Art with Purpose: Tolu’s Story

On Monday, October 14th, I had the privilege of interviewing Toluwaleyi’ Meadows, a 12th grader at Renaissance High School. I first met Tolu last year in Emily Phillips’ IB Biology class, where they were selected to participate in the NOAA’s Environmental Literacy Program (ELP). This program promotes stewardship through place-based projects that inspire others and raise educational awareness about climate resilience, climate change, and weather hazards, encouraging students to reflect on their carbon footprint and its impact on the planet’s climate.

It was during this time that I met Tolu—a keen spirit and go-getter who stood out among the many students I taught last school year. However, I was completely blown away at this year’s recent community forum when, like many others, I discovered the incredible artistic talents and gifts this student possesses. This revelation inspired me to write this article, highlighting Tulu as a generational artist and showcasing their ability to capture the youth voice.

So, I kicked off the interview messing with Tolu but seriously asking him to spell out his full name, Toluwaleyi’ Meadows, a couple of times for our readers—but really so I wouldn’t mess it up in the article.

When I asked, “What inspired you to pick up the paintbrush, the canvas, to express yourself? What made you want to be an artist?”

Tolu responded:

“I think I started when I first came to the US. I think what prompted or catalyzed my art-making was that switch. I sort of used art-making and relied on art to express myself and my experiences in like a new or foreign setting—being the US. And so, art-making from a young age, when I first came, has been integral to my self-expression and understanding my journey and identity.”

So in many ways art has been like a form of escape for you or a way to integrate yourself in your reality, day to day life or been like a survival tactic for you? 

Tolu responded:

Yeah, In a way, I think it helped me come to terms with myself and also  discover my voice and the things that are important to me. And I think without it I would have been more bottled up. So I think in a way, it helped me become more of who I am. Almost as a form like survival. It helped me become me or live out life more full.

You mentioned that when you first came to this country. So where are you originally from?

Tolu responded:

Yeah. I’m born in Lagos, Nigeria. I lived there for a few years

So looking at art as an expression, what is your definition of youth voice? And then how do you capture youth voice within your art pieces?

Tolu responded:

Yeah. I would say youth voice is the authentic, unfiltered, expression of your ideas and beliefs and notions, I would say it’s the appreciation of progressive and more expressive ideas that we as a society are coming to terms with, or want to come to terms with, or, should come to terms with. And I think youth voice often empowers. Yeah. I’d say youth voice seeks to empower the unempowered. I think that the thing I like most  about being inside the youth spaces, it’s based on empowerment, not like breaking down others and their ideas. But spaces that help build each other. 

In response to my second question: 

I would say it displays itself  in my theme specifically, like what I paint, a lot of it is self portraits and deals with themes of, like, self expression, identity, injustice, justice, equity, and stuff like that. And I think, in the things I grapple with and tackle and in the sort of, I guess, more what’s the theme, like, nowadays, themes of, like, gun violence? I did a piece with the NAACP that deals with, like, racial injustice and just themes that are relevant to my life and our lives as a society now. And those things being applied to my art and being depicted in my art, I think, is how I try to emulate that voice because it’s who I am as of now. My expression is who I am of now.

How would you describe or you kinda said it already a little bit about, like, identity and expression. But if you could describe your art in a genre or describe your art with 3 words, what would those 3 words be?

Tolu responded:

I think, as a society we want to deem art as beautiful and stuff like that.

But I think my art, I would say, is political. I think these are political themes. It’s authentic, I would say, And it’s authentic in the fact that I don’t  watered down some of the themes that I talk about or express or portray. And for the last one, I would say  it’s personal. The things I talk about  in my art or that I, yeah, talk about in my art is personal type, my identity, stuff like that.

And so I’d say it’s political and black and personal. Just any combination of, like, myself and how I see things and how I interact with the world and how the world sort of interact with me in that sense

Okay. You most recently probably not recently, but based on what I know, you most recently did an art piece for the SEMIS 2024 Community Forum. Can you describe what that was like and what led to you presenting that project?

Tolu responded:

So, the piece that I did—I call it a conversation with art and poetry. It started as a collection of poems, but I decided to add the art piece to drive home the theme of “What have we done?”—our relationship as a society, our relationship with injustice, and sort of confronting what we’ve done to the planet. This came about as a project for my IB Biology class, and that’s where it started. I think that’s how it led to my participation in the 70s theme.

But, yeah, it was fostered from, first, a poem—a section of poems—and then the art piece came in, and I just combined these together to blend my interests and portray my ideas about injustice in both a personal and societal way. So, like, the art piece is of myself, and the poems are, like, from my perspective—things like that.

If someone wanted to find your work—actually, I noticed you recently had an art piece at the Detroit Institute of Arts, right? Or, was it at the DIA? So you recently had a piece there. Is it still on display?

Tolu shared with me he did have a piece in the DIA but he has it now. 

 Do you have any portraits where, like, our readers can go and see?

Tolu responded:

I have one at the Capitol. I think it’s in the White House. It’s like the basement of the White House. It’s part of the Congressional Art Exhibit that I entered and won.

Congratulations.

Thank you. That was pretty major when I won that. But, yeah, that’s the only thing that’s out. 

And what’s the name of that piece if someone were to go to the Congressional Art Exhibit?

Tolu Responded:

I think it’s titled Idele, which is Nigerian for “or,” which is your buffer for clan or family. I think it’s I-D-E-L-E. It’s been a bit, but yeah, I-D-E-L-E, Idele, which is your buffer, like family or clan.

It depicts me—you would kind of see it. Yeah you would know what it is? It’s like my family members, and, like, sort of highlighting Nigerian culture and stuff like that. That’s what it is. And you might see my name there. I think there’s something there.

Yeah. Do you have a piece that you’re working on now?

Tolu responded: 

Yeah, I have a few pieces that are portraits of other people. I think I’m trying to veer away from just depicting life through my own lens and my own portraiture, and my own experiences, and instead highlight other beautiful experiences that I think are worth capturing as well. So I have one of my mother and father that might see the light of day. I don’t know. And then, yeah, that’s one of my family. Alright.

I Know I  said two questions, but I’ve got a couple more. None of this is planned. If someone were aspiring to be an artist, what are some words of encouragement or things they should know about being an artist?

Tolu Responded: 

Yeah, I think, obviously, with social media, it’s difficult to keep going, especially when you see yourself and compare yourself to other artists, like the ones in your school or around your age, or whatever it may be. But I think with art, if you really love it, you should keep going with it. Because with art, you’re more able to express yourself in ways that you can’t otherwise. I’ve been able to express myself in ways I haven’t been able to before.

And although you might think that because your art isn’t good right now, it’ll never get better or never live up to what you want it to be, there will come a time when your skills match your passion. At that point, you’ll have more courage to make more art and show your work. Be confident in who you are and don’t compare your art to others.

Alright. And then, I know it’s still early in the school year, but what are your plans for after Renaissance? What are those? 

Tolu: 

I want to go to college, hopefully somewhere out of state. I’m looking at places like California or New York—just something different from what I’ve known. So, I’m applying to some colleges now, looking at that life and seeing what I can achieve with college.

As for my major, I’m leaning towards education. I really enjoy educational work, aside from my love for art. So that’s what I’m considering major-wise.

But yeah, I’d love to keep doing art in college and after, taking it as far as it’ll let me go.

What’s a positive message you would like to leave behind? Not just for aspiring artists, but for any youth that might come across this. Or, better yet, what is one way—no, not even just one way—what is a suggestion you would have for educators or teachers to encourage more art elements in their curriculum? And what are the benefits of that?

Tolu: 

I think educators should be more open to understanding students and how they process and learn. I’ve been grappling with that myself  and with a teacher. I think asking, collaborating, and conversing with students can really help facilitate creativity in areas like art-making or writing.

I actually read a book called Pedagogy of the Oppressed, which talks about education as a key to reform and progress, and how conversations in educational spaces can truly drive that growth and progress needed for students and society. So, I think having conversations with students, seeing where they learn best, what they enjoy, and leveling with them can help facilitate their growth more than just teaching alone.

Alright, thank you! That wraps up our interview. Hopefully, everything was captured. If not, I tried my best. You’re a very powerful yet soft-spoken person, too.

Tolu: Thank You 

No Dude Thank you.