Can you introduce yourself to the people?
My name is Tyree’ Rasheen Barnes. I am African American, and recently discovered that my ancestral roots tie back to Nigeria. It is a rather new discovery so I won’t share much due to the little amount of information I have. I was born in Weldon, North Carolina. It is a small town and is infamous for its lack of resources and poverty. Yet I was fortunate to have been raised by a great nuclear community which taught me values that I use even to this day to sustain. For example, my Grandfather was a gardener and he taught me, though he didn’t realize it, the process of growing my dreams. How it literally follows the same process of planting the seed, watering it, and bearing the weather. Behind his home was the greatest tree I’ve ever met. Yes, I mean this literally. I’m not certain what type of tree it was, but it was perfect for climbing and building friendships and familial bonds. Indeed, I made my first friend here. My mother and father taught me eternal things in different ways. My mother was the compassionate, loving, hard working city woman who came down South due to a family move. My father is a southern, lover boy, handsome fellow who always kept a cool head in every situation. I learned the compassion and drive from my mother – the by any means attitude. I learned to remain still, centered, calm and patient in the journey from my father. My brother, my greatest hero, was who taught me balance and deeply instilled what it means to be a brother and a friend. He taught me how to be myself, and in fact always provided a safe space for me to do that; to practice and learn what it means to be me. Our community was a village of people who all cared about each other. Drama was minimal and support was huge. This foundation would instill important qualities in me that still serve me and the greater world to this day.
What are you passionate about?
I am passionate about Love and God. I am so passionate about this, that being the Spiritual realm of life, that I feel that I experience the world inside out. Formless first, then through form. This relationship with the unseen has become the Source of all that I do and represent. This Source has extended into every aspect of my life, including the phenomenal woman we call Art. Art has given me the opportunity to express that which I experience within. To communicate this relationship has revealed the power it has to heal when it is shared. It excites me to be of creative service to the world.
Agape
What is your profession?
I am mostly known and in the service of paintings. My preferred choice of medium is oil paint and gold leaf. My services has thus far covered murals, body art and canvas art, live shows, as well as conducting a few events of my own such as Water and Wine
How long have you been painting?
I have been painting for about 4 good years now. I began around the age of 22 years old. I’ve just turned 26 years old October 8. It has been an incredible journey so far I must say.
Did you always wanted to become a painter?
Actually, no. I hadn’t really given painting much thought until college. I’ve always been into drawing and fascinated by Art. I can remember pivotal moments though, that were, now that I look back, revealing clues. For example, this Artist by the name of Tommy would paint my cousin a large portrait of J-Boog from B2K and I was absolutely fascinated by this, though I had not given it much thought. What really opened up the world of painting for me was actually an artist and friend in college by the name of Leilani. She had been inspired by a spoken word artist in our collective group called Word of Mouth. I was so enthralled by this that i committed myself to say a spoken word piece that would blow her socks off, and would inspire her to paint a piece for me as well. Well, she didn’t do that. As much as I tried haha. That actually became one of the greatest blessings of my life because it revealed to me the power within myself. My girlfriend at the time would introduce me to oils and from that moment, I have only looked forward.
What is your favorite inspirational message at the moment?
Hmmm… that is a great question. As I sit and think about this now I’d have to say:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. You playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others” – Marianne Williamson
Every time I hear or read this quote, I can feel the energy within it. This quote is testimony for me. For so long, I learned to shrink my light just to fit in a room. I know now that shrinking is a form of self betrayal, and that someone’s life may literally be changed if I were to simply be honest with myself and the room at large. And I have to be fair with myself, I have given much Light and have expressed a great deal of myself – so I can understand what she is referring to as she says this. Yet there is still much Light to share, there is still so much more to give. It is how, as Maya Angelou once stated, that we keep this place within us pure and pristine and clean.
Tyree posing next to his artwork
Where can we find or buy your work?
You can find and buy my work at www.agapetheartist.com – here we have prints, paintings, posters, and if someone would like to have a piece commissioned simply contact me at www.agapetheartist.com
Where do you see yourself in five years time?
In five years, I can’t even recognize myself through these current eyes. I am travelling the world as a Spiritual Teacher and Creative Leader in the world. I have aligned myself that Art and Spiritual Healing are joined together in ways never before experienced by life. I am an expert in my field, beyond painting, but as a Healer through Creative-Spiritual Services. I am travelling all over the great world, speaking to hundreds of thousands to potentially millions. And the Brands which I represent are clearly recognizable all over.
Do you have other hobbies or crazy habits?
Yes, I really love to write poetry. It is something I’ve been doing since 4th grade. Somehow, this intertwines into the larger story.
Who is your celebrity crush?
Hmmm…. Recently I saw a video of Sade’ and I’m reminded of how much I am attracted to the mystery of her. She shares this beautiful color with the world and yet there is so much we don’t even know about her. I’d also have to say I have a crush on the mind of Nayyirah Waheed. No one has ever seen her, yet her world embraces us like a big hug.
What does Melanin mean to you?
Melanin is to have access to the Sun. It means to have a mouth large enough to receive its hidden, divine message. It means to boldly profess you have a relationship with life. It is a declaration to the world that you have chosen togetherness, rather than separation, at the heart of one’s being.
Tyree posing under art by agape
What tips do you have for starting visual artists?
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Stay Curious. Take the mode of student as much as you possibly can. Study.
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Recognize where Art comes from within you. When an inspiration wakes up inside of you, where do you feel it? Water this place.
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This process is more about Self Discovery than it is about the physical reflection of the Art that you make. So keep this in mind whenever you feel anything. Do not glorify the physical, that which lives outside of you more than that which lives inside of you. That which lives inside of you is the author.
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Clean your Space. I mean this Spiritually as well as physically. Mostly Spiritually though. The purpose of Art is to reveal this truth – that the hand writing your story is Perfect – and everything that does not agree with this must go.Therefore Art is a process of allowing that which wants to come through you to come through you. That which is Pure. Clear. Pristine.
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Go all the way. Especially when you feel like giving up. You have made it this far – you deserve to see what is on the other side.
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DO NOT COMPARE! It is not your job to be anyone else. Your job is to learn and express your Soul. You do this and you WILL be your own favorite Artist.
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Love.
Do you think a Melanin Wonder Platform is necessary?
I believe it is. Melanin Wonder is about community and whenever such a platform is established, we are all made better for it. There are those whom we may have never discovered existed if it weren’t for this community, and quite honestly it is an honor to be a part of it.
What would be your one super power if you had to choose one?
Mmmm… I would have to say to have the ability to speak to Natual Elements such as the Sun and Moon, Wind, Water, Grass, Trees, etc. To hear what they have to say and to better tell their story and messages they’d like for us to know.
What would be a good theme song for your life?
Everybody Loves Sunshine – Roy Ayers
Tyree laying in the grass thinking about art
Do you believe in Love at first sight?
I believe that Love is always taking place. It is a happening within the spaces of our bodies. And sometimes, Love will see two people and build a Golden Bridge for the sake of Self Discovery and Union. This can happen 10 years later or even at that moment. It depends on the timing and where these Souls are in their own evolution.
What Melanin Wonder do you look up to in the modeling industry?
Honestly I am fairly new in really being inspired by Modeling and Fashion so I’d have to say Naomi Campbell and Grace Jones. Their fearlessness is what I am attracted to. They are so authentically themselves, it is the most attractive trait of all.
