An Interview with Angela Mack

Author of "Chronic Creativity: A Diagnostic Look at the Condition and How to Become Infected"

By C. Freeman, June 2006

Q: How long have you been involved in the Arts? (OK, you are how old?)

A: I am thirty five years old and have been involved in the arts since I was a child. I directed a Wizard of Oz show for all of the neighborhood kids, made up my own shows, and put on concerts regularly for my parents. I tried to give my little brother lessons on the drums, but became impatient with him. As a child, it was my ambition to get everyone to love the arts as I did. I have actually been employed in the arts in some capacity for at least 10 years.

Q: What is your interest in the Arts?

A: I love it all! Performing arts, music, visual arts, poetry, etc.!

Q: Why have you been involved in the Arts?

A: The arts were a way for me to escape the deep family issues that were going on in my home as a child. A young child cannot physically escape an environment, but he/she can certainly escape by using imagination. That’s what I did. I believe that every healthy person, family, and society should thrive in the arts. Cultures void of the arts are oppressive environments. To me, the arts represent freedom. Freedom is a very important metaphor for me. I long to see people walk in freedom.

Q: What started your initial interest?

A: I would say that I was created for it. Family members tell me that I was writing songs since as early as four. I loved singing. My mom used to sing lullabies to me and my dad played Neil Diamond on full blast for me. My parents definitely fostered the love of music. It is also heavily in my blood as I had grandparents and great grandparents who were highly musical.

Q: What is the most important thing to you when you do anything in the Arts?

A: I like to see people look at something a different way. I bore easily. The arts have this tremendous ability to change things around. I have seen it transform people and environments. Change is definitely one of the greatest things that I like to see. The environment has to be right. I must be in an environment that doesn’t place any lids on the things that I want to do. I have been in environments that will only let me go so far. To me, that is miserable.

Give me a wide open space, don’t place any limits or conditions on what I can or cannot do, and trust me to do what I have to do. Some of my most amazing contributions in the arts have thrived because the environment was conducive and open to it. On the other hand, I have tried to created change through the arts in other environments and it was miserable because of the conditions that were placed on me.

Q: What is the most important thing to you when you introduce others to anything involving the Arts?

A: I love to see their excitement. When people become involved in the arts, they just come alive. I love to see that childlike grin in their face as they get involved. I love to show people that have talents if they will just learn to flow and get over their fear of failure. People involved in the arts tend to stay young at heart. I have seen this over and over again. I love to see people embracing life through the eyes of a child... with simplicity and joy.

Continue to Angela Mack interview page 2 »

About the Author | More by Angela Mack
Angela K. Mack is the Marketing Director and a Performing Arts Instructor at the North Shore Academy of the Arts. She enjoys composing music and writing articles and interviews in her spare time at creativeconnectionarts.com. She has spearheaded a revival of Paramount Records with her award-winning music history website. Her passion for spirituality, creativity, the arts, and race relations fuel many of her creative endeavors.

08/02/08