Meet Britten Traughber | Photographer, Performer, Producer

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

Hi Britten, what’s your definition for success?
Helping others find their joy in the arts and providing outlets to be seen creatively is my greatest success as a culture creator and teacher. Being an artist long-term is hard- getting up everyday and making work is success. Taking time to contemplate new ideas and not make is success. Having a great project to work on and an even better idea in the pipeline is success!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a documentary photographer, burlesque performer and Arts Producer. My Photographic work mainly focuses on communities and subcultures in the US- rural towns, women’s stories, and the LGBTQA community. I love working with people and often pair my images with Oral Histories that influence the images we make together. Through my work documenting performance art, I have also become a burlesque performer and producer, under the name “Bea Trouble”, which is strangely how I ended up in Tucson. Burlesque has given me permission to play and not be restrained by rules or academia. I also teach at Pima currently as an adjunct, which is a creative practice for sure (shoutout to my awesome Digital Photo students this semester!)

I am a creative through and through, I think my brain was absolutely wired this way from day one… I grew up in a rural area without a lot of access to arts and culture, so I clung to every bit of arts education I had- art classes, band, and of course self education in dance from MTV. My biggest challenge as a creative was wanting to do/try everything and fearing being boxed into one “thing”. I was also Queer as hell in a tiny town in the bible belt, so I’ve had a lot of personal hurdles to overcome. I’ve tried to see the world and do it all on a farm girls budget LOL.

The main lesson I’ve learned in all my adventures is to just keep going. You’re an artist if you say you are. There will be times of immense success- shows, publishing, etc, and lots of times when you wonder if anyone really cares about this bubble you exist in that is necessary for creating. Just. Keep. Making. That’s the only secret to “success” that I know.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
A week would not be enough time in Tucson! I love this town so much. First off- a day at the Tucson Museum of Art (full disclosure I work there) with lunch at Cafe ala Carte (just take my money)… Next a day of exceptional thrift shopping. A Mount Lemmon hike would be necessary, and most evenings would end at Cobra Arcade, my #1 fave place for pinball and good people. I’d treat friends to the best hidden Indian or Thai in town and then show them my fantastic cabaret style burlesque show (Tucson Tease Burlesque!) at the Temple of Music and Art. We would wrap up a big night out with jazz at the Century Room. Did I mention I love it here?

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?
My partner Bert! He’s 100% the secret to my success and longevity as an artist. Anytime I’ve thought about giving up the past 20 years, he’s always been there to help me through. I have tunnel vision most days on my projects, so he also helps keeps me fed and grounded in reality. Also, my niece Tessa is 4 years old and a natural creative. I am so inspired by her artistic mind and it helps me focus on staying playful in my own work.

Website: www.brittentraughber.art

Instagram: brittenleighaz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tucsontease