Find Out How Micky Went From Burnout To Businesswoman
Q: What is your role within Orfami Visual Art?
M: I am the manager of Orlando Corona and Orfami Visual Art. That comes with a LOT of tasks both big and small, but I’ll try to go over most things. My main goal is to handle most everything that is not the actual art making (Orlando will tell you, “I just paint, she does everything else!”). I usually handle communication and coordination between clients and people we work with, mostly for things like events, exhibitions, and sales. I go to a lot of art exhibitions and events, networking and supporting friends, and sometimes we get to travel. I do a lot of research and assist with grants and other opportunities. I keep up the website, promotion, catalogues, products and finances. Basically, all the things I never thought I would be doing for a career! It might seem boring to some people, but I’ve always loved writing and I’ve become much more outgoing and I love the person I’m becoming- I’ve had so much personal and professional growth.
Q: How did you get to pursue this uncommon career path?
M: Honestly, life just kind of led the way. Things were very different before I met Orlando- I was a high school dropout, recovering alcoholic, dealing with a decade’s worth of mental health issues. By the time I met him, I was doing much better but at a point where I didn’t really know what to do with my life, or where I belonged in the world. Things were generally improving for me and I was starting to trust the process a bit more, so I feel like the timing was meant to be. For the first couple of years I was with Orlando, I’d been fulfilling my duties as Orlando’s biggest fan, and occasionally helping with random things. Once he got the Brandon Fellowship and his LLC, he started getting busier and I would volunteer to send an email or write a post for him, little things like that. Orlando kept growing so I would help him more here and there, and him and his friends would joke that I was his manager. After a few months, we just made the title official. Since then I’ve learned a plethora of skills and have made this job my priority. I feel like I’ve finally found a career that I’m passionate about and lets me do a lot of things I’ve always wanted in a job, so I’m pretty content with the way things are turning out.
Q: What does art mean to you now vs before you had this job?
M: I definitely see art from a very different perspective now. I always appreciated art and liked to paint and draw sometimes, but I guess I never got into it because I wasn’t better at it. Orlando’s studio was the first artist’s studio I’d ever seen, so I was very intrigued. Supporting him as an artist felt oddly natural, and of course I started meeting more artists and going to exhibitions, and I loved it. It’s been a few years now, so my thoughts and perspectives have definitely developed and matured. I’ve gotten to see Orlando’s processes and taken a few of his classes, and I still don’t know how he makes it look so easy! I’ve gained so much more information and knowledge, and I’ve seen everything that goes into the arts- it’s incredible. I have so many thoughts and even more admiration.
Q: How does the artist/manager dynamic work, and how does it work as a couple?
M: We are definitely an interesting synergy, being a couple who works together, especially in this specific type of work. We have gotten pretty good at the work/relationship balance and having boundaries. About 5 days a week we work for 6-8 hours at the studio; we catch each other up and share our plans, then we work together or on our individual projects. We joke around a lot and it’s like working with my best friend, so it’s fun. Once we are done with our work for the day, we cut off work until the next day. We then usually still send each other work emails and posts anyways, but at least that card is there to pull when we actually feel like using it. We can occasionally butt heads like any coworkers, but we’ve learned to work well together because we know each other so well. We know when we need breaks, or what kind of working mood we are in which lets us figure out how to work the best that day. And we definitely see each other as equals- neither of us could do it without the other.
Q: What are your favorite parts of this job/career? What are the most rewarding?
M: I love the community aspect and meeting new people. I have met the coolest, most interesting people, people I admire, people I relate to. I find humans so intriguing, although I do still enjoy a good amount of personal or alone time. I also do a lot of writing in this job, and I’ve always loved writing- it was the only thing I was ever good at in school. While I don’t write songs or stories for my work, I love getting to use my creativity and strengths. The most rewarding aspects are building relationships with amazing people and organizations, seeing projects come to fruition, and that sense of productivity and accomplishment. When we get to be a part of something big, or that benefits people in some way, it’s even better.
Q: Who is Micky outside of work?
M: They are a whole different person! I am definitely a lot more relaxed. I love to watch movies and TV- I’m a bit obsessed really, I consider myself a cinephile- especially comedy and horror. When I’m home I like to play with my 5 year old nieces, Charlie and Rosie, hang out with my family, or -hear me out on this- clean. I constantly feel a need to stay productive, and I’ve developed a bit of an obsession with cleaning and organizing. It’s my favorite way to destress. Sometimes I’ll go for a walk, play Minecraft, read or do a puzzle, you know, nerdy things. I sing in the car, I have 3 cats, I’m a Virgo, and I currently have 12 tattoos.
See more from Micky through their Instagram and bi-monthly blog posts!