Jade Warrick is a powerhouse artist and freelancer. Known in the art world as “TrashKid,” you may remember her from our “Freelancer February” series. Jade is not only a Cap Region icon because of her creative graphic design & energetic spirit, but because of her active voice in the communities she’s a part of and her passion for making art accessible for everybody. We sat down with Jade to ask her what she’s been up to over the past few months – especially during the COVID-19 crisis and the Black Lives Matter movement.
So much has changed since we last spoke in February. How has your business/work changed?
Business has been decent for me. I’ve had the opportunity to do a lot of marketing and graphic design work and I’m enjoying that. I think a lot of people are getting businesses off the ground and working on things they never had the time to. I’ve been working with a few podcasters, Didi Delgado being one. I’ve also done some commission work with Healing While Black, LLC, an amazing black voice. I’ve been wanting to do more TrashKid stuff – doing more comics and drawings – but it has taken a backseat due to the commission work.
I have some side projects going on. I’m working on building a website that helps promote the work of people of color. I’m also working on a COVID-19 graphic novel with Noelle Gentile, a local actor and children’s author. The book is geared toward youth — it talks about what the pandemic means, missing your friends, etc. It’s a living document and is being changed all the time due to new information, events taking place, etc. We’re hoping to release that in mid-June.
Can you tell us a bit more about the website you’re building to help promote the work of black artists and artists of color?
I’ve been wanting to build this website for a while, but never had the time until now. I want to give my friends and creatives – especially those who aren’t very good at marketing nor have a website — a place where people can see their art and contact them if they’re interested in commissioning them for work. This is a resource for all people, but the idea is to promote artists of color. It’s a place where people can find under-looked black artists and support their business. The logo will consist of a pigeon. Pigeons are looked down upon and seen as gross, but they’re very smart birds. I think it’s an interesting reflection of how people see urbanized black culture.
I regularly see you on social media using art to build community. What’s your latest community building project?
I’m working on mural at YouthFX in downtown Albany today (on Friday, 6/5) while youth in the community will hold a protest and have the floor to speak about how they feel about the current state of the world. I’m also going to be working with Albany Barn, Albany Center Gallery, D. Colin, and others to encourage our black youth to paint murals downtown. Youth are going through a lot right now, not only the protests, but there is still a pandemic going on. People are still struggling and unemployed, kids aren’t going back to school. Kids are angry about a lot. I would’ve loved this type of opportunity as a kid. I wasn’t around art as much as I would’ve liked to and I would’ve been a stronger artist if I had been. I never really got the opportunity, my parents were too busy raising their kids and trying to get by.
Any last words of advice you’d like to leave for our readers?
The world is really negative right now. I’ve been trying to help as much as I can and help people feel less alone. I’ve found positivity through connecting with my community – getting in touch with people who feel the same way as me. If you reach out, many organizations will welcome you in with open arms and provide you resources to join workgroups.
Connect with Jade!
