Music Across the 7 Seas: Dayana Jordan - ART

While in New Orleans, I bought a piece of artwork called Music Across the 7 Seas, a beautiful hand crafted painting of a saxophone on a bright blue background. This piece was created by Dayana Jordan, and artist who currently lives and works in New Orleans. Dayana was actually born a male, and recently completed her transition to a legal female. Her birth certificate now states female, and she is in the works of completing her physical transformation. She sets up her work in Jackson Square, and works out of her studio in New Orleans. Though she has lived in New Orleans for quite some time, she grew up outside of New York on Long Island. She moved to Florida where she worked at Disney World for a while. When this wasn’t paying the bills, she joined the Marine Corps and worked as an infantry man. After her deployments and service, she traveled across the United States to various places such as Phoenix AZ, Burlington VT, Boulder CO, and Washington DC. She has lived in 10 states in total prior to movie to New Orleans.
Dayana worked as a cook most of her life, which is why she creates her pieces using mostly kitchen tools such as spatulas and turkey basters. She wanted to created pieces in a way that was close to her heart and different than the traditional way, considering she is far from traditional. When I asked her why she only created music inspired pieces, she said it was because she is a musician. She and her wife (whom she met in New Orleans) travel the world together and play music. They have traveled to 46 of the 50 states to play music. She said that her goal is to show that you can not only see art, but that you can hear and feel it as well. She paints these pieces as a way for art to function as music. She expressed that enjoying her favorite music while creating her work compels her to feel a sense of synergy and peace, which continues to inspire her work. She is very successful in New Orleans, selling atleast 3-5 pieces a day.
Dayana has also actually earned a copyright from the United States Government. On her pieces of work, as a border, she places her symbol which consists of two bass clefts melted together into the shape of a heart. She titled this symbol Peace, Love, and Music. After realizing how much she loved this symbol, she proceeded to earn the copyright, and now places it on all of her pieces of art, as well as her business cards. Her use of bright colors, and her own copyright draws the eyes of the New Orleans community and visitors to purchase her art work. Dayana hopes to continue selling her art in New Orleans, and wants to continue working to spread love and peace throughout the city with her music and heart.








What attracted me to buy this piece was the bright colored background, surrounding beautifully created musical instruments. Dayana explained to me that each colored background symbolized a various meaning. I purchased a blue piece, which to her meant “Music Across the 7 Seas.” The blue symbolized water, and spreading music across the world as a symbol of love. I was very drawn to this meaning, but loved the way the piece looked. She also had red and purple pieces. The red symbolized love and passion for music whereas the purple symbolized reign or power, referring to the power that music has over the human soul. I was very intriguied talking with Dayana about this, because I could relate with her, and knew that music also had a very important part in her life. I personally collect musical art pieces from other states and countries. I have pieces all the way from Tanzania, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and now New Orleans LA. Similar to Dayana, I too believe that music is an art, and it is one of my biggest passions. I collect these pieces because everyone has their own way to interpret music, just as they do with art. I see a musical art piece and am instantly happy, because it takes me back to the one thing that means the most to me. Music and art bring the world together, so for me, musically inspired art brings it together even more. 
 
Not only did I connect with Dayana’s art, but I connected with her mind, spirit, and the meaning behind what she was doing. Something many people do not know about me is that I suffer from suicidal depression. Many people are shocked to hear this, but I generally keep it to myself. It is a debilitating disease that many overlook, and judge. There is a stigma in today’s society about mental illness, so it is very hard to openly speak about it. Throughout my teen years, and my early adult years, the one thing that always kept me hanging on was music. Playing my instruments, listening to music, and singing finally allowed me to connect with something in a world where I didn’t feel at home. There is no answer as to why someone is depressed, it is a chemical imbalance in the brain, but there is an answer to helping fight it. Everyone has different coping mechanisms, and music was my saving grace. That is why I express myself through collecting musical pieces, tattooing my bod with musical references, and continually using music in my daily life. It is a reminder, an art form, that honestly saved my life. I am living proof that art can speak musically, and reaches deep into one’s soul, pulling them out from a dark place. I look at these pieces of art I collect for my wall, and on my body, and am reminded how music saved my life. Speaking with Dayana, and seeing how difficult her life was as well truly inspired me. I look at this beautiful work of art and don’t just see a painting. I see Dayana, her struggle, and my struggle. I see this piece and am inspired to keep living, and doing what makes me happy. As I sit here and write this blog, with tears in my eyes, I am reminded of how the city of New Orleans spoke to me.