Artist Statement

            My name is Ariana and I grew up where I didn’t fit in. My values were different than many of those around me and I felt that there was many times in which I was not given the opportunity to show my true self. In living in Manhattan I find myself in a world of “true self’s”, of course there will always be those who pretended to be someone they are not, but that is the beauty of it. One can be whomever they choose to be, naturally are, or wish they were. The people of New York make up one priceless work of art. There are pieces which we would never wish to purchase, those we wish we could have, and those who clutter up our tiny apartments but we can’t manage or really don’t want to get rid of. My art is not just about New York, it is about the values of New York, whether it takes place in the city or not. I believe in showing people things they may have once looked over and allowing them to decide whether or not they would like to keep looking. My hope is to one day produce documentaries that shed light on not only problems, social, economic and otherwise but also on those involved in the process of solution big and small.  I'd love to one day document street performers, as I'd like to know and would like others to know more about the life behind the performer, the human being removed from their art as well as what inspires their art.
The following is not a video that I took personally but I often see this performer, an older man performing in the 42nd Street Subway station specifically near the ACE lines. Apparently others are taking notice as wel.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZl7HvDuKTk&feature=related

UPDATE! The performer I posted above is named Danny Small! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DSXUcVK-QA&feature=related