Daily Inspiration: Meet Jessie Pettit

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessie Pettit. 

Jessie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
A lot of my growing body of work is pertaining to visual arts & performance. Growing up in Detroit, and I became immersed in the elements and artists that brought life into the environment. I developed a great passion for the arts from a young age and began taking classes in fine arts, specifically in pottery and drawing. In higher education, I slowly gravitated toward moving image and performance whilst finding these were the most impactful mediums in assisting my growth as an artist. 

My work is often inspired by current events that bring shape to our future, questioning the viewer’s reality by providing suggestive historical outcomes based on societal patterns. My concepts stem from my contrasting perspective of living between London and Detroit and the social structures that so greatly differ between the two cities. With an aim to bring communities together by finding human elements that link artistry to real-life, I find the repetitive theme of movement impacting my work, providing a bridge of consciousness to connect. 

I holds a BA in Moving Image from the University of West London and have taken classes at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. My work involves partnerships with companies and organizations throughout the city of Detroit along with the City of London. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I had found a great struggle trying to grow as an artist in the city of Detroit whilst growing up there. 

Though Detroit is a big city, it did not develop like a normal, modern city. The city took a tole through the financial and social events over the decades that were detrimental, un-allowing the city and community to be prosperous at a high level. 

I found it extremely difficult to find a community heavily involved in the arts. Classes, events, and social meet-ups were very limited and when occurring, would be available only through the one art school (CCS) in the city, that was not accessible to those who did not have a large income or savings. 

Realizing I needed to be surrounded by a creative community that I could learn and grow from while gaining insight into various cultures, I looked into Universities in the UK (which were much more affordable than in the US). I saved up, working various jobs in hospitality and events, and decided to study in London. 

Though language barrier was not an issue whilst moving, culture shock was real! The city was very large and overwhelming at first. I did not know anyone in the city outside of a woman I met online who became my flatmate. At times, this move felt extremely difficult, though once finding my feet, became extremely advantageous to my career and future. 

After my university years were coming to an end, I felt I had more to achieve and accomplish, bridging the gap between the US and UK Visual art, Media, and performance community. I went my journey of applying to an Entrepreneur Visa. This was an extremely difficult process where I prepared my pitch over a 6-month window and presented it to school board of UWL (think the show shark tank). It was an extremely vigorous process with high expectations, and after my pitch, I was overwhelming excited to hear my sponsorship had been approved from the school board. 

Unfortunately, covid took hold of the world not long after my visa was approved, which of course, led to delays and unnerve in most people’s careers. I continued to push through these times, exploring different mediums of art and performance along the way; I began understanding how to set up my own studios for Voice over performance and mixing and mastering my own tracks. With this new knowledge, my skills went on to narrating multiple books that are available on audible. 

Forwarding onto this year, I look back at my achievements. Living between Detroit and London, I continue to grow in my field of visual arts, media, and performance. This year alone, I have produced 2 short films that will be heading to international festival circuits, performed in various films, commercials, moving image pieces, as well as partnered with international artists on commissioned pieces that will be showcased throughout the UK. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have quite a broad range of skills as an artist, predominantly working in visual arts. 

I am known for my work as a moving image artist as well as a producer, and perform in media/multimedia. 

Some of my work includes working for companies in Detroit such as Shinola (partnering with Pewabic & The Frank Lloyd Wright House), The Lip Bar, Detroit Airport. 

I’ve also worked in collaboration with organizations such as Mencap (leading performance workshops for those with learning disabilities) Visual Arts Association, and currently working with Bermondsey Square Space (moving forward with a moving image exhibition). 

I am currently working on a moving image piece. “Are you there?” examines the westernized, modern way of living and what it means to be present in a digital world. Based on my involvement in media, it became clear as to how a powerful tool that connects us and expands our knowledge teeters on a fine line of unleashing disarray. 

Touching on social issues and the state of our psyche; as we explore themes of overconsumption and disassociation; whilst questioning the shaping of our future through technological advancement. 

They unveil the fragility of humanity and our social structure through carefully-curated visuals that capture human flaw through light and movement while finding harmony through resurrection of embodying a purity technology cannot replicate. 

This piece will be displayed in exhibitions throughout London in 2022 and in Detroit in 2023. 

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love that Detroit is a city unlike any other. My roots stem from the city, so naturally, I have a highly work-motivated core that comes with a determination of continuing to build. I think that spirit is often found in Detroit’s community. Detroit helped me build a tough skin and prosper through the hardships, seeing that beyond the rubble, there is always more. 

Though the artist community was not strong or particularly welcoming in the city in the time of my young-adult days, I feel the community is shifting as more artists gravitate toward the city. The city and community is beginning to grow, and artists are coming from all walks of life with different perspectives. This shift in community is becoming a positive change that I believe will soften the hard exterior Detroiters had been brought up with. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessiepettit_/

Image Credits
Riccardo Servini
AJ Lamb