6footBOOM

By Janel Koloski
Theater
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6footBoom

“Taking America’s Temperature one interview at a time.” with Janel Koloski

I’ve always been fascinated by people and their unique narratives.  I am dangerously curious and want to try everything. We only have so many years on this planet, so it’s impossible to try everything unless you are lucky enough to experience a slice of life through candid conversations daily. I’ve hosted for The Travel Channel, NowThis, and Thrillist and fell in love with energetic interactions and the wealth of knowledge you can gain in just a few minutes from interviewing someone.

I’ve been talking to strangers boldly since I was three, so it should be no surprise that I interview random people on the street across America with my show 6footBOOM. The idea started as a joke between my boyfriend and I, and six months later, it blossomed into full production. We roll out a red carpet, stand 6 feet apart, I interview strangers with my 6 ft. boom mic, and he captures it all.  

The questions have been revolving around positive aspects of the pandemic and the city we are interviewing in, but ultimately I want to know what makes the interviewees unique. The goal of the show is to connect people by showcasing different perspectives, personalities and encouraging empathy. If you talk to someone long enough, you will have more in common than you think.

My brother has autism and uniquely communicates with the world.  Many people fear interacting with him because they are unfamiliar with his form of communication.  I’ve spent most of my life guiding my brother to appease social norms and disarm the general public encouraging them to interact and gain understanding. Besides my natural curiosity and bubbly nature, I’ve always had a burning desire for people to connect and have more empathy. Empathy requires much vulnerability and slightly more energy than many individuals are comfortable with, but I genuinely feel it is a cornerstone of human existence. Closing yourself off from people and perspectives you don’t inherently understand limits your life.   You don’t have to put on a cape and save the world.  Empathy is much more straightforward than that. Meet people with an open heart and consider what it would be like for you to experience what they are experiencing.  We are all human and connected, making our way through the epic journey of life. 

Janel Koloski
Janel Koloski

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Karjaka Magazine

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Aleksandr Karjaka
Aleksandr Karjaka
Aleksandr Karjaka came to New York for the music, but stayed for the visuals. As a classically trained musician, he’s had the honor of performing with some of the greatest musicians, and artistic houses, in the world. Often quoted as "Listening through his eyes." he's photographed the lives and stories of thousands of artists of all fields over the years. Here are their KARJAKA portraits.

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