Today we’d like to introduce you to CAYA Network.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
CAYA Network is a nonprofit organization geared to support visual artists. Our purpose is to provide a safe space for artists to be and create without compromising their authenticity. I was inspired to launch CAYA Network because of the art community in Orlando. Like many humans, I, too, battle depression. When I moved from Dallas to Orlando, I was in a deep transformational period with a constant fluctuation in my mental and emotional health. With fears and insecurities clouding me, I was lost. Once I was settled in Orlando, it was artists of all kinds, coming from all directions, that found me and befriended me holistically and as I was; flaws and all. Their love, energy and support stabilized the up and downs I was experiencing and directed me on a positive path.
This positive path became fueled with inspiration, motivation and innovation. I was so grateful for what I was gifted, I yearned to give them what they gave to me the best way I knew how. I am not officially an artist. My talents are rooted in business acumen obtained through my undergraduate program at Florida A&M University. My knowledge and skills were all I felt I could offer in return for their generosity and openness.
In 2017, CAYA Network launched a series of networking events to create a safe space filled with limitless and boundless artistic expression. Our long-term goals were to provide a slew of low-cost business resources in any capacity tailored to each artist. Soon after, we began collaborating with The Mercury Collective, a local art advocacy group, and its only been up from there.
For the last five years, we have been blessed to successfully curate a variety of spaces, from Central to South Florida, to join forces with artist and their brands, projects, business management and together create an experience, art shows, exhibitions, and installations. Without this collective of artists, I do not know where CAYA Network would be. Without artists and their artwork, I do not know if I would be here at all. I do not know, and I am blessed not to have to find out.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
This journey has been very smooth. We have a strong village of collaborators. Over the years, we have successfully bartered in-kind services on the strength of the culture. Our projects have been powered by energy more than anything. We are grateful for The Mercury Collective, Downtown Credo, United Arts of Central Florida, Young Nonprofit Professionals Network, Orlando Game Space, City of Orlando, Downtown Arts District, The Write, EPOWX Productions, UDOU and many other art/nonprofit organizations and freelancers. Of course, we would be nothing without artists like Yve, YaYa Delvalle, Daniel Demonta, Darby, Kelly Berry, Dixon Munroe, Chocolate KNDY, John Alamo, EastDot, Mär Martinez, Shakespeare, Starr Silara, Peterson Guerrier and so many more.
If I was to pick a “struggle,” I would have say we were blindsided by the pandemic. Before the pandemic, we curated multiple spaces, especially co-working spaces and hosted a minimum of three-monthly events consistently. Due to this redirection, we have been inspired to merge technology into our presence and increase our social responsibility to a safe, eco-friendly environment. More details to come.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about CAYA Network?
You should know CAYA is an acronym for Come As You Are. We provide business and lifestyle resources to visual artists. We specialize in creating safe spaces for creativity and authenticity. Our integrity, especially in maintaining authenticity and safety, is what sets us apart. We will not budge or sacrifice that niche. We are most proud of the trust we have established with the plethora of artists in our network and organization leaders in our community.
We want everyone to know that although we have not been doing many shows, in March 2022, the multifaceted Yve will be doing a solo show at the infamous FAVO. Yve is a neuroscientist by day, vinyl DJ/B Girl by night and flexing her green thumb, throwing clay into ceramic masterpieces and a mother in all the other times in between. Her upcoming show will host a social experiment component complimenting her exhibit. She will be asking the public participants a short series of thought-provoking questions that relate to the collection that will be gracing the walls. We are so grateful to have Yve and other talented artists in our network.
What’s next?
Due to unforeseen circumstances, our direction has evolved to a new purpose on a new level. We are transitioning online, launching an NFT art program supported by a virtual art gallery experience. Our goal is to be accessible via the web and an app.
We are also expanding our environmentally friendly social responsibilities and merging them with our art initiatives. Soon we will be launching an art residency program, and a 3D printing shop in the local area. All of our resources will be organic materials or repurposed material such as plastic. All further details can be found on our website. We are excited for this evolutionary development and welcome others to join us on this journey.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@cayanetwork.org
- Website: www.cayanetwork.org
- Instagram: @cayanetwork
Image Credits
Members of The Mercury Collective
