Coyote Park
Please share your name
Coyote Park (he/they pronouns)
How would you describe what you do? Your practice, your craft, your cash machine?
I am a photographer, actor/performer, producer, painter, writer, curator, teacher, and art director! I kind of do it all. Currently, I am living the gig to gig and project to project life. My practice is fine arts photography and it is my main love. I have been getting back into filmmaking, through performance, screenwriting, and creative production. I am a dancer, I do events, I write books, I make films. It is a little confusing to describe. It makes more sense once people see the results. So right now, I just say I am a storyteller. Everything I do comes back to that.
Can you tell us where you are from?
I am from Oahu in the Kingdom of Hawai'i. I grew up in Mililani, Liliha, Makiki, Aiea, all over. I then moved to New York when I was 18 and am currently in Los Angeles, where most of my family is now.
What does your morning routine look like?
Get coffee with my wife, or make Korean instant coffee. Burn an incense and write out lists of "To Do's". Get back to a billion messages (my close loved ones don't know how I do it and I don't know how I do it either). Paint on a good morning, where I feel up to it. Or even go on a trail near Angel's Point. I really love mornings. I usually wake up at 7 or 8 am. I love nights too but mornings make me feel like I have all the motivation in the world.
Where do you look for inspiration? A place, a person, a book, an action?
I try to watch as many movies or see as many photo galleries as I can. Moving image and photos are the way I store memory and are a big portion of my understanding of the world. I suffered a really tragic hospitalization in 2019 and now images remind me of why I want to be alive: why I can remember the sweetest memories. I pulled myself out of that period of healing through looking at any photo books I could get a hold of in local bookstores, or art shops. I look through my phone photo galleries to hold onto memory. I am most inspired by people in my life. I know so many cool people and I wish I could just duplicate myself to have more time to talk to everyone I love.
What work are you most proud of?
Hmm... that is so hard!!! Definitely all of my collaborations with GenderFail, books I have made. I am most proud of this upcoming project that I am in the process of with my wife who is a director/screenwriter. I helped with the screenwriting, creative production, and I am acting in it. Those have been extensive and really taught me what "labor of love" means. I am proud of my solo show in my hometown, in Honolulu for "All Kin is Blood Kin". What made me most proud was seeing my QTBIPOC community come together for that show. Seeing everyone in the same space. Bringing people together makes me the most proud and all of my art really strives for that! Celebrating trans life and making work that brings some more light is what makes me proud to be an artist and maker.
What has been the biggest challenge on your journey?
Not to limit myself. I sometimes question what things would be like for me if I chose one discipline and stuck to it. But all of my work informs each other and I genuinely wouldn't be happy if I weren't doing all of these outlets, following all of my dreams no matter the form. I am excited to see however any of it is supported and comes to fruition in my lifetime.
How do you define success? What are the goalposts you look out for?
Endless exploration! Success is where I am having fun and being able to have an outcome that represents my hard work, visions, and hopes. Goals I have are to continue finalizing creative endeavors that I have been putting my time and care into. I have so many passions and I want to materialize them! That is most successful to me. At the end of the day, when someone can hold something preciously in their hands that I have put my everything into; and to see a smile on their face, or to have them feel good. I want to make people feel good with what I create. Wether that is to make this life feel more livable as trans people or feel a part of some larger, more beautiful world together.
What's the best advice you've gotten from someone?
Not to internalize every little thing people think of me, project on me, or assume of me without knowing me closely. That the people that know me, will know me. And that is what matters most. Advice given to me from my wife who doesn't take any shit. We all want to be known and to be loved. To be truly seen. I feel that always with my close kin and I always want to extend that love to myself. Preserving and protecting my energy.
Who is someone that has helped you get to where you are now? How were they impactful?
My wife, my mother, my grandmother, my teachers, my photography mentors, all amazing and strong women. Women have carried me in their arms and made me who I am. They have given me the confidence and push to reach my wildest dreams.
What are you currently listening to? What is your go to song?
Return of Saturn on CD in my jeep: "Bathwater" by No Doubt. I also have been listening to Caprisongs on repeat in my car and dancing to FKA twigs "Papi Bones" song ft. Shygirl. A banger. Reminds me of home and growing up as an island boy.
What's the last thing you bought with cash?
Churros at Will Rodgers Beach
See more of Coyote’s work HERE
