We asked insiders and experts from various industries to tell us something they think outsiders are unaware of and we’ve shared a few of those responses below.

Ivan

I grew up in Colombia, South America, where music has a very important role in the community. Folk music is very rich in Colombia and I grew up surrounded by Colombian music and musical activities. I was fortunate to have found a program that offered free music education to kids from low resources communities and there is where I fell in love of the clarinet and music. Read More>>

Amari Morris

I grew up soaking in all forms of media – music, YouTube, movies, anime, TV shows, video games, and books. Since I wasn’t on social media as a kid, I had to find my own ways to get creative. That meant taking the family camcorder to make silly videos, acting out my favorite movies with my siblings, role-playing in the LEGO Batman game with my brother, or just sitting by myself imagining I was inside the games I’d see in the latest issue of Game Informer magazine. Read More>>

Rod Reilly

I learned in my late teens that photography’s ability to stop a single moment in time was an important tool for the way I saw the world. I started from the first time I picked up a camera to photograph people around me to be able to tell a story about why they were important to me. I found photos of people in their environments, people interacting with their environments a creative way to explain what I saw in the world.  Read More>>

Nathaniel Stepney

1. Self-expression and identity

Art allows me to explore and express ideas, emotions, and perspectives that may not fit into words. For many artists, creating is an essential way of understanding themselves and their place in the world.

2. It’s also a desire to connect with others. Art is a form of communication that can move people across cultures and generations. I create with the hope of sparking reflection, dialogue, or shared emotional experiences. Read More>>

Chicago Chris” Buck

I’ve loved tv shows, movies and music videos from an early age. In the 5th grade I went to a party and my friends mom created teams and gave each team a bag with miscellaneous props, we had to use the props and create a scene. I basically directed the scene and we by a unanimous decision WON. That year i was in a commercial as talent, I was the kid that did’nt get adopted. I had an amazing time and at that point I guess I caught the bug, but never knew I would end up a 30+ year set vet. Read More>>