What are you inspired by?

We asked some of the most inspiring folks we know to tell us what they are inspired by.

Jordan Segal | Artist and Educator

My work is very personal, drawing heavily from my life. Much of my work channels my experience with grief and disease, such as my mom’s battle with cancer and untimely death, my experience growing up near the World Trade Center post-9/11, and my adolescent struggles. These experiences are a constant reminder of how fragile the body is and that death is always around the corner, which I process through art. Despite these realities, art is a powerful way to digest my thoughts and emotions and help others feel more resilient. My sculptures and paintings manifest these topics through often disconcerting representations of the body. Read more>>

Caja Pearson | Young choreographer & dancer

Inspiration is a complex and personal experience that can take on various forms. As for me, I have found that my inspiration never comes from a single source. Instead, it is a culmination of external factors that fuel my creativity and drive me to pursue my goals. These sources of inspiration can range from observing an exceptionally talented artist at work to spending quality time with loved ones who support and encourage me. However, if there is one person who has been my constant source of inspiration, it is my sister. She has been there for me since the beginning, encouraging me to pursue my dreams and to never give up. Her unwavering support has been the backbone of my passion for what I do, and she continues to inspire me every day. Read more>>

Gregory Shark | Filmmaker

I am inspired by morning coffee, erosion, American servicemen, nature and diners. I appreciate the poetry and prose of Allen Ginsberg, Walt Whitman, David Wojnarowicz, Trisha Lowe and Saint John of the Cross, as well as the Incoherency Manifesto of Bertrand Mandico. I admire the film scores composed by Piero Piccioni, Piero Umiliani and Peter Thomas. I admire the films of Rod Serling, Jordan Peele, Gregg Araki, Yorgos Lanthimos, Gus Van Sant and David Lynch and the risk-taking tendencies that these filmmakers have. I know that you need things to be shaken up for your life to change, so risk is needed. When it comes to my own filmmaking, I just want to make a film that becomes a bit of a relic, an object, like a supposedly cursed limited print of a film that a bunch of kids stay up late to watch during a winter storm. Read more>>

Chris Murphy | Musician/ Violinist / Songwriter

art , laughter , grace , passion , quality, emotion , beauty, miles davis , werner herzog , andy goldsworthy , van morrison , daniel day-lewis , brompton folding bikes , antony bourdain , raymond carver , david lindley , japanese haiku, food trucks , timelessness, people who care about what they do , travel Read more>>