Two little gals traveled all the way from the Big Apple to uncharted territory- Brooklyn. Why you ask? EX LOCUM founder, Ana Krutchinsky, and I were venturing to an art gallery hosted by NYC-based student run production company, Rascal Arts. Rascal Arts is overflowing with talent, from actors to designers to producers to visual artists; they are forging a path for young artists to fearlessly break the rules and create on their own terms.

The gallery was held at The Shoestring Press and featured a medley of original art/poetry by company members and submissions from outside artists. The work was utterly powerful and thought provoking as it touched on subjects such as police brutality, terrorism, and well, human nature in general. The work oozed with a common thread, one that we often try to shield ourselves from in order to keep from getting hurt-love. The theme of love was undeniable. It heavily influenced the essence of the entire event. Everyone was truly thrilled to be there. They were there for the love of art and poetry, the love of the jazz music playing in the background, the love for their friends who had orchestrated such a wonderful event, and of course the love of free food!

I was lucky enough to snag Rascal Arts member, Paige Simunovich, for a hot second to ask her a few questions about the mission of the gallery and Rascal Art’s itself. She highlighted an idea that many people often forget as we try to figure out how we want to spend the rest of our lives at the lovely age of 18. She said, “ There are buckets of talented artists who go unrecognized because it’s not their main thing, but you can be a visual artist who also does theater or fashion or science. You aren’t limited to just one path.” She also emphasized the idea that the beauty of art is that it’s tangible. Anyone can learn, it just takes exorbitant amounts of hard work, and falling on your face a few times, until you reach that magical moment when everything clicks.

Rascal Arts is undoubtedly on the rise so watch out for their future events and don’t be afraid to create, even if it isn’t your “main thing.”

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287 Spring Street. What happened at this address a few weeks ago wholeheartedly encompassed the mission of EX LOCUM. This is where music collective “Rhetorical Intentions,” comprised of some familiar faces like Imperial Chambers, XG, Jet Commander, Mara Uriah, and other additions such as Chvse and Squid, hosted an electrifying show. The group energetically performed their original music as the crowd wildly cheered and bounced along. The atmosphere honestly
cannot be described by a word other than “Lit.”

The walls were covered in innovative artwork by our very own resident poet, Emile Ravenet, and every detail of the performance was caught on camera by Bernard Scudder. These various art forms dramatically collided to create an
exhilarating experience.

Each audience member joined together in support of these young artists who left everything they had on that stage. It was utterly raw and real. Majority of the crowd had not known one another prior to that night, but I am 100 percent sure not a single person felt “out of place.” 287 Spring Street is just an address, but these artists instilled it with life and vivacity. Be sure to give them a listen, and look out for their future shows because it truly was a night to remember.

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I’m sipping away at my morning coffee forcing myself to stay awake after a long night of monotonously staring at my computer screen as I scrambled to finish my college apps. I’m at my favorite coffee shop – Frisson Espresso. It’s one of those places that does latte art, but isn’t pretentious about it. Unlike majority of bitter Starbucks barista’s they make you smile from ear to ear in the morn’. My friends and I often equate it to “Central Perk.” As I’m sitting there, I overhear the barista talking about how he is on the hunt for a new resident artist. The work displayed at Frisson is always quite darling, but suddenly it all clicks. Ana Krutchinsky, Exlocum founder and one of my dearest friends, would be more than perfect for the position. She had just finished a series of paintings portraying the Seven Deadly Sins. I texted her at the speed of light. Long story short: you can now catch two of her glorious paintings hanging front and center at Frisson! She’s already received multiple offers from potential buyers so hurry fast! Drop everything! Literally run! This is not a drill!

Moral of the story is that connections are important. Things happen when you least expect them so be kind to all, even the folks who make your morning coffee.

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“To me the idea of a Masterclass is rather silly because one can never truly be a

master at their craft; the idea is to continuously grow” – David Schwimmer

 

Ironically enough, today students of the Waterwell Drama Program at the Professional Performing Arts School in NYC were fortunate enough to participate in a Masterclass with iconic actor, writer, director, and producer, Mr. David Schwimmer. Prior to his arrival, audience members chattered excitedly about getting to meet THE “Ross” and tossed out ideas of greeting him with the clap from the classic Friends theme song. However, throughout the discussion Schwimmer proved to be far more than just a character on everyone’s favorite sitcom. He has been an avid creator and contributor to the artistic community since he was a child.

Upon his graduation from Northwestern University, Schwimmer founded Lookingglass, a Chicago based theatre company which has thrived for more than 20 years. Art is constantly used as a mirror to reflect the human experience, so the title “Lookingglass” is extraordinarily fitting. Schwimmer has continuously honored this notion by exploring themes such as race, sexual abuse, and workers rights. He stressed the idea that as artists we have to make time for things that will keep us fulfilled. Sometimes it is necessary to compartmentalize what feels like work and that is okay. Friends filmed for eight moths out of every year, but Schwimmer returned to Chicago to participate in Lookingglass for the remaining four months. He stated, “Collaborating with Lookingglass is what kept me sane.”

When asked about a piece of advice he would give to his younger self, after a few moments of intense thought he said, “Be persistent in doing what makes you happy and immerse yourself in gratitude.” As humans we tend to fall down a path of cynicism. It is imperative to remember that in order to create art that has a positive impact on the world we too must engulf ourselves in positivity. When you come to a crossroad between cynicism and positivity remember the mountains of things you have to be grateful for; because trust me there are mountains of them even if they seem trivial. Allow your gratitude to fuel the message you want to convey, and whether it leads you to a 10 year long running sitcom or a one night only adaptation of some play you read ages ago- it will be worth it.

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According to Merriam-Webster the definition of déjà vu “is a tedious familiarity.” A
few days ago I experienced this sensation of familiarity, however it was anything but
tedious. A few summers ago some recognizable Exlocum artists Tia McDonald, Brielle Webb, Logan Riley Bruner, Jason Wilks, Ana Krutchinsky, and myself had the opportunity to study Shakespeare abroad in England with the British American Drama Academy (BADA). The experience was quite the special one. If we’re keeping up with the whole French theme it had a certain “je ne sais quoi.” We came back with new perspectives on Shakespeare, life abroad, and the entirety of theater itself.

At BADA we had the pleasure of working with Ian Wooldridge. Ian is a tremendously experienced teacher, not to mention has no trouble drawing his students in with a classic British accent. Well… last week Ana, Jason, Brielle, and I had to do a double take. We participated in a carbon copy of the monologue workshop we had done with Ian overseas just a few summers earlier in our very own acting class at the one, the only, Professional Performing Arts School. We arrived nervous, giddy, and swagged out in our Oxford University sweatshirts. We each presented our monologues along with our fellow PPAS classmates. Ian was reiterating facts and ideas that he had taught when we were in England. However, the experience could not have been more different. As artists we tend to obsess over whether or not we are growing, getting better, or “learning talent.” The workshop with Ian helped me to realize that growth happens naturally over time. A watched pot never boils. The Jason Wilks that got up to deliver a bone-chilling Angelo from Measure for Measure is not the same Jason that played the Friar from Romeo and Juliet in that stuffy BADA rehearsal room just a short while ago. Artistic development happens naturally as we evolve as people. So next time you feel like you’re trapped in the same patterns and habits; whether it be a monologue, song, painting series, etc. Remember that change doesn’t happen over night. It takes time and sometimes a little déjà vu.

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Power, lust, and oh so much blood. Intrigued? Well, get ready because Oscar Connelly is directing an entirely student run production of Shakespeare’s most iconic play, Macbeth. The cast is an extremely diverse group of students representing multiple grades and majors at The Professional Performing Arts School. We kicked off rehearsals a few days ago with a read through of the play. The energy in the room was indescribable. Everyone was overflowing with ideas of how to make this production one for the books. Someone once told me, “A director is the person who loves the play more then anyone else in the room.” This statement could not be more true of Oscar. It is extraordinarily evident that his mind is constantly focused on the world of Macbeth. With a director that has such a strong passion for the play, it is impossible for the cast not to feel the same. Today I had my first rehearsal as the Witch. Full transparency, I was nervous. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to live up to the outstanding ideas Oscar has for the character. However all my worries quickly faded away when we began. It’s a wonderfully safe environment that gives you the freedom to be brave and make bold choices. Look out for more posts about the rehearsal process, kickstarter, and performance dates! I am brimming with excitement to continue working with such an incredible group of people tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow…

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“We need to do a show.” These are the words of Isabella Bustamante, founder and director of http://www.teenartsalon.com/. Teen Art Salon is an arts platform based in NYC that gives young people the opportunity to create, learn, and share ideas outside of a classroom setting. I got a chance to chat with Isabella at the inaugural Teen Art Salon exhibition, “Juvenilia”. The exhibit featured the work of more than twenty artists and poets between the ages of 13 and 19. The gallery was nothing short of incredible. It presented a wide range of art including digital, photography, poetry, film, paintings, and sketches. (Not to mention literally the best lemonade I’ve ever had in my life). The art touched on themes that strive to “defy the two dimensional portrayal of contemporary youth.” This mission is extraordinarily important. So often adolescents are written off as being overdramatic and ungrateful. We are encouraged to follow our dreams while at the same time being scolded for not conforming to societal standards. Isabella spoke to this by saying her goal is “to celebrate inspiring, dedicated young people.” These are the people that deserve to be celebrated for their astounding creativity. The exhibit was equivalent to one that could have been featured at MoMA or The Whitney. The atmosphere of the gallery was electric. Creativity was sizzling through the space! I got to talk to two of the other attendees, Alex and Carson. They also happened to be artists exploding with creativity and had undeniably the grooviest rainbow hair. When talking about her creative process Carson didn’t miss a beat saying, “Well I sleep a lot; then I wakeup and everything is so much clearer.” Honestly this speaks to me on a spiritual level. When we stop stressing and let ourselves just be present in the moment everything flows so much more naturally, whether it be a painting or pre-calc homework. Similarly to EX LOCUM, the Teen Art Salon is a safe place for young artists to go when they feel like outsiders in their own world. Isabella was right- they needed to do a show

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Always be ready for anything. That’s probably the main thing I learned while working on the pilot episode of Falling From Grace, written by the amazingly talented Logan Riley Bruner and Jacob Wade. It was midnight on a Sunday when Logan asked me if I could be a part of the project. Literal crazytown! By Tuesday I was playing the extraordinarily complex character of Grace alongside a cast of insanely fantastic individuals (Including familiar faces: Oscar Connelly, Peter Santiago, Jeremy Vance Suarez, and the founder of EX LOCUM Ana Krutchinsky). My costume for the first day of filming was sopping wet hair and a ridiculously heavy sweatshirt in 90-degree weather. Like I said, being ready for anything is a must.

The series deals with some pretty serious topics that you ordinarily wouldn’t want to talk, or even think about. However, it’s our job as artists to face issues like these head on, to put them under a microscope for the rest of the world to see. If we don’t shed a light on them, who will? That’s the beauty of art. It helps you to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Shooting Falling From Grace was undeniably a wonderful experience. Everyone involved made me feel so unbelievably comfortable even if I had only met them five minutes earlier. It was filled with endless laughter, singing, dancing, apple juice, and oregano. Prepare yourselves for some killer bloopers.

Money is a thing so promote some good karma and check out the Kickstarter Campaign! We will repay you with endless smiles and hopefully more projects like this one! Get your popcorn ready because the first episode of Falling From Grace comes out soon.

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“Ex locum” is the Latin term for “Out of place.” This website is for anyone who has ever felt or feels as though they are on the outside looking in. We all have moments where we feel like no one can understand what we’re going through. This is a place to celebrate those moments because they help shape us into the extraordinarily interesting people we are meant to become. As artists we have a unique opportunity to connect with a community of people who understand the struggles we face every day. The endless hours spent wondering if we’ll ever be good enough, drinking countless cups of coffee to stay awake during rehearsals, or getting writers block before finishing the last verse of a song. Its our job to support those who are feeling lost in this “concrete jungle where dreams are made of ,” so that the great moments can feel even more unbelievably fantastic. The moment you finish your first short film, absolutely nailing a turn sequence you practiced for what felt like years, or when the first show you ever directed gets a standing ovation. Moments like that help you remember that it’s all worth it. This website is to help remind you that as an artist there is no such thing as loneliness because we are all right there with you whether your feeling as confident as Kanye or as lost as Sharpay when she didn’t get the lead in High School Musical. So cheers to celebrating your wildness and originality because even if you feel out of place there surely will be a place for you here.

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