Yukie Fujimoto
Cass Carrier:
Yukie Fujimoto, creative collaborator, social justice advocator, boot lover and bourbon drinker.
1. Tell us a little about your current work and/or passion project?
My husband often chides me that I’m “tapped" when it comes to projects because I’m all-in, fire, cauldron and all. I have come to understand that artists have to be entirely and exhaustively committed to fulfill our passion. We lock ourselves up in a room, spread out our medium, work nonstop for weeks and come out ragged. With any project, I become obsessed with a vision. I find collaborators and then we build it. I’ve been working on supporting women-owned businesses, advocating for dance and art education, and raising awareness around social justice issues, in whatever form that takes. I’m finding intersectionality as a place maker, change maker and home maker. Ideally, it’s always with an equity lens and meeting people where they are.
2. What inspires you to do what you do?
Kids and youth inspire me. People who are not afraid to be real with me, they keep me on my mission. Lately, I’ve been focused on building trust with a community of folks that see me for who I am. I’ve started to really slow down, listen deeply to what people have to say and pause before taking action; because that’s what I do is take action. I’m trying to figure out ways to practice grace for myself and for each other (as difficult as it can be now) and I believe the arts is the most effective way. Everybody experiences art differently, but a viewer’s feelings like joy, repulsion, discomfort, comfort or anger can initiate conversations in a way that grocery market conversations don’t. In my mind, art “full" conversations allow people to be seen and validated. It reveals more about the viewer than the creator.
3. What have you reconnected with during the pandemic? And what have you let go?
House plants
Shitty humans
4. Name a song that revs you up and one that calms you down.
LL Cool J “Going Back to Cali”
Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet”
5. What outfit do you feel most authentically you in?
Tank top and anything with elastic waist bands. Flip side, when I’m forced out of my onesie or comfy, then it’s jeans, t-shirt, boots and a leather jacket or an NFP sweater.
6. What are the “must-haves” in your bag (Cass or not)?
Peppermint essential oil (rank breath), hand lotion and under eye cream (no humidity in Lafayette and I’m old), nude lip gloss, red lipstick, mask, phone and notebook (I process best by handwriting notes).
Off The Cuff:
Rock Or Rap? Freestyle
Ocean, Mountain Or Lake? Ocean
Beer, Wine Or Cocktail? Bourbon, neat
Facetime or Phonetime? Please pick up the phone!
Exercise Nay Or Yah? Fuck yes
Butter Or Olive Oil? Butter
Tea Or Coffee? Coffee, black
Pen Or Pencil? Both
Nude Or painted lips? Both
Newspaper, NPR or no news? Code Switch and Daily News
Dark Or Milk Chocolate? Both
