CJ Hughes is a writer, visual artist and independent publisher based out of Chicago. Hughes is currently pursuing a BFA in screenwriting from Columbia College Chicago. Originally from a small engineering town in southeast Michigan, Hughes broke into the art world by achieving the highest award in the Create, Engage, Explore scholarship. She is the third place finisher in the 2018 Written Image Screenwriting Competition, has done art direction for Amazon’s Alexa line of commercials, and independently publishes and curates zines out of her own apartment, “The Sunroom”. She was an assistant to two ICM Partners talent agents at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, and finally got to put her five years of French education to use. She is a mom of two 13 year old cats, creator of the best tofu scramble in the midwest, and a classically trained ballet dancer.
Artist’s Statement
My work takes an introspective look at the importance of isolation. In a world that’s core is constant connection, being truly alone is rare. In the few moments of isolation we have, our true colors are exposed. I explore what it means to be alone, who we are when alone, and the dangers of ignoring the cravings of isolation.
“Orange” revolves around a teenage girl who, after being abandoned by her friends at a party, resorts to a dangerous mix of drugs and alcohol to feel included. “Lucy: The Antichrist” follows a young girl coming into her emo phase, and her church choir grandmother’s extreme fear surrounding her granddaughters changes. Their lack of communication about their fears and experiences leads to the two women growing increasingly fearful of each other. In “The Big Block”, a writer inadvertently opens the door to his wife cheating on him, and cannot bring himself to deal with it. Each of these stories are told in moments of loneliness, where the characters must decide how to deal with their situations without the people around them, and understand the consequences of their actions when alone.
I believe the best writing comes from intimate honesty. A look into the core personality that lies behind the person we present to the world. This is my motivation to create, revealing the world that exists in independence. There is a commonality in loneliness, and the ability to share in that with people who take in my work is the most rewarding aspect of creation. I write in solitude, and therefore I naturally write stories that mirror this experience. We are sometimes truly alone, and the reflection of that onto art is undeniably special.
catjanehughes@gmail.com