With her elegant movements, it's not hard to find yourself staring at Kali Ray Torres during her modern dance class.
This interdisciplinary studies senior in communications and theater can do anything artistic - from modeling nude to playing a man in a theater production. But all she really wants to do is save the world through her art.
This week, SPM finds out how an ambitious artist can turn her diverse portfolio into a lifelong career that will put Oprah into retirement.
SPM: Don't I know you?
Torres: You probably do. I was in "Haroun and the Sea of Stories" [a theater productions at ASU in October] last semester. I played the male character Mudra and had a big-old mask on, so you might not have recognized me.
SPM: Is acting all you do?
Torres: No, I am an interdisciplinary artist so I do a combination of acting, singing, dancing, painting and writing.
SPM: Why can't you pick just one style of art?
Torres: Each piece [of art] is a representation of where I am in that moment. I see my art as bringing people together in the community through art, giving a voice to the voiceless.
SPM: What is the weirdest thing you ever did for money?
Torres: I have modeled nude for artistic drawings. The weirdest thing was modeling nude for sculpture class. They were all standing around me, measuring my proportions with a caliber
SPM: Did it pay well?
Torres: $15 an hour.
SPM: You'd have to pay me way more to take my clothes off. How would you describe your art as a whole?
Torres: My art is passionate, highly abstract, yet distinguishable in relating to life and the human experience, touching in on human emotion.
SPM: How will all of this lead to a career?
Torres: I would love to have my own TV show where I am constantly going on a different artistic adventure that educates the public about the world of creativity and the possibilities for bringing higher awareness to learning about the self.
SPM: What would you name your TV show?
Torres: "Way of the Artist."
SPM: Do you think you could beat out Oprah?
Torres: I have never been much for competitive sports, but I could stand beside her and feel confident that I could walk a mile in her shoes. Oprah is tired, honey. She's been doing it for a long time, and as soon as she is ready to retire, I will be the first in line to take her place. But I love Oprah.
Reach the reporter: megan.m.salisbury@asu.edu.
