Ahh the infamous Proust Questionnaire. This is one of my favorite interviews to read from others, it is far more interesting to me for some reason than a Q&A based on actual information about the person. I use it often in FOUR, but I’ve never answered it myself, so…
What is your name as you would like it to appear in the magazine?
Ciara Bird.
Where are you from and where are you now?
Los Angeles by way of Augusta, Georgia.. currently in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Your age.
24.
What is your current state of mind?
pensive.
Who are you and what would you like to be?
more artist, less designer.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
b—with warm sun, cool breeze and trails for hiking followed by an uninterrupted afternoon of painting, reading and leisure. essentially no feeling of “what am i supposed to be working on.”
What is your greatest fear?
“i want to be cured of a craving for something i cannot find and the shame of never finding it.”
Which living person do you most admire?
is it bad to say Beyonce? without going into depth i just feel like she sums up my ideal of imperfect womanhood perfectly in her own way; love, happiness, career, sexuality, classiness, motherhood, etc. yet she still comes off as humble.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
social anxiety. the glorification of busy.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
don’t tell me who you are, show me. less talk more do.
What is your greatest extravagance?
publications. the easiest way to collect the art i cannot afford.
What music are you listening to right now?
im not.
Name a special day for you.
may 5.
What is your favorite movie without naming it?
two women, one man. paint, spain and woody allen.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
i cannot.
What natural gift would you most like to possess?
gab.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
b. but also freedom, I’m learning that one doesn’t balance out the other.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
my faith.
Where and when did your parents first meet?
high school. toledo, ohio.
What would you do if you weren’t scared?
longterm travel.
What is your most treasured possession?
b. i can part with everything else.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
9-5 corporate design for an artist with no outlets.
Open a nearby book and copy the first line you like.
“Not just a plan of action, vagabonding is an outlook on life that emphasizes creativity, discovery, and the growth of the spirit.”
Where would you like to live?
west coast.
What is your most marked characteristic?
my smile.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
charm, conversation, and curiosity.
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
happiness, conversation and charisma.
What advice would you tell your 15 year old self?
don’t worry— your skin will clear up and your hair will look good.
What do you most value in your friends?
conversation, honesty and support.
Who is your favorite artist, writer, musician?
kelly wearstler, audrey niffenegger, j.k. rowling, maxwell, jhene aiko
What would be the title of your memoir?
bird & bee.
What is your motto?
it takes the same amount of energy to wish as it does to plan.