Artist+Statements

Ashleigh Bowen:

In my poem, "Her Imagination," I chose to write about music and more specifically my violin. When I start to play, I feel as if I am brought to a new world where everything is lovely and there is always music. In my second poem, "iRun," I wrote about my Leagues meet at Bear Mountain Park when my friend fell down the hill and I followed shortly after. I was angry that I did not break 22 minutes for 3 miles and writing about it made me feel better.

Roodline Cineus: Well, I inspire myself to write poems. I always liked writing short stories, so I finally wanted to show my work.

Dylan Finley:

I wrote this story quite a long time after my grandpa's death and I still remembered just about everything that happened that day, though.

Stevie Guida: I believe that writing is a form of art, so I find the same inspiration for both--an emotion, an idea, a fantasy, reality. I often take a scene from nature or from my life and try to convert it into an artistic form. I am inspired by whatever catches my fancy.

Kara Heuer People inspire me. I love seeing new places and having interesting experiences. All my poems are about my life. These poems are about who I was, who I am and what I will become.

Tory Jason Colors inspire me, as well as the work of other artists. For instance, my painting of the calla lilies was inspired by Picasso.

Karina Kirsanova

I love drawing fantasy. Something that's not in the world. So I drew my favorite fantasy character: a fairy. Fairies remind me of freedom.

Elizabeth Lazo:

As a writer, I am inspired by the people around me that live through love and deal with problems. I use the meaning of objects or nature to express my writing. As I write, I try to explain the love and life and lessons that I have gone through. When I listen to music, I listen to the lyrics and the mood of the singers, and I think about how I can use different meaning to connect with a song. As a poet, my work means a lot to me and when I write, I wouldn't tell anyone about it. Now that people are reading the poems, I am ready to show what I have created.

Susan Li

Life inspires me. Seriously. I just tell the stories I see or the ones I experience through my art. There's not much to it. In my head, I imagine the scene, the secret, the conflict, and then I begin. I don't have any profound messages for the world; whatever pops into my head finds its way onto paper.

Amanda Marshall:

I write when I feel obligated to. If I am upset, happy, or just want to be creative, I sit down and write poems. It's a hobby I recently acquired and have grown to love!

Greg May:

When I wrote this poem, I hoped to put the reader into the mind of a soldier and show the metaphysical impact of war on a soldier.

Aliya Mejias Talia Steinman inspired me to submit my art work. She really persuaded me.

Hayley Napier:

My submission was inspired by the summers I spent in Maryland. The beach felt like a great part of me. It gave me enough details to explain how it made me feel. THe beach is a huge part of my life each summer.

Deirdre Quinn:

My photographs are inspired by memories, because I always want to capture moments so I don't forget them. Each of my pictures has special memories to me.

A.J. Ranzato:

After a huge storm, I saw a fallen tree, knocked down in its entirety. It was a massive, and seemingly indestructible object. I had just experienced the loss of my grandfather and the sheer mass of the tree helped me accept my loss and turn my feelings and realizations into writing.

Stephanie Amanda Rich:

When I write poems or short stories I am inspired by anything that catches my eye or that has affected my life. It depends on what time of the day it is and what I'm doing. I'm most inspired to write at the end of the day because everything has already happened so I know what to write about.

Talia Steinman I am inspired by other artwork and the world around me. I love using colors subjectively and am particularly inspired by Post Impressionists and early modern artwork. Painting is a great outlet for me; it's extremely relaxing. My photographs are generally of whatever is around me, whether it's random objects, people, or my dog, and I like experimenting with angles and lighting.

Fabienne Theard

I don't have a specific inspiration when I draw pictures; it's more a variety. It can be music, daydreams, and/or personal experiences.

Michael Toss

I've always been good at art, ever since I was a little kid. I became obsessed with World War II when I saw T.V. shows like Dogfights, Battle 360, and Band of Brothers. Then I said, "Hey, I want to draw things like that." Then I spent the entire summer drawing the paratrooper.

Aimee Werfel

I was inspired to submit my work from support form classmates and didn't mind showing the public some of my best pieces. I am inspired to make things that I see better (more visually appealing) on paper. My colors enhance my subject and I love seeing my finished piece and feeling the great accomplishment that accompanies the final touch to an extraordinary work of art.

Conor Westphal: Ever since I was little, I loved the ocean and the beach. Plus, the idea of sunset on a beach reminds me of serenity and peace; something much needed in the hectic life I live.

Jen Westphal The myth of Aengus and Caer Ibormeith from Irish Gaelic mythology inspired my poem. In this myth, Aengus - the god of love - is visited by a beautiful apparition. He falls in love, and the spends years following and trying to find her. In the end, he finds her in the lake. Every year she turns into a swan - it's a special random power of hers - and as a result, Aengus must pick her out of a group of about 150 swans. He does, they marry, and live happily ever after. As usual.