McFly: Artist Spotlight

This article was originally published in 2015.

“We needed a community because we didn’t have one.” Says Diamond Ferguson referring to the inspiration for their organization, Trivbe.

Diamond is a renaissance person who churns out multi media art, photography, and paintings. They are an editor, poet, singer, and dancer. “I believe that artists shouldn’t be put in a box.” They state. “I try to base my career off of what I can do for other people and allow them to do the same for me. In that way, I learn from those people and grow from them and at the same time, see them grow.”

Trivbe Movement provides a harbor for diverse artists not unlike Diamond and business partner’s Jonny Sanders and Joshua Manus to “Come together, [organize] events, share social media, help each other build and think.”

The seed for the idea first began to bloom four years ago while Diamond was journaling. Onto the paper spilled concerns about the lack of community organizations in Portland. Diamond batted questions about their purpose in life and discovered their truths within the ink. “I told myself that I was going to believe in myself and I was going to be the best me I could be. I was going to practice on myself. The things that I didn’t know, I was going to learn…I took that leap and did so.”

With ever-present joviality, Diamond admits “I’ve had events that just bummed out…it’s hard because you have to set it up and sit there and realize that nobody showed up.” Despite hiccups, Diamond understands that discomfort produces fuel. They remember their first event. “I wasn’t going to go that day…because I was scared, I didn’t know if I had my wings…that’s why I loved working with [my original business partner] Mia because she’s the type of person that jumps…we had a couple of cards, two beanies, and a picture that I had taken of [Mia]. People gravitated to it…when we packed up [Mia] took a picture [of the booth] and put it on social media and it got everybody going. We started from there and we didn’t stop.”

“NASCAR Shoes Flight Clubs” by Diamond Ferguson

When asked what advice Diamond would give to their younger self, they reply with a chuckle. “I would put on my McFly’s, fly back in time and say ‘Listen up, Diamond, because this is very important. Love yourself 100% Nothing ever is really wrong, nothing is ever really right. Go with your heart. Grow in your talents, grow in your mind, grow in spirit, grow in your body. Love the world and it will love you back.”

“Come and join us and run with us. It’s an all love movement!” Diamond exclaims. Check out Diamond's website here.

—Sherita Trent