Meet Harry SJ Metellus (Met) | Creative Director/Owner of hsjmet, LLC

We had the good fortune of connecting with Harry SJ Metellus (Met) and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Harry SJ, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I consider risk to be the essence of being and essential to any part of growth and direction in life. It kinda sorta plays an integral part alongside of moving in faith. When risks are properly calculated and given a fair amount of consideration, it should serve more as a dashboard rather than a deterrent. Creativity in every sense of the word is risk taking – every aspect of formulating something/anything with your imaginative faculties and transposing it into a tangible thing on either; canvas, paper or what have you and presenting it to the world is risk. Making and doing just about anything is very risky, because you don’t know who might be offended by your work, who you might inspire, who might shed a tear or who might want to do nothing else but to own your creation and take it home and stare at intently over a bottle of Malbec.

All Creatives that I know live by risk, it takes a special kind of audacity to follow your heart and trust the right side of your brain. As I matured and learned to how to get out of my head, I watched many of my peers do the same and learn to pour that same zeal for our gifts into every aspect of our lives. Albeit, it has gotten many of us fired, divorced, and kicked off of the proverbial hamster wheel of life and edged on towards living a more satisfying life and career based on our talents and abilities. Being open to taking risk despite… whatever, is not the easiest way to live, but thus far, it has been the most satisfying and usually the only way to learn to trust your inner being.

All in all, it boils down to knowing that there is a higher power that knows and sees what we cannot fathom – Creative people are vessels. My mom would always tell me that ideas were promises from God, and if we followed through and trusted in what we love to do, we’ll never be found lacking nor in need… of anything.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
It’s hard to say that my work is solely influenced by my upbringing and environment. At times it is, and at other times, it has nothing to do with anything. There are times when there’s tons of methodical calculation put into my work, and at other times, I just follow my heart and dive into whatever medium and colors are before me. I tried my hand at many disciplines over the years, but since about 2015 and due to circumstance, I have been thoroughly immersed in acrylic paints and abstract art. It has served as a tried and true outlet and form of release for me.

In my years of matriculation, I have always been told that it’s the most challenging and hardest to master is style is abstract. I agree, but there again is the risk-taking aspect and trusting that it’s not all about you and what you think you’re about to create. One of the greatest lessons thus far is the humbling that comes about when audiences shed a tear and tell me how touching a specific work is to them. Little do they know that its personally my least favorite and took zero thought to create, I actually planned to cut it from the show, lol.

I personally would love to get to a better place and mind space to express and serve as an unbridled vessel to those greats who paved the way for me to be here and create in general.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would suggest Great Falls and/or Rock Creek Park. Nature has a way of making you change your mind about a lot of things. The rush and pure strength of the Potomac river, the tranquility of the trees, trails and wildlife – if given attention, would serve to remind you that the hustle and bustle of our everyday existence is pointless at times. I would recommend just about every and any locally-owned market and shop, and several trips through the historic districts of Northern Virginia, Maryland and DC and probably wrap it all up by returning right back to the parks to soak in nature… minus the cell phone and laptop.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To my alma mater and the schools I have attended. Maryland Institute College of Art, Nyack College, Art Institute of Washington, School of Visual Arts and The Cooper Union. My mother’s encouragement and father’s funding since I displayed my adamance towards all things visual arts at an early age.

Website: https://www.hsjmet.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hsjmet/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-metellus-mps-bad-50140040/

Image Credits
All uploaded images are the intellectual property of hsjmet, LLC