Today we’d like to introduce you to Wisty Andres.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was born in Japan and have been around music for as long as I can remember. I started music lessons in Tokyo when I was 4 and started playing piano. When I was 6, I moved to Ohio and my life completely changed – I learned English and I started taking ballet class when I was 7. I loved it and was eager for more, there were so many things I was curious to try and I wanted to do it all! So, I tried gymnastics, modern, jazz, stilt dancing, acting, violin, clarinet, and I loved it, although it was stressful to juggle everything at times. I also learned Reiki around 13 years old and was always drawn to crystals. Eventually I had to start choosing where to put my focus, so I chose dance, and studied at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. While I was there I learned that I’m not a ballerina and I love being surrounded by nature. After being covered in snow, I decided to go to New World School of the Arts in Miami, FL to study more dance. In that time, I realized Miami was not my kind of city, and was looking for a better home. I fell in love with Boston and moved in 2013 to start my professional performing career as a contemporary dancer.
Throughout my 5 years here I have grown so much and seen many versions of myself, dancing in contemporary dance companies, choreographing and showing my work all around Boston and Cambridge, playing accordion in the Public Gardens, or mixing improv dance with incredible musicians like Kar’Nam, ((: ofthesun: :)), and Mike Sim. I’ve worked different hustles like being a life model, a Fine Arts Superhero (by Basil El Halwagy), a hype dancer at various parties, and teaching ((305)) Fitness. I am currently experiencing a quarter life crisis as I have been juggling my hustles for a while now and I feel hungry to travel and uplift people worldwide. I honestly feel like there is no label of who I am as an artist at the moment, because I no longer want to be a “dancer,” but a “someone that uses movement/music/dance/expression to uplift people.” I know that I have so much ahead of me and this is just the beginning of my story, but I aim to enjoy the journey along the way and see where my art takes me in the future!
Please tell us about your art.
In the past, I’ve choreographed, I’ve improvised to (live) music, I’ve made cover songs on my accordion, I’ve performed burlesque, and collaborated with various artists around the Greater Boston area. Usually my intention with my work is to express myself (or the ideas I am currently focused on in the time the work is made), or to uplift and inspire others with my work. Music is the main inspiration when I get started on a work, but so many factors affect the work – who I’m collaborating with, where the work will be presented, what is happening in my life at that moment, what the costume might be, or even unexpected events during the creation process. Regardless which kind of my work others experience, I hope that I contribute to others’ experiences in a positive way, whether it be inspiration to move, letting out a belly laugh, or questioning the fears that might be holding one back.
I realize that my work is best experienced live, in person, as I love the feeling of connecting to my audience with my eyes and letting my self be vulnerably seen with live feedback from the viewer. In the future I am hoping to produce more written content and more video to showcase my work online.
What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
Conditions have evolved through the years and I think life has become easier in some ways and harder in other ways. Now with the internet, it is much easier to get hired for work and work with collaborators without being in the same physical space. It is much easier to share work with photos and videos, or to find inspiration with a single google search. However, the hustle and bustle of modern living can be tough for artists, with most of us having to have a “muggle job” to make ends meet.
Hiring LOCAL artists, paying for their work, sharing their work to others are all easy ways any human can support artists in this city. I would love to see more public art displayed (murals are a good start), and I love all of the fun events and festivals that happen in the summer! I think this city would benefit from artist housing/artists in residence programs, as I see many artists in Boston that are struggling to keep a roof over their head and spending less time on their art because of that.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I’m currently in the middle of my quarter-life-crisis career change so my work is a bit all over the place. However, you can find me on Instagram and FB at @wistyheart, and my blog website at wistyheart.com. I’m in the process of making a Patreon and until then, you can visit me at 305 Fitness! My work at 305 Fitness is so fulfilling to me and I’m so thankful to have a safe, LGBTQ+ friendly, inclusive dance party workout space for me to share with my community. You can also support my work by coming to my performances, spreading the word, and sharing my posts on social media.
Contact Info:
- Website: wistyheart.com
- Email: wistyheart@gmail.con
- Instagram: @wistyheart
- Facebook: facebook.com/wistyheart
Image Credit:
Travis Alex Photo, Shadi Garman, Roger Gordy, Mandalina Kozicki.
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