a year-long story-telling journey highlighting black men and women across various industries here in the US in their most authentic form but through a fashion lens. We will shoot in NYC, Chicago, Washington DC, Los Angeles and a few other cities. We are excited to highlight people like the celebrity chef who cooked for Drake after sliding into his management's DMs, an art director and photographer who self-published his own book on black male culture, and a jazz musician who helped produce shows for Rihanna and Solange after graduating from Juilliard. We are creating "bespoke editorials" for everyone in the book to celebrate their life journeys. You can find out more about the project here.
I want to thank Marquelle again for participating in Creatives Corner and I am looking forward to his new project nd everything else he has in store! You can follow him on instagram @marquelleturner .and also visit his website marquelleturner.com.
