Asia Horne: Meet the Artist
“My sincerest intention is to root myself in the mantra 'seeing is believing', to show others once you see something, it's possible”
Asia Horne is the founder of Free Alchemy Studio in Grand Rapids. She is a monumental leader and voice in our community expressing her wisdom through multimedia design and audiovisual experiences. We had the pleasure of working with Asia for the first time during Windows GR 2020 leading hundreds of local artists to share their voice through social activism and art. Dive into more of her journey below as she shares her experiences as a DJ, studio owner and creative director.
Q: How did you get involved with Lions and Rabbits?
A: As a DJ, I'm able to connect with many people for many events so initially, my first connection was to potentially DJ at AfterDark that was coming up later that year (in 2020). The biggest connection with Lions and Rabbits, however, came through my involvement as an artist liaison on the pivotal Windows GR project Summer 2020.
Q: What themes/ideas are highlighted in your work? Intentions?
A: Visually, I place attention on light, color, distortion. You could call my style dreamy psychedelic -- I draw inspiration from nostalgia, the 70s. I'm extremely passionate about Black women and my Grand Rapids community. I'm intentional with my collaborative work, understanding the power of feminine energy being a source of divine creativity as well as acknowledging the power of the creativity and soul of Grand Rapids. A foundational theme of mine is to encourage the world to 'pay attention to what's happening in Grand Rapids', finding ways to amplify my city. My sincerest intention is to root myself in the mantra 'seeing is believing', to show others once you see something, it's possible. I want to show Michigan kids especially that they can do anything they set their minds to.
Shrines 2021 - A Juneteenth Exhibition
Q: Run us through your creative process - How do you start, flow and finish?
A: I'm a very conceptual person by nature, I'm able to think of things through concepts, big picture themes that tie everything together. This is the basis of my work in anything I do. I've learned to take my time with research before I create anything. I'm a huge appreciator of history and want to do my due diligence in order to revere the contributions of the past. I don't believe in reinventing the wheel, I much rather refine it so it blesses me to know what has been done so I can attempt to create in my own way to contribute now. As I've grown as a creative director, I've learned how to be a more effective leader and identify and lean into my collaborators' strengths and skills to produce even stronger works than if I was on my own.
Q: What obstacles/struggles have you encountered throughout your career as an artist? Or challenges you face through your creative process
A: Being self-taught, there's things I don't know just yet or methods I do that may not be the most efficient way. But with that, I've been able to really learn how resourceful I am creatively.
Q: Can you share a little more about how your art career started. Have you always been in your field? Were you self taught or had additional schooling?
A: I'm a self-taught designer, started teaching myself around 12 finding my way around design programs after spending so much time on the the computer, on the blogs and in the chatrooms. At first it was PaintShop Pro, then Adobe Photoshop. I designed everything: my sweet 16 invite, flyers when I ran for homecoming court, my open house invite. In college, I designed for my sorority chapter all the time, I designed the chapter seal we still use until this day. After I graduated from GVSU, every job I've had post-college has been a graphic design/marketing job. I've designed almost anything you can think of.
Q: Who/what are your biggest inspirations that play a key role in the work you produce?
A: Concepts. I love being able to create messages outside of the art, tell stories through words, images and sounds.
Q: Is there anything you wish you could change about your work?
A: Not at all. I'm humbled to be involved in the work I do.
Q: What mistakes have you made? What did you learn from them? What are you trying to get better at?
A: Most of my mistakes come from moving too fast, not asking all the questions I can. I've learned to slow down and take my time. I'm at my own pace.
Q: Do you feel supported by your community as an artist? In what ways could you feel more supported?
A: I feel extremely supported by the community but I believe that comes from being truly invested in the community as well. So much of what I do involves collaboration, I work to reciprocate the support that I receive.
Q: Describe a moment when you felt most proud of yourself
A: Speaking out during the Windows GR team meeting was truly one of my most proudest moments. I've always been passionate about recognizing people and feeling like Black artists weren't being recognized at the time where we most certainly deserved to be amplified lit a fire in me and I just started to speak what I felt. I've never felt energy like that before coming out of me but I knew I had to speak up. Now I know the ancestors covered me and my heart, they understood the gravity of the time at hand even when I didn't understand entirely myself. We were able to change the whole trajectory of the project and what I spoke to began to happen. I'm truly humbled about it all.
Open Windows 2020 at Rosa Parks Circle
Q: What's most important to you about what you create, and how it impacts others?
A: What's most important to me is that I create from a pure place.
Q: What's next? What are you currently focusing on or looking forward to?
A: I'm excited to open my studio for the 2022 season and continue to collaborate with amazing community partners through my activation and exhibition work.
Q: What does being an artist mean to you? What is the function of artists in society?
A: In the words of Nina Simone, "An artist's duty, as far as I'm concerned, is to reflect the times." It's our duty to tell our stories and show ourselves, speaking to our own experience and finding the commonality of humanity within it all.
Q: And of course, if you could chose any vehicle to travel, real or imaginary what would it be?
A: An RV. I love road trips and taking in the sights of nature.
Follow more of Asia’s work at freealchemy.studio and instagram.com/freealchemystudio
Thank you for tuning into this week’s Meet the Artist, be sure to checkout more artist stories every week on our blog!
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