Meet Miri Hunter | Performing Artist, Writer, Musician, Visual Artist, Scholar

We had the good fortune of connecting with Miri Hunter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Miri, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important thing to remember with success is the support of others, and the realization that others have their own aspirations. So being grateful to those that support your work is a two way street, because while they are supporting you, they are also enriching their lives with the aim of moving towards their goals. So with success, there needs to be a resiliency in understanding that everyone in the picture, so to speak, has a vision of their own success and is moving towards it.

Having the strength and courage to not be upset, angry, hurt if someone should leave, plays a part in everyone’s continued growth which may lead to more success. For example if an actor that I have been working with for awhile decides they no longer want to be a part of the theatre, it is important to me that we end on good terms. They may come back, or not, but I want to honor their commitment not only to me but to their own careers. This is the art of nurturing good relationships. Likewise, if I change the style of music I’m creating and it requires different instrumentation and I change the make up of the band to support the music, I would do my best to end any of those relationships on a positive note also.

The beauty of painting, or writing is that the success of it is about one’s own resiliency to the completion of the finished product. What does one keep? what does one throw away? How do you ground inspiration in this third dimension with as little ego as possible? Figuring that out is success!!!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Has it ever been easy to live an artistic/creative life? No. So it hasn’t been easy, but it has been educational and creative!! I believe that my desire to be creative has completely informed my life choices. I chose to travel, I chose to get advanced educational degrees, I chose moving around the country and the world. I chose not to stay in my hometown. Temping, I did a lot of temping, mostly to get enough to be able to afford the next life lesson, I guess. All in the name of being an artist. I was following what aroused my curiosity. Whatever gave me the feeling of longing, I wanted to know more about it, Understand more.

I have been doing this thing lately, where I try to decide who/what is running my life: is it my brain or my body. Now I realize that both of those are in service to my soul. So now I am trying to remember what it is that my soul wants to learn and understand. Is it the meaning of life? Some part of me decided that it is about gathering pieces of my soul that were lost or forgotten from other lifetimes and putting them all together again: becoming whole. I think of it as a spiritual evolution,

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Joshua Tree National Park!!

The Integratron in Landers, nothing like a soundbath!

I just love Kitchen In the Desert, the food is fresh and unique. The drinks are great!

However, the most amazing thing to do out here in the desert is to look up at the night sky and see the stars!!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shoutout to my partner, art mentor, bandmate, and all around amazing person, Thom Merrick. And when I need inspiration, I remember the amazing writings of Toni Morrison (Paradise), Alice Walker (Temple of my Familiar) and Tracy Chapman (anything she did)!

Website: http://www.projectsheba.com

Other: http://www.hunterandthewicked.com

Image Credits
Photos by Thom Merrick and Hilary Sloane Original Art from the Private Collection. of Lisa Mednick Powell