Episode 189

In this powerful conversation, Cultural Producer and Artrepreneur Dontae T. Muse joins Women of Color: An Intimate Conversation to explore his journey through creativity, community, and legacy-building in Black art.

Dontae shares how getting fired became his catalyst for stepping into purpose, how he built Above Art Studios into a cultural home for creatives, why documenting knowledge became part of his mission, and how he is shaping the future through his roles at the Harlem Fine Arts Show and Newark Symphony Hall.

This episode dives deep into self-trust, creative reinvention, community leadership, impact, and legacy — all themes resonating with The Dream Lifestyle™ Collective, your sanctuary for Black women 50+ designing bold next chapters.

• Dontae's origin story: choosing himself, trusting his gifts, and walking away from "stable" careers

• The early days of Above Art Studios and how he built legitimacy and community from scratch

• What he learned about legacy, consistency, and creating opportunities for others

• Why he writes, how he educates emerging artrepreneurs, and the myths that still hold artists back

• Inside the Harlem Fine Arts Show — the largest diaspora-focused art show in North America

• The Centennial Program at Newark Symphony Hall and preserving 100 years of Black cultural history

• The future of Black art entrepreneurship — and how creatives can adapt

• Wisdom for Black women 50+ reclaiming their creativity, power, and purpose

• What legacy means to him and what he hopes listeners take away

• Black art ecosystems

• Building legacy through creativity

• Leaving traditional careers for purpose-driven work

• Artrepreneurship, cultural leadership, and community impact

• Reinvention after 50

• Stories of resilience, self-belief, and intentional design

"I wanted to create opportunities for other people — that's legacy."
"Whatever I've been able to do, a Black woman can do three times over."
"Say yes — and figure the rest out later."
"There's always a way to use your strengths and your perceived weaknesses."
"Legacy is how people remember the way you touched their lives."

Dontae is a Cultural Producer, Artrepreneur, and best-selling author whose work sits at the intersection of art, culture, and community.

• Former Owner, Above Art Studios

• Co-Founder, HEArt Festival

• Director of Artist Relations, Harlem Fine Arts Show

• Centennial Program Manager, Newark Symphony Hall

• Author of best-selling guides supporting emerging artrepreneurs

He is a creative force shaping the future of Black cultural expression and creative entrepreneurship.

• Instagram: @iamdmuse

• YouTube: youtube.com/@iamdmuse

• LinkedIn: Dontae T. Muse, MPA

If you're a Black woman 50+ ready to reclaim your creativity, joy, and reinvention, explore the Dream Lifestyle™ Collective — a sanctuary to Dream, Design & Drive™ your next bold chapter.
👉 deneenlgarrett.com

Episode 188

Audio Disclaimer:
This conversation was originally recorded for CAA Conversations. CAA later shifted to a panel-only format and chose not to release individual interviews. I'm proud to share this important dialogue independently.

n this conversation, I speak with Melanie Brister—arts marketing strategist, global PR expert, and cross-industry collaborator whose work spans museums, fashion, film, and Broadway. Together we explore how storytelling, partnerships, and creative strategy can shift the art world from visibility to legacy.

We discuss the need for intentional representation, cross-sector collaboration, and sustainable opportunities for Black women in the arts, as well as the role of community and creative hubs like LA, NYC, and London.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:
• How PR and partnerships can "re-story" the art historical canon
• Why cross-industry collaboration expands visibility and access
• What sustainable representation looks like beyond trends
• How creative cities shape community and opportunity
• The importance of multigenerational networks and creative ecosystems

Key Takeaways:
• Art is an archive—creativity preserves cultural memory
• Representation must lead to legacy, not just visibility
• Black women must hold seats as artists, strategists, curators, and culture shapers
• Partnerships create lasting access when built on authenticity
• Community energy fuels creative momentum and impact

About the Guest – Melanie Brister:
Melanie Brister is an arts marketing strategist specializing in global PR, social media, and influencer relations across the visual and performing arts. She has supported The Studio Museum in Harlem, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Frieze, MOCA Los Angeles, The Getty Museum, and helped launch Sotheby's social media strategy. Her work bridges art, fashion, film, theater, and design to expand visibility and access for diverse audiences.

Instagram: @mel_olivia

About the Host – Deneen L. Garrett:
Deneen L. Garrett is a Cultural Alchemist, international speaker, Dream Lifestyle™ Coach, and host of "Women of Color: An Intimate Conversation," a Top 100 empowerment podcast. A former D&I leader at AT&T, she now leads Deneen L. Garrett LLC, merging art, culture, storytelling, and empowerment. She serves on boards at the Detroit Institute of Arts, supporting African and African American art initiatives.

Website: deneenlgarrett.com
Instagram: @deneensdreamlife

Call to Action:
The Dream Lifestyle™ Collective is now in quiet launch on Skool. If you're a Black Woman 50+ ready to design and live your Dream Life™ NOW, join us. 🔗

Episode 187

This episode was originally recorded for CAA Conversations in alignment with their content structure at the time. When CAA shifted to a panel-only format, they chose not to release individual interviews. I'm proud to share this dialogue independently because Black women's stories, artistry, and cultural labor deserve to be heard. 3 of 3 recorded.

In this final installment of the "Black Women in Art: Restorying the Canon" series, I speak with educator, children's author, entrepreneur, visual artist, and Vesey Lane Goods founder Robin Michelle Wilson. Rooted in the legacy of her great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother, Robin's work centers family memory, material traditions, and community care through crocheted story quilts, archival imagery, and literacy advocacy.

We discuss how Black women's creativity and community-centered practices resist erasure, preserve lineage, and shape inclusive futures in the arts.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:
• How family legacy, lineage, and intergenerational craft shape identity
• How artists can balance creativity and entrepreneurship sustainably
• Why visual storytelling counters cultural erasure
• What community-centered business models can teach the art world
• What educators and institutions can do to support Black women in the arts

Key Takeaways:
• Legacy is a blueprint for creative and entrepreneurial purpose
• Rest, boundaries, and structure protect creative practice
• Community is cultural infrastructure, not an afterthought
• Institutional courage is required to resist erasure
• Visibility is a practice—artists must put themselves out there

About the Guest – Robin Michelle Wilson:
Robin Michelle Wilson is an educator, children's author, entrepreneur, and multidisciplinary visual artist known for crocheted story quilts and archival-inspired textiles. She is the founder of Vesey Lane Goods, a Detroit-based creative business and gathering space offering handcrafted goods, author events, workshops, and storytelling-based community programming.

A lifelong literacy advocate, she founded the Josie Odum Morris Literacy Project at age 21, is a Fulbright-Hays Brazil Fellow, and a member of the Great Lakes African American Quilters Network. Her work has been exhibited across Metro Detroit.

Instagram: @veseylanegoods

About the Host – Deneen L. Garrett:
Deneen L. Garrett is a Cultural Alchemist, international speaker, Dream Lifestyle™ Coach, and host of "Women of Color: An Intimate Conversation," a Top 100 empowerment podcast. A former D&I leader at AT&T, she now leads Deneen L. Garrett LLC, merging art, culture, storytelling, and empowerment. She serves on boards at the Detroit Institute of Arts, supporting African and African American art initiatives.

Website: deneenlgarrett.com
Instagram: @deneensdreamlife

Call to Action:
The Dream Lifestyle™ Collective is now in quiet launch on Skool. If you're a Black Woman 50+ ready to design and live your Dream Life™ NOW, join us. 🔗