“Creating to connect”

Caroline Potter Shriver is a performer, director, writer, and producer based in Brooklyn. Caroline graduated from Fordham University and The Ailey School, where she received a BFA in Dance and Latin American Studies. Caroline has taught dance around the United States and Latin America, partnering with arts education non-profits, including the Maureen Orth Foundation, JUNTOS Collective, and Americorps’ ArtistYear. In 2021, she starred in a feature film, Capsules. This September, she made her directorial debut at the Ursinus Fringe Festival with the solo show Public Private Prayer. In October 2023, her solo show, The Stella Show, was produced by The Village and presented in residency at IRT Theatre (NYC). After five sold-out shows, she plans to continue building The Stella Show as an exploration of the magic and mystery of grief, sisterhood, and coming of age. As the co-founder and Artistic Director of The Village, she channels her passion for creative community into the development and growth of new work. She is so grateful for the artists and patrons who bring her dreams to life at each Salon and production!

“I’ll make it happen”

Marc David Wright is a director/producer of theatre and film, community creator, and arts educator. Born and raised in Bayonne, NJ, Marc crossed the Hudson to study acting at Fordham University (B.A. Theatre 2019). He discovered directing at school, where his production of Dark Play or Stories For Boys received an Ars Nova research grant to travel to Edinburgh Fringe, where it was named one of the “10 Must-See LGBT Shows” of the festival. Theatre: The Stella Show (IRT/The Village), Singfeld! A Musical Parody About Nothing (Now Playing Off-Broadway), Planet W: A New Musical in Concert (The Green Room 42), Sanctuary City (Pasadena Playhouse, AD), Self Tape (Alchemical Studios), What to Expect When You’re Expecting Our Lord and Savior (The Players Theater), Dark Play or Stories For Boys (Edinburgh Fringe, Fordham). Film: Enterprise 25: A Cinematic Advent Calendar for Instagram, As You Like It or the Pursuit of Love in Shared Isolation, Slay!. Proud drama teacher and director at several children’s and high school theatre education programs across New Jersey.

“Building community through storytelling”

Dana Seach is a theatre and film artist based in New York City. She completed a Master of Science degree in Media Management from the Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University. She has worked as a Production Stage Manager at institutions including NYU/Tisch, Less Than Rent Theatre, The Dalton School, and St. Joseph Regional High School. Dana also has experience as an Assistant Director and Script Supervisor on short films. As Managing Director of The Village, Dana seeks to uplift early-career artists in the pursuit of creating new work. She is proud to be part of The Village’s continued growth over the past three years and is eager to welcome more artists and patrons into the community!

Website

“Everything always comes back to my mom”

Riva Dhamala, Creative Consultant & Designer of The Village, is a multimedia designer with an educational background in Human Factors Engineering, Cognitive and Brain Sciences, and Studio Art from Tufts University. She is interested in the intersection of cognitive behavior and design, and applying this intersection to optimize user experiences - both in her interface designs and personal artwork. In her personal artwork, working through a variety of different mediums, much of her art focuses on people and notions of identity as a fluid, dynamic concept.

Website

“I am trying to catch the in-between feelings”

Annabel Hope is a San Franciscan currently stomping around uptown New York. She is a 2018 graduate of Fordham University with a BA in performance. She works as a professional Tarot Reader and her photography and painting are self-taught.

Website | Instagram

“My D&D group is busy, so I have to write other stories too”

James Kenna (he/him/his) is a playwright, dramaturg, and actor and has called many theatre’s artistic homes. Such places include: Steppenwolf Theatre Company, The Hangar Theatre, Vivid Stage (resident playwright), and The 52nd Street Project. He’s passionate about telling funny and gripping stories stemming from blue-collar sentiments and fantastical circumstances.

Instagram | Website | Play Portfolio

“I always have a place at the Dairy Queen”

David Kahawaii is an LA-based director, producer, and writer of theatre and film. David currently serves as the Line Producer of Youth, Family & Outreach of the Tony Award winning Pasadena Playhouse. There, he has served as a producer on the Pasadena stop of Walk Across America with Little Amal in partnership with Deaf West Theater and Armory Center for the Arts, as well as an Assistant Producer/ Artistic Associate for Bernadette Peters in Concert, Larry Owens' Sondhemia, and Acoustic Sondheim with Eleri Ward. Upcoming: Grumpy Monkey: The Musical at Pasadena Playhouse, Bimbo Tennis (Producer), and Second Chance (Director/ Producer). David is a graduate of Fordham Theater’s BA Theatre program with a concentration in Theater. Co-host of queer cinephile podcast "We Stan Her!" with fellow Village Artist Billy Reece.

Podcast

“Ask for What You Want”

Elizabeth Kline is an LA-based, independent producer. After many years of pursuing acting, Elizabeth began her producorial journey producing the play, 'Dark Play or Stories for Boys,' for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where it was named one of the "10 Must-See LGBT Shows" of the festival. She then transitioned into film/television. Her inaugural short film, 'Where Does the Light Go?', was selected as a finalist for the 51st Annual USA Film Festival. Since then, she has developed and produced numerous projects with the ultimate goal of creating content for a larger audience. Her passion is to tell stories which examine mental health, the female experience, and debunking social constructs. In addition to independent producing, Elizabeth previously worked at a bicoastal talent agency, representing actors in film, television, and theatre. She now works with an award winning director and his producing partner developing films worldwide.

“Navigating the world and understanding the self (Photography as Anthropology)”

Akil is a Brooklyn-born photographer and UX researcher with an education in psychology. His work is a culmination of his day-to-day experiences, travels, friendships, interests, emotions, and mindset. In many ways, photography is a therapeutic process for him, allowing the visualization of growth and change in his life. In 30-50 years, Akil hopes that he or anyone else can look at his work and think, "Yeah, I have a good idea of who Akil is," as defined by the world he interacts with.

Instagram | Website

“I create work that marries the nerd and the black experience within me!”

Antonyio Artis is an actor, singer, and writer who graduated with his BFA in Acting from Brooklyn College in the spring of 2022. When he was 16, he wrote and performed an original rap song for Lin Manuel Miranda, the original cast of “Hamilton”, and a crowd of 1300 fellow students and teachers at the Richard Rodgers Theater. Credits include New Jack City: Live! (national tour), New Girl Now (Cellunova Festival), Storme (Playwrights Horizon), Project Sankofa (The Tank Theater), etc. Artis received a certification in unarmed stage combat and loves reading and obsessing over actors. God. Grace. Gratitude.

Instagram

“Trying both to be and not to be a non-binary Phoebe Bridgers”

AUDG is a nonbinary human and a Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter. They came to New York for college as “Audrey,” and after graduating and much enlightenment, AUDG emerged. Originally from the suburbs of Massachusetts, they’ve been writing and playing music since their early teens. Their songwriting cInstagramenters around their relationships, queerness, and family bonds; and their musical inspirations are drawn from indie artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Bon Iver, and the like. They’ve conquered their self-doubt and are now finally putting their own music out there to be heard and loved, after a long, tumultuous relationship with posting covers on Instagram.

Instagram | Spotify | Apple Music | Bandcamp

“A whimsical take on everyday things”

Madalyn Baker is an artist, actor, and musician based in New York City. She draws comics and illustrations under the umbrella of her art brand, Maddle Baddle. She spends her time writing music, playing soccer, and baking for her friends!

Website | Instagram (art) | Instagram (personal)

“Pushing the Boundaries of Normalcy”

John Beltre is a NYC Based Designer and Makeup Artist. They have designed for National Tours, worked both on and off Broadway and designed for various films currently shown in festivals.

Website | Instagram

“Partia y vida - Homeland and Life. In a world full chaos and sadness, we find the strength and beauty through it all”

Ashley-Marie Bombino is a Costume Designer and Artist living in Harlem, NYC. The Mediums that she uses in her works are Oil Pastels and Gouache. As she grows artistically she hopes to share the world she sees as a 1st Generation Cuban American, celebrating afro-latinidad and shining light on the political struggle of her people back in the motherland.

Instagram

“Humor is a valid coping mechanism”

Miranda Boodheshwar is a Guyanese-American costume designer and mixed-media artist. Her work explores the intersectionality between identity and self-expression. She explores how dress has changed over time and is passionate about researching and educating others on the history of clothing in underrepresented cultures. She holds a BFA in costume design from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama and is currently working with The Juilliard School.

Instagram | Website

“Cousins making movies for silly gooses at the end of the world”

Charlotte and Charles Martin are a couple of cousins from Maine, now based in Brooklyn, who use the visual language of film to make silly little movies about the current hellscape we live in.

Instagram | YouTube

“Illuminating dreams, loss, heartbreak & bliss”

Kelly Bran brings a fresh take on folk, country, and rock. Drawing on influences from alternative women of the 90's, her upcoming debut EP chronicles the path to finding her voice as an independent artist. Shedding the boxes that many have forced on her along the way, she weaves intimate stories between our heaviest burdens and most joyful moments.

Instagram

“I love Cinema”

I'm from Nampa, Idaho. I lived in Los Angeles from the age of 18-24 and the pandemic brought me back home. While stuck in rural suburbia, I decided to make the trek to NYC. I've been here making art on the stage and for film for the last year and some change.

Instagram

"A contemporary take on a classic"

Kendall is an actor and filmmaker who writes, makes things, and supports friends who make things. She’s excited by heightened language, explosive moments, and things that make her laugh. When she’s not self taping and watching post production tutorials, she's finding ways to sleep in and see free theater.

Website

“eerily similar natal chart to FDR”

Michelle hails from Long Island, loves dressing up in drag, and has a clinical fear of horses. Sorry- was that not what you came here for? Anyway- Michelle is a stand up comedian in Los Angeles and has produced a three episode web show that satirically explores politics, gender identity, and media commentary. The web show, Morning, Stranger!, and her stand up routines, showcase Michelle's ability to play with the taboos of the United States class system, gender fluidity, and chronic illness through comedy. She is currently workshopping a live variety show that will include a drag performance as well as talents from many other artists and mediums. She is also, seriously, afraid of horses. (They're too big!)

Instagram | Website

“Aquarius Sun, Jigglypuff Moon, Ho Rising”

Spencer Clark is a creative person based in NYC. He has danced on Broadway, on TV, and in films and music videos. He is currently focusing on Subverting The Straight Agenda via photography, choreography, and creative direction.

Instagram | TikTok

"Letting you in, dancing it out"

Morgan Coyle-Howard is a freelance creative artist based in New York City. She began her formal dance training at the Boston Ballet School and received her undergraduate BFA degree at Fordham University/The Ailey School with a major in Dance and minor in Anthropology. Morgan continued at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's professional program under the direction of Alexandra Wells. She has recently taken on creative projects in film including dance films and music videos as a director and creative director.

Website | Youtube

“Capturing the 'American Dream' one shirt at a time!”

Christine Evans is an American Tailored Sportswear designer based in the Lower East Side in New York City. Originally from Washington, D.C., Christine graduated from Parsons School of Design in 2019 with a BFA in Fashion Design. She uses clothing design as a tool to explore her interest in the relationship between fashion and politics, as well as to explore her own identity and upbringing— having one foot in the creative world and one in the political world. She loves to draw influence from all things colorful, the 1960’s and 70’s eras, disco, protest, current events, as well as all things “American”: that being simple, quintessential American moments from her own upbringing. Christine uses her clothing as a way to story tell and express her American identity, while encouraging others to use clothing to tell their own stories as well.

Website | Instagram (art) | Instagram (personal)

“Poetry and photography are visual experiences. I lend you my eyes, heart and a shared spirituality.”

To me, living well is experiencing the beauty without and expressing the beauty within. My work is an attempt to do this, it is an attempt to reflect my spiritual nature. Spirituality can often feel lofty and overwhelming, but I attempt to show that perfection is not so hard to come by, and divinity is not so high in the sky. There is perfection in every leaf on every tree in every forest, in every grain of sand in every desert. In the moments when we stop to notice these things we have already touched enlightenment. I am from the Sonoran Desert, a place where these moments of enlightenment come easy as the spring winds. My hope is that, even if you have never been to the desert, that some part of you will find my work familiar.

Instagram

“I'm known to shake a little ass, on occasion”

Ardyn, originally from North Carolina, self-identifies as a “corporeal conversationalist.” She received her B.F.A. in Dance from USC where she trained concurrently in ballet and house, resulting in a keen interest in the synthesis of dance forms traditionally positioned as binaries of one another. She teaches globally, utilizing two movement systems - William Forsythe Improv Technologies and d. Sabela Grimes’ “Funkamental MediKinetics.” Ardyn has danced professionally for choreographers Amy O’Neal, Juliano Nunes, Ayodele Casel, Ebony Williams, Aszure Barton, and Yoann Bourgeois among others. Ardyn regularly works with choreographer Ebony Williams in both dance and creative positions such as DOJA CAT’s Coachella 2022 (assistant choreographer), WARNER BROS/UNIGRAM “Collision” Residency (associate choreographer, dancer), KID CUDI 2022 Tour Skeleton Crew (associate choreographer). She was the associate choreographer for artist MILLI at HITC Festival, alongside choreographer Max Pham. Ardyn just returned home from tour, where she was both associate choreographer and swing for DOJA CAT’S “The Scarlet Tour.” Ardyn is a part-time faculty member at the USC Kaufman School of Dance, and on the weekend you can find her Go-Go dancing at the famed “Abbey,” an LGBTQIA+ bar and club in West Hollywood.

Instagram

“Finding your place in between two worlds”

Franco Giacomarra is a Puerto Rican and Sicilian writer, composer, and performer based in New York City. Originally from the Philadelphia area, Franco's work encompasses a variety of written and audiovisual media, ranging from screenplays to comic books and musical theater. His work often synthesizes aspects of these forms with conventions of genre fiction and other idiosyncratic storytelling combinations.

Instagram

“fermented stories to manage ambiguous grief”

Sarah is an actor, writer, and fool based in NYC. They grew up acting in local theatre in the Bay Area before studying at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. When not working on her solo work, Sarah loves working with new plays, short films, and Elizabethan comedies. Her work explores queer intimacies and ways to grieve. They hold a bachelor’s from Bowdoin College, and a master’s in Performance Studies from NYU Tisch. Sarah can generally be found writing love letters to friends with several discarded cold cups of tea at her side.

Blog | Instagram | Twitter

“Everyday moments of New York City, captured in analog”

24-year-old software engineer, designer, and film photographer based in Brooklyn. Often found strapped with my dad's Canon AE-1 Program, which was handed down to me in middle school. Originally started photography because I wanted to be like the cool kids on Facebook who had high quality selfies as their profile pictures.

Instagram | Website

“Unfolding nostalgia, embracing imperfections, crafting tomorrow”

Christopher Hernandez, an LA native, intertwines art with nostalgia, capturing the short-lived past, embracing chaos in the present, and fearlessly exploring the enigmatic future. An award-winning artist, photographer, digital artist, and filmmaker, each creation reflects the layers of his profound and evolving nature.

Instagram | Website

"Drawing through the discomfort"

Mark is an artist and set designer born and raised in Brooklyn. He aims to tell stories that make everyone look a little closer at the world around them, with fresh perceptions and inquisitive eyes. He finds inspiration in the sheer amount of happenings on the streets of NYC. His most recent work consists of figurative sketches & drawings -- offering a glimpse of what it takes to get to a "finished" piece. His ultimate goal is to translate them into a series of narrative driven oil paintings & illustrations showcasing these bizarre experiences in and around the city. His most recent projects include designing The Understudy at the Morningside Players and working art department for NBC Universal's FBI.

Instagram | Website | Art Station

“here for the community”

Santo Jacobsson is a Swedish-Ecuadorian illustrator based in East Village and Williamsburg. He is a proud American Illustration Award winner and has had work at Lincoln Center. Currently working as a Graphic Designer for Flyers Cocktail Co, working on his graphic novel, and freelancing. His work focuses on the surreal experience of living as a trans person. He uses art as a tool to build community with other trans and non-binary people around the world by sharing each individual's experience in their identity.

Instagram | Portfolio

“If we were all the same, the world would be pretty f*cking boring”

Anna Jones is an LA based Director and Writer from Chicago. With her formal training in theatre, Anna has directed numerous plays in Chicago and LA, with a special interest in new and immersive work. In recent years, she has focused her attention on film, and (alongside her Creative Partner Elizabeth Kline) she is delighted to share their short film "Twelve" with The Village. Anna seeks to tell stories that challenge standard perceptions, uplift the queer experience, examine mental health, and explore the many splendid variations of life for women.

Instagram

“Capturing the ugliest parts like paintings in a museum”

James Kolsby is a director and cinematographer based in Bushwick. Originally from Atlanta, his work across music, theatre, and film has always centralized stories of friendship and love. Since moving to the city, his heart has been broken countless times as a result of an uninhibited romantic imagination. He is now focusing on creating stories more for the screen than about people he is dating.

Instagram | Website

“A conceptual activist artist with a focus on abortion and bodily autonomy as a whole.”

Sanna Legan is an activist artist, using social justice and creative practice to make a difference. For her artwork, Sanna has been recognized as a Young Arts Finalist, National Scholastic Winner, United States Presidential Scholar, and has had her work featured in Art Basel. Sanna has also been featured on @instagram for her reproductive justice art. Currently, Sanna is the Social Media Manager for Abortion Access Front, advocating for abortion access across the country.

Instagram | Website

“I have all my thoughts at 2am and none at 2pm”

Rachel Lenihan is a stand up comedian and a visual artist. People often tell her that she should combine these two art forms. She is working on it.

Rachel performs all over NYC and has opened for Chris Gethard, and was also the Writer's assistant for the Chris Gethard Show on Tru TV.

Website | Instagram (comedy) | Instagram (art)

“Exploring the connections of music, movement and habit.”

Kathy Liu, originally from Fremont, California, is a freelance dancer and model in New York City. She received her BFA in Dance from The Ailey School and Fordham University where she developed an interest in choreography and premiered her first full-length piece "a room full of practical ideas” along with other short pieces. She has collaborated with artists of various backgrounds, choreographing for Billy Reece’s DIMES: A New Musical, ORLA’s Siren album show at DROM NYC, and other music videos and dance films.

Instagram

“A design practice combining graphic design and mental health to cultivate wellbeing on the internet”

Lucie Shelley is a multidisciplinary artist, designer, and art director based in New York, NY. A classically trained musician with a passion for drawing and painting, Lucie began her design career in college, where she discovered graphic design as the perfect way to meld her cultural interests with her love of visual creative. During a bout of burnout at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Lucie started an instagram account to create an experiment with design outside of her full time corporate design job as a way to create freely, find her love of design again, and build a little corner of the internet for positivity, wellbeing, and mental health awareness. Since its inception in 2020, Lucent matter has garnered over 10k+ followers on instagram. Overall, Lucie's design practice comes from a desire to make things that make people feel better.

Instagram

“I take my photographs, print on wood or canvas, and paint on top to create one-of-a-kind artworks.”

Statistically speaking, I shouldn't be where I am today. I was born into a low income Puerto Rican family and grew up in the Marlboro Projects in Brooklyn. Although my childhood was filled with multigenerational trauma and alcoholism, there was a lot of love...and a lot of art. I have fond memories of staying up late to watch my dad make his abstract artworks and it wasn't long before I found myself taking pleasure in the same. I was comforted by the stereotype of artists being different and misunderstood as that made me feel like I wasn't alone in this world.

I moved to Santa Fe, NM at the end of 2003, hoping to finish art school, but I struggled with an artist block that would keep me from drawing for about 5 years. This prompted me to buy my first camera in an effort stay creative. That decision forever changed how I perceive my surroundings and create. My work transformed from illustrating fantasies, to capturing the magic in the mundane...and I haven't stopped taking photos since. The foundation I received in drawing, color theory and painting lends itself to how I approach photography and the mixed media works I make today.

Website | Instagram | TikTok

“I love art and I love therapy”

Patty Mahaney is an interdisciplinary artist who works in printmaking and performance. They engage with themes of family histories, childhood memories, and diasporic melancholia. They draw much inspiration from their non-binary and Filipinx-American identities—cultural traditions, stories, objects, and so on. Patty creates art as a form of self-expression and a tool for social change—bringing light to historical and interpersonal narratives that may be erased by dominant culture.

Instagram

“If you wish to be my brother, come as you are, and bar no other”

Solly is a bi-coastal artist, mixing the chill vibes of LA with the gritty sounds of NYC. Constantly searching for ways to go against the grain, Solly can be found producing, songwriting, and recording by himself or with collaborators, sharing energy and sonically documenting this crazy experience of life.

Website

“Investigating where the body meets the words in collaborative art”

Katherine McClintic is a choreographer, producer, and writer based in NYC. She is curious about everything, in particular, building poetic, visceral, and imaginative movement landscapes in film, TV, music performance, and theatrical projects. She is the creator and EP of "Ending the War On My Body", a project consisting of a book of poems, 6 films, an evening length dance piece, a full-length score, and the collaboration of over 60 cast, crew and creatives.

Website | Instagram | TikTok

“Catching the Sun”

Just a smiley girl from Harlem trying to show the world how I see things behind my many lenses

Instagram

“An investigation of the inevitable what if”

Catherine Messina, graduate of Emory University, has worked with many choreographers and companies: Kit Modus, Jillian Mitchell, Mark Caserta, Ruben Julliard, Alexander Espinosa, Maddie Hanson, George Staib, Niv Sheinfeld, Oren Laor, and Bill T. Jones. In New York, she works with Yuki Ishiguro, Thistle Dance, Open Dance Ensemble, Animus Movement. She has shown her work throughout Atlanta, Richmond, New York, Portugal, and Philadelphia, receiving grant support. She has experience in arts administration, teaching, and production. Community work is important to her and is seen through the creation of an outdoor dance festival, Fall for Fall, and volunteering for DanceATL and Dance/NYC.

Website | Instagram (dance) | Instagram (personal)

“Out of intense complexities, intense simplicities emerge”

Born in Princeton, NJ, Luke earned his undergraduate degree in philosophy with a minor in visual arts from Fordham College Lincoln Center in the Class of 2019. As a student, he founded the Fordham Filmmaking Club. As a filmmaker, he directed 'Capsules', a feature film, alongside a series of short films including 'The Stamp Collector'. He also interned for Marie-Louise Khondji at Le Cinema Club, a dynamic online cinema space.

Instagram | Vimeo

"Painter of purple people"

Jessi Olarsch is a figurative painter based in NYC. In her work, memory, image, and desire combine in a purple dreamscape that tells an unfolding story of queerness. Her paintings consider the shifting boundaries of public and private life, the raw tenderness of queer friendship, and the complicated joy of coming into your own.

Instagram | Website

“language-first flash fiction that focuses on feminine grief, nature as religion, and queer relationships”

Megan Paris is a short fiction writer based out of Brooklyn, NY. She was previously published in Lesbians Are Miracles Mag and Bear Creek Gazette. She is a co-editor for Moot Point Magazine, and is passionate about reading and writing, good music, and celebrity gossip.

Instagram

"I'm making work about big feelings only"

I am a dance artist and storyteller from Berkeley, California. I have performed works by Adam Barruch, Bobbi Jene Smith, Brenda Way, and KT Nelson among others. Between 2018 and 2021, I was a member of Sidra Bell Dance New York and performed across the U.S and internationally with the company. I've worked closely with Sidra Bell as a collaborator and assistant choreographer and teacher. In 2019, I received my B.F.A in dance performance with departmental honors from Fordham University/The Ailey School. Most recently, I performed with Kayla Farrish in her dance-theater work “Put Away the Fire, dear”. Currently, I’m a close collaborator of Collier Schorr on her performance adaptation of Chantal Akerman’s film, “Je Tu Il Elle” (1975).

Instagram

“A silly songwriter with a bittersweet heart”

Emma Payne is a singer/songwriter and actor based in NYC. They received their BA in theatre from Fordham University, and then decided to pivot and focus more on music and songwriting. Emma's debut EP is coming out 12/19, and they are bewildered and so excited to have their work out so soon. They also in a past life studied movement and clown in Italy and now teach a movement class every month! Link to class is in their Instagram bio.

Instagram

“There is no such thing as oversharing”

Born and raised in NYC, I grew up acting and performing. I went off to college in Ohio and decided I was too scared to pursue acting so now I work in advertising. Now you can find me writing silly lines for ad campaigns and as part of an adult improv group.

Instagram

“Writing songs about the unsung”

Billy Recce is a Billboard Charting, two-time MAC Award and NEO-Award-winning composer/lyricist, singer/songwriter, and playwright based in NY. His works include the long-running hit A Musical About Star Wars (Off-Broadway), Balloon Boy (NYMF), Rachel Unraveled (BroadwayWorld), and his sold-out Snowflake Songbook series (54 Below and beyond). His debut album, “The Perks of Being a Snowflake” is on iTunes and Spotify. His latest release, the billboard charting concept album “Little Black Book” features 11 Broadway Legends stepping into the shoes of Hollywood Madam Heidi Fleiss and is available on Broadway Records. Proud member of ASCAP and graduate of Fordham University.

Website | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube

“The dancer defines the space”

Ana Sofia Reynoso was born in Morelia Mexico. She spent her childhood living between urban and rural spaces in her native Mexico and tries to bring both influences to her life in the states. She began her dance training at the age of 16 and studied at The Joffrey Ballet School as a classical ballet trainee for three years before completing her studies at The Ailey School. Her training was further enriched by spending summers studying at The Gelsey Kirkland Ballet School, American Ballet Theatre, Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance, and at many workshops via GALLIM and the Joyce. She has performed performed work by Alvin Ailey, Gregory Dolbashian, Vernard J. Gilmore, Samantha Figgins, Ronald K Brown, Earl Mosely, Merce Cunningham - restaged by Andrea Weber, Fanting Yeh, Robert Joffrey, Gerald Arpino, Africa Guzman and featured roles in many classical ballets as well. Ana Sofia has also been in various indie films, plays, commercials and the TV show This Is Us. Ana Sofia tries to share what has generously been given to her by her teachers and mentors.

Instagram | Website

“Dive into my world of colorful nostalgia!”

Sofia Riley is a San Francisco native who currently resides in New York City. In 2017, Sofia began attending Fordham University studying Visual Arts with a concentration in Painting and Drawing. The program allowed her to solidify her skills as a painter as well as explore new ones, like film photography and collage. As a senior, she partook in Fordham’s Senior Thesis program where she created a body of work that expressed her love of home and bittersweet nostalgia.

As a child the phrase Sofia used most was “I’m making something!” She loved the way she saw the world and wanted to record every moment of it in the only way she knew how. Whether it was painting, drawing or taking too many nature photos in the backyard, Sofia was always creating. As a recent graduate, she continues to experiment with a variety of mediums, themes and media. Sofia still sees the world as tiny moments of magic and creates her work to remind us of just that.

Instagram | Website

“What if you could have everything you ever wanted?”

Elly Rodgers is a Brooklyn-based digital illustrator, textile artist, and occasional animator. In her illustrative work, Elly explores consumerism, world-building, and the relational aesthetics of platonic and romantic love. Select clients include The New York Times, ACLU, Google, The Washington Post, and NBC News. Elly's textile work is a celebration of color and serves as a love letter to her family and friends. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts from Columbia University.

Website | Instagram

"ethereal, abundant, resonant and powerful - creating music to feel and heal"

Anusha Savi is a power pop artist/songwriter who creates ethereal & enchanting songs. She bridges the gap between her Indian heritage and mainstream music world by blending her Carnatic training in South Asian classical music with her love of soul & pop to create a uniquely global alt-pop sound. Raised in the Bay Area and based in Los Angeles, Anusha Savi is a Tamil-American woman whose goal in music is to empower young women, like herself, through healing music that is honest, uplifting, and timeless. She recently released her debut EP “Marigold” and remix EP “Marigold: The Bazaar Edit” after a whirlwind year of creative incubation under the mentorship of iconic production duo Stargate. Her latest release, "Follow Me", will get you dancing on your feet.

In June of 2022, Anusha Savi graduated from LAAMP, a year-long songwriting and production program in Los Angeles founded by multi-Grammy award-winning producer duo "Stargate". Anusha continues to be mentored under Stargate, and has worked with industry legends such as Emily Warren, Cirkut, Ne-Yo, Justin Tranter, and John Cunningham to name a few. With incredible catalog of unreleased songs, Anusha Savi is an artist to watch out for.

Instagram | Website | Spotify | YouTube | TikTok

“These images are old, found memories. Created to substitute a past life that could have been. In my body of work, I have sought to weave an perpetual thread between family, heritage, and civic engagement (or lack thereof).”

Matthew Scheffler (b. 1996) is an artist and photographer. Past work includes "His Father's Castle, His Mother's Glory (2020), "Cyanotype #4" (2020), and "Heliographs" (2019)

Instagram

“a window into a weirder, queerer, more colorful dimension”

Bryant Skinny is a painter and filmmaker originally from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He moved to Los Angeles in 2020, making the decision after a particularly potent psychedelic trip, and has been pursuing his filmmaking dreams while nurturing and advancing his artistic voice through painting.

Instagram (Personal) | Instagram (Art)

“Little writer boy doing his best to not do his worst”

From Texas, not of Texas (yes, there’s a difference), Jason Tyus Smith is here to do his absolute best to not do his absolute worst. Creative has always been his passion, save for a moment where he wanted to be an oceanographer.

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“Sexy, ugly, and HOT and fashionable”

Starlina Sublime (Brett Morachnick) is a performer and writer in Los Angeles of 5 years. Upon graduating USC’s School of Dramatic Arts, where they received the Jack Nicholson Award for Outstanding Performance, acting credits include Student #3 on American Crime Story, the “Platonic BFF” on American Horror Story, and “Gender Expansive Friend” in various corporate ad campaigns. Their latest career highlight: “there were many entertainers tonight, but there was only one Beyoncé” from Mo Heart of RuPaul’s Drag Race. As an over-the-top drag performer, Brett enjoys anything irreverent, opulent, and impractical, traits that brought their award-winning solo drag show HOT STUFF to the 2022 Hollywood Fringe Festival and fueled a life committed to bending the rules.

Instagram (Starlina) | Instagram (Brett) | Website

"A multimedia artist who questions her reality with image and space."

Claire A. Talbott is a Brooklyn-based video and projection designer. Recent work includes the 2022 League of Legends World Championship Opening Ceremony (Comp Artist, Possible Productions), Justin Bieber's JUSTICE International Arena Tour (Comp Artist, Possible Productions), Kidz Bop LIVE! (Animator, FragmentNine), Dear Mom, Sorry For Being A Bitch (Projection Designer, Soho Playhouse) Quills Fest (3D artist, Oregon Shakespeare Festival), and Geraldine Realigned (Projection Design, The Brick). In addition to projection design/animation, Claire is a director, graphic designer, and installation artist

Instagram | Website

"In hope of provoking an emergence within your heart"

Manatsu Tanaka is a bicultural multi-disciplinary artist who grew up and has been performing in both Japan and the US. Having had that “always in between places”, they utilize that sense as an opportunity to create a prism effect through their creative practices, hoping to offer new perspectives. They are drawn into illustrating humanness through their physical canvas. At the core of their heart, Manatsu is committed to using their creativity and artistry to join the frontline of trans and gender non-conforming artists in the dance and theater world.

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“Living through creative mediums”

Nyani Totty is a self-taught painter. During the pandemic, she started honing the skill and turned it into a small side hustle. Painting and drawing have always been a small passion but never a main focus. Nyani is an actress and performer who has found comfort in expressing herself through all types of creative mediums.

Instagram | Youtube

“We are all part of an ever-unfolding cosmic story, and the Universe is at play!”

Tristan Turner is an actor/writer/singer based in Los Angeles, CA. He received his Master’s degree in Acting from the University of California, Irvine in 2020, and has a BA in Theater Arts from the University of Northern Colorado. In exchange for free acting lessons, Tristan learned guitar from a fellow student at UCI, and fell into an artistic binge during quarantine. Though his true passion is on screen and on stage, music has been and will always be the channel through which his inspiration comes. In 2022, he released his first song “In Between” under the alias HUDO, an homage to his mother’s ancestry. Since then he has released two more songs, though many lie in wait. He has made an appearance on All-American on the CW, and just recently aired on Fox Network’s I Can See Your Voice, where he got the chance to sing on National TV! He is incredibly honored and thankful for the opportunity to display his talents with the Salon and feels so blessed to make his first ever live appearance with his original music.

Instagram | Spotify

"Just two Virgos who cannot watch television without a craft in hand"

Sophie Dawson is a writer, collage artist, jewelry designer, and vintage collector living in Los Angeles, CA. She holds a BA from Fordham University at Lincoln Center and an MFA in screenwriting from UCLA. She is also a queer ex-Mormon, and her work, whether it’s a feature length screenplay or bits of paper glued together, explores the intersections of queerness, systems of belief, and femininity- or lack thereof.

Alex Courides is a crochet artist, jewelry designer, and music and film industry professional living in Los Angeles, CA. She holds a BA from Fordham University at Lincoln Center. She sources materials from all over the world, from small businesses to fashion district wholesalers to independent sheep ranches, and finds fulfillment in creating meaningful handmade pieces for others.

Instagram | Etsy

“Passionate Storyteller of a Curious Nature”

Emmy Wildermuth is a New York City based freelance artist. Currently, Emmy is a member of companies including Kizuna Dance, NewBrese Dance, and rogue wave. Additionally Emmy has presented work in New York City at Arts On Site, TADA! Theater, and Mark Morris Dance Center. Emmy and her artistic partner, Catherine Messina, founded the unKEMpT Dance Festival, with a mission to provide performance opportunities for artists, regardless of background or resources. She continues to choreograph, edit, and produce dance films and staged choreographic works that inspire others to view the world through a redefined lens.

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“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But when I became a man, I put away childish things. Life comes in phases and every phase of life pushes you to get closer to change. My music serves as an audiobook encompassing those experiences and detailing the intersectionality of growth required to stay true to yourself yet reach your higher self through change”

Woodah is a Winston-Salem, North Carolina native. Started rapping at the age of 12 on lunchroom tables. From unmixed SoundCloud releases to currently having three albums and 2 mixtapes available on Apple Music/Spotify, Woodah's early music catalog has been done in close friends' closets and bedroom studios. A hustle that first started as a hobby has blown into a full-blown passion project, allowing Woodah to connect with producers, artists, and creatives all over the world.

Website | Instagram

“Trying to find the perfect mood lighting and make art about how it makes me feel”

Jane is an NYC-based artist with a BFA in Classical Acting from Southern Utah University. She loves art in about every form - illustration, design, installation, and sculpture - you name it. Since 2020, she's brought her own unique voice to the marketing team of Egg & Spoon a nonprofit Theatre Collective based in New York. Most recently Jane has been pursuing her interest in Gallery work and worked as the gallery assistant at a contemporary fine art gallery in Chelsea, NYC. She is so excited to be a part of The Village and cannot wait to share what she's working on.

Website | Instagram | Patreon | Etsy

“Invoking speculative and feminist interpretations of Confucian ideals and ancestor worship in ceramic and block print work”

Born and educated in the United States, Emily B. Yang's artistic practice is inspired by traditional Chinese porcelain longevity motifs and their evolution as they migrated with the diaspora. In her work, she researches how Chinese immigrants adapted existing symbols and invented symbols over time to tell stories of their new contexts. Her own family migrated from China to Taiwan, Malaysia, and the United States over several generations—a story shared by many in the diaspora as they escaped economic hardship. Each migration led to a new multicultural design language and identity.

Having studied design and ceramics at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, Emily's work references principles of speculative design—imagining possible futures and designing for preferable ones. During block printing residencies in Jaipur, India, she intersected her speculative approach with traditional woodblock carving. While referencing familiar motifs from Chinese porcelain, combining them with new imagined symbols and old family photographs, she also invokes a speculative feminist interpretation of Confucian ideals and ancestor worship in her ceramic and block print work.

Instagram | Website

“How can I reject surrealism if there’s a Circle K on my ancestral land?”

When I go to sleep I return to lands unseen to my awoken state - but that means my awoken state sees lands my dream state misses. So then, I am consistently alive? So that means historical lands and modern lands also can exist in the same life - I hope my art can discuss that with you

Website | Instagram