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.

"I'm in Cog-Negro." - Milton: January 8th

Today was by far my favorite day in New Orleans, not to say that I have had a bad day here at all. It was “freezing” according to NOLA natives, bundled up in their thick coats, wool socks, hats, mittens, and snow boots, whereas us students are barely walking around in a hoodie. It was in the 30s, which to them was freezing, but that was nothing compared to Illinois weather. We started our morning off with the history and cemetery tour with Milton. Not only was the tour amazing, but Milton was my favorite person that I have met on this entire trip. He was so humbling and ridiculously smart. He provided us with so much extra information on various aspects of the tour. He took us around New Orleans and educated us on when and how the city was established. We had gathered a lot of this information prior to the tour, but he went into so much depth and made it enjoyable with his jokes and humor. He then educated us on women’s rights in NOLA, which we had not had much education on yet, so I found this interesting. He elaborated on Code Noir, which regarded various rules for African Americans that we actually mentioned in our E-Travel Guide. He elaborated and provided more information that we will be able to use in our travel guide.

Aside from this, he also provided us information on the various types of architecture and went into great detail on the fire prevention measure created in order to protect the city, given the 2 large fires that occurred. I could tell he was a huge music buff, because he went into great detail on jazz music and the various artists that rooted from New Orleans. He took us to various music buildings and told many stories of how jazz music came to New Orleans, was taken away, and returned. Then began what I thought would be my favorite part, the cemetery tour. Milton took us to St. Louis Cemetery One, which was another part of m E-Travel Guide. He took us to various tombs and educated us on the history of the tombs, how they were constructed, why they were above ground, as well as how families were buried together. He then took us to Marie Laveua’s tomb. This was also very education for my travel guide. Following the cemetery tour, we had some free time, that of course was spent eating gelato. After this, we went to the Presbytere, which I honestly had no interest in. I thought it was just a museum on Mardi Gras, but I was quickly mistaken. This museum was very educational regarding Katrina and the damage it did. There was real footage and debris from the hurricane, as well as various other stories and artifacts. After this museum, we were on our own. We all went back to the hotel to relax, pack, and spend our last full night together in NOLA. 

Prior to visiting New Orleans, I was very ignorant to the evolution of African American’s in today’s society. I try to shelter myself from negativity, and this results in ignoring the racism and sexism in today’s society. I do not watch the news, or pay attention to politics, simply because it is upsetting and only adds to my anxiety. Being in New Orleans was so humbling, because I was able to learn so much about African American culture and what they have been through, yet I was also able to hear about it first hand from many people. Milton, our tour guide was very humbling. He was so kind, and had such a fun spirit, even though he was telling us stories of how he was segregated in his youth, and excluded given his color. It wasn’t just a story at this point, but it felt real. He wasn’t telling the story in sadness, but simply with experience, and that was the humbling aspect of it. He went through so much struggle, yet is a successful, incredibly intelligent man, still living in the 9^th ward of New Orleans. Not only did he go through the pain and struggle of segregation in the 50s and 60s, but he went through Hurricane Katrina, in the area that was the most damaged. Almost the entire 9^th ward was wiped out, which is where Milton lived, and currently lives. I was 10 when hurricane Katrina happened. I knew something sad and devastating happened, but I had no idea until now how severe it really was. History was never my subject in school, so I will be the first to tell you how ignorant I am when it comes to historical events. However, this trip taught me so much, that I actually enjoyed learning about. I had no idea that 80% of New Orleans was under water. Going through the Presbytere and seeing actual footage of the hurricane, as well as seeing parts of homes, buildings, and items from homes was devastating. It really brought to light the severity of Katrina. I had enjoyed my entire trip in New Orleans given the positivity and atmosphere. Everyone on the streets is so kind, happy, and bright. The atmosphere is a positive one, something I do not commonly feel back in Illinois. It makes me ponder how? How can a city be so positive when 80% of their city was underwater and destroyed from a level 7 hurricane? This entire trip was humbling, not just the people, but the city itself. The whole point of this trip was learning “how the city speaks.” Not only did I learn how the city speaks through music and art, but I also learned how the city stayed together, regardless of the devastation that occurred. I always wondered why people stayed in New Orleans, knowing that there was always the potential of another hurricane. Now I understand. This city is so beautiful, full of history and life that I wouldn’t want to leave either.