For me, directing my own writing ties together many of the artistic elements that I've loved my whole life: the written word, choreographed conversation, photorealism, fantasy aesthetic, geometry, palettes, surprise. Before a production, we work tirelessly to prepare the resources, talent, and equipment to portray those elements on the screen-- but this photo highlights what comes after. The in-the-moment joy, silliness, and laughter that comes on set, when the greatest burden of work is behind me, and I can sink into connection with my cast and crew. I don't remember what specifically we were laughing about, but I remember the texture of the day and the bounce between dramatic beauty onscreen and helpless giggles off. -Selena, A Director. 📸: @edballart

I believe everyone is a dancer, and therein lies the magic. Walking is dancing. Running your fingers through your lover's hair is partnering. Waiting in line is choreography. If you look at life through the lens of dance, it can all be quite beautiful. No movement can be too small, too large, too traditional, or too modern...if it is your's. So just dance whenever, wherever, and however you feel like. There, you can find happiness. -Irene, Dancing.

So, naturally, I was sitting at a bar when you asked me about how New York makes me feel. Haha.
And at the end of the night, I ended up walking all the way home from hells kitchen and when I texted a friend to say that I'd made it safely, she laughed and wrote back "only you would walk 45 minutes home in the rain, in February, at midnight". And, it totally got me back to thinking about your question, because my friends all laugh that I’m always wandering. But the truth is, I could just wander New York City forever and ever, because EVERYTHING about it feeds my soul haha.
And, as I was wandering I realized how LUCKY I am to be born here and be able to live here, and take away everything that I have from growing up here. 
Most people are dying to get out of their hometown, all over the country. And here I am, born with new york in my BLOOD. 
And, I thought about all the ways that new york has influenced my life, even the way I speak, the way I walk, the music I listen to, the clothes I wear...and I realized I could NEVER exist anywhere else...I am New York and New York is me.

Katie, A New Yorker.

Whether it's seeing new places we've never been to before or visiting friends of ours who live across the country, it feels great to travel with someone who feels like home. I think it's so important to share new experiences, cultures, food, sights and sounds with the ones you love. It makes me so happy to travel and have those moments in different places that sometimes end up being once in a lifetime. -Danielle, traveling and discovering new adventures with her boyfriend.

Anya is my gateway to creative expression that I might not have as Darian. Anya is a character; a persona from my imagination who can say and do whatever the f*** she wants.

Drag as an experience/lifestyle is more about having a passion project/hobby that lets me exercise the creative juices that constantly flow within me. There are no rules or guidelines with drag; there are no due dates or notes – It’s about what your drag is and what you are trying to achieve with it. 
Before doing drag, I was performative at all hours of the day. I would show up to class in costumes or break out in dance in any room (…not that I don’t do that still haha) but I’ve been able to separate Darian from Anya; fostering both to be as spectacular as either can.

In the words of Megan Bomgaars, “Don’t Limit Me” - Drag is ever evolving and finding new spaces within our society to be a pioneer and make new art. There is so much out there to take in and so many artists at work; so make your mark and PLEASE enjoy yourself. This is DRAG!

It’s my creative adventure.

I have been in the music business for 30 years and I got to work for some really iconic people in bands. And, then last year, I decided I wanted to make hats. And, the universe aligned. I was at a bar at the Bellagio in Vegas, while I was there for some concerts and a chef event. I wound up meeting all of these hat makers, who were sitting at the bar. I wanted to meet them because they loved the music that was playing. So, I went up to them and there was one young guy, and it turned out that he was a hat maker in Berkeley, California. He told me all about his hats and how he was also interested in medicine hats. He told me how he went to the La Khora Indian Reservation and learned about sweat lodges and Native American ceremonial stuff. And, how he went to the Amazon and lived with medicine men down there for six months. He and I just really connected and I don't really understand, even now what happened, other than that it was meant to be. 
He decided, at that moment, that I was a hat maker. He asked me where I was going to be that Saturday and then I asked him, “Where do I need to be”? He told me I needed to be in Berkeley. So, I flew to Berkeley and I met with him and he showed me how to make my first hat from scratch. And, we blessed it. 
If you look at a photograph, historically from 1940 versus now, everyone wore hats. And, every religious discipline from: Buddhism to Muslim to Christianity to Judaism—wore hats. Hats are intrinsic to the spiritual welfare of people. And, part of what I loved about it was that hats are covering. They’re the covering of something that covers your soul. They carry power. They carry comfort. They carry personality. 
I had the chance to work on a cattle ranch when I was 15. And, I think that's where I learned what my hat was needed for. When I was repairing fence, when I was riding-- the hat kept me warm, it kept me dry, and it kept me safe. You know, there was a connection that I made when I was 15 years old with hats, one that I feel like I'm only just now starting to complete. 
Claire, a Hat Maker.

"Getting out of there was crazy...I have a lot of experience doing multi day survival, but this was one of the toughest I've physically ever done. There were no buses and there wasn't a single store in town that could sell me an iPhone charger. So, I couldn't coordinate anything and I was kind of exhausted. I really didn't know what to do, so, I kind of ended up going door-to-door and asking people if they could charge my phone, but everyone there still uses flip phones. And, long story short, I ended up getting referred to a nearby astronomer and his wife. He built his own observatory and is also the former Australian cyclocross champion. They were really nice and fed me dinner and invited me to stay the night, and then gave me breakfast the next day. They told me all about their lives! They ended up giving me a ride to the train station the next day. Life sure is an Adventure". Leo, Thru-Hiking.

"Adventure. Creating. Living Out of My Comfort Zone. Completion. And Never Giving Up". Matt, a Filmmaker, standing by the tree where he wrote his first script.

"Art makes me happy, because it’s an adventure, a therapy and a meditation all wrapped in individual experiences". -Nick. Painting.

"Sewing gives me purpose. Each stitch is a breathe of life. I love making pieces for each member of my family. I let them choose the colors and patterns they like the most, and then I make it for them. I am a mother of 9, so there are always plenty of pieces to be made! 
It's funny though...how after all these years...the once perceived 'little' hobbies in life, are what become the major ones-hobbies that keep you going and loving life". Rita, 98. Sewing.

"At the end of the day, what makes me happy is progress. Each step moves me forward. Although, they're not necessarily the steps I want to take, they are there and I have to take them. It reminds me that life is a journey. And, you have to keep stepping no matter what direction your footprints lead you to".
-Lindsey, 29. Weekend Hikes.