Meet Janice Robinson: Artist

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

Hi Janice, why did you pursue a creative career?
For two reasons: I wanted to help people and because there was nothing else I would regret not doing.

From very early childhood I’d wanted to be two things— a doctor and an actor. I started to talk less of wanting to act when I saw how adults reacted to artistic pursuits versus how they reacted when I told them I wanted to be a doctor. So it was ingrained in me very early on, as I think it is with many (far too many) people, that some types of careers were worthy of respect and interest and others weren’t. So that’s the version of myself I presented when ever asked about “future plans”. I was never steered away from the arts— I took dance classes, participated in school productions, artistic clubs, etc. and was very supported throughout all of them, but it was clear that those things were always viewed as a hobby by others while they meant so much to me.

It wasn’t until I was a freshman in high school that I finally revealed to anyone that I had a real interest in being an actor. I told my dad and he was very supportive. He even took me to an agency in town, but he also told me that he wanted me to go to college and then see what happens. I understood where he was coming from and agreed with that. I continued school and he remained the only person who knew about my desire to act professionally. I kept it tucked away and continued presenting the other parts of my interests that were more acceptable to academia.

Once in university, I started following the pre-med track. Throughout high school I’d still kept up with acting but had to keep it a “hobby level”, but because of that continued involvement I still wanted to stay connected to the art. I registered for an acting class and participated in a 24-hour theatre festival my freshman year. After the festival, however, it was undeniable to me that this was something I was called to do. I had this exceptionally random moment of clarity while writing a Spanish paper at 4 a.m. A vision, really. I saw myself years in the future. I had done all my schooling and become a doctor and this was my reality— a night at home sitting on my couch watching television with my family in the background. As I sat there, I felt incredibly weighed down, consumed with this overwhelming sense of regret amidst all these things that “should” have made me happy, but all I could think as I stared at the t.v. was, “I could do that… I could have done that… but I didn’t.” And that feeling of regret was so strong, so palpable… I’d never felt it so acutely before. I then zoned back in to my present at my desk in my dorm room, and I was completely shaken. I knew what I needed to do then and there and what it would mean and how drastically I’d be changing my course, and I was paralyzed. But I knew that this was it. That for as much as I loved it and wanted it, I wouldn’t regret not having taken the route to medicine, but I’d always regret not at least trying, really trying to pursue acting. I then thought of how badly I wanted to help others though practicing medicine, but in the same breath I fully realized just how much art, and specifically the art of storytelling, has helped me. How truly cathartic an experience watching a play or a film can be. How they’re able to shows us parts of ourselves and each other and help us to come to deeper understandings and healing. It was then that I truly understood that I could help people in a myriad of ways and giving up one dream for another would not compromise that aim.

It suffices to say that that was A LOT to process at 4 a.m. in the middle of an unrelated assignment, so I ended up doing a scary thing and emailing all of that to my dad. I wasn’t afraid of his reaction, a little anxious to know what it would be of course, but what truly scared me is that putting all of that down and sending it to another person was a sort of mental confirmation. I knew the truth and soon someone else would too. It’d be real and alive and active. It’s a terrifying thing the prospect of that confirmation when you were in a completely different place an hour ago. The email went over well and he was fully supportive and proud (he’s the absolute best), and I felt so relieved having finally let myself really feel and think about all of that. I felt grounded and weightless.

So, long story long, that’s why I chose to pursue an artistic career. Many years and many trials later, as predicted, I feel no regret, and I have seen my work affecting others. I have talked to people after shows I’ve done with very difficult subject-matter, and have had some tell me outright that I’d helped them begin to process things that they have not talked about and how important what I’ve done is to them. Every time is absolutely flooring and incredibly reaffirming. Art is genuinely its own form of medicine, and I’m so glad that I was able to allow myself to follow this path.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m not sure I’ll be giving you the type of answer you’d like, but I find it interesting so I’ll speak on it, because when truly talking about the art of an actor, it’s hard to fit anything into a “show-and-tell” box since so often we are at the mercy of the projects we are chosen for. Sometimes those projects match our skill level, sometimes they challenge us, sometimes they fall short or don’t service us at all. A lot of the art we get to show and a lot of what exists as our art to others is based on luck. Some actors never really get to display what they’re capable of artistically for a myriad of reasons— being typecast, having limited access to roles due to gatekeeping, etc., but they know that their art still contains those would-be performances, however, they can’t talk about them as a part of their art because they don’t get a chance to put them out into the world, and so, to those asking the question, that part of their art doesn’t exist. But it does.

Thankfully, most of the work I’ve been involved with so far has allowed me to really exercise as a performer, but even still I find myself at a loss when someone asks me to just “talk about [my] art”. I can try, but it’s never really as truthful as I’d like it to be and never as in-depth. Acting is such a nebulous and collaborative process (and that’s AFTER the luck) that it feels strange to claim it as my own art. Like, truly my own. I’ve done plays and short films and voice work that has been varied and allowed me to explore different ways of working and getting to my performances, and they’ve all shaped how I approach projects thereafter. So my acting is very much my art in the sense that it’s me performing, but as a performer I am all of the experiences I’ve had both professionally and personally. Everything I’ve shown and have yet to be able to show. That is my art. Everything is my art.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Ohh, I LOVE when friends come to visit and taking them on adventures. In a pre-pandemic world, and depending on the friend visiting/what they’ve seen before, here’s some things we’d do:

• In-N-Out right off the plane — don’t come at me for this they always ask.
• Bookstores.
– The Last Bookstore because that’s a staple + The Iliad in North Hollywood because I love that little-big wonderland so very much and all the cats within it.
• Hit up either The Republic of Pie or EAT while we’re over there
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Bar Hopping Nights:

• Catcher In The Rye in North Hollywood for some great & clever book-themed drinks + board games
– Brickyard Pub for more drinks, food, & bar games
– Tiki No & District Pub are cool too and since we’re in the area…
• The Faculty wine bar in Los Feliz for a wine & cheese night
• Dancing & drinks at The Satellite (r.i.p.) in Silver Lake
• Golden Road Brewery in Glendale for some beer & cornhole
• Drinks + karaoke or having fun watching other folks do karaoke at The Good Nite in NoHo or Cafe Brass Monkey in Koreatown.
• No Vacancy in Hollywood (on a NON-weekend night because, woof.)
– Then walk around the corner to Te’kila for some food & more drinks
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• Colorado Donuts in Eagle Rock is a given for me
•The Oinkster in Eagle Rock for lunch or dinner
• Breakfast(s) at The Waffle on Sunset
• Moonlight Rollerway in Glendale for some skating fun
• Showing them sheer the enormity of Griffith Park + The Observatory
• The California Science Center + the California African American Museum + Natural History Museum of LAC on the same campus in Exposition Park
• The Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City
• LACMA + the food truck lineup + the Tar Pits
• A day-trip to a hike in Malibu
– Lunch at a ranch called: The Malibu Cafe, then the hike, and then make our way down to the water at El Matador Beach
– Making a stop on the way back for gelato & chocolates at Tifa in Agoura Hills
• Likely finding a live music night somewhere or getting the details to one of those secret Sofar Sounds shows somewhere in the city that week.
• All-you-can-eat sushi at this place that I can never remember the name of in North Hollywood but always manage to find anyway?
• And absolutely Bludso’s Bar & Que on La Brea

… Honestly this is… likely going to be a LOT in print (oops), but this is scratching the surface for me in terms of options. There is SO much to do and explore and I can fit a lot into a week if the guest is game. Like I said it depends on the friend. I cater to them and love taking them on adventures.

Also, this is making me very sad and extremely nostalgic in COVID world so I’m going to quit while I’m ahead.
(Which honestly was at least 10 places ago.)

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?
I’d like to dedicate this Shoutout to a number of people. I won’t be able to fit them all, but—

My dad, mom, & sister, my best friends for their unwavering support in every aspect of this journey.
A very special shoutout to Tessa Markle, a fellow artist and a wonderful friend who has been a saving grace a number of times out here in L.A., and lastly, but not at all least, all of the extremely talented artists who have trusted me with their work. It’s always an honor.

Twitter: @theicejancometh

Tiktok: @thenaturalshocks

Image Credits
Lys Perez, Zachariah Schmitt