Ariel Slack started attending and volunteering with the Fringe when they were 14 years old and worked their first Front of House job at the festival two years later. They then participated in several shows as a designer and ensemble member, before creating and performing their first solo show in 2022.
2022 was my first year doing a show on my own at Fringe which was very daunting! I was worried I wouldn’t connect with other artists, but I found the opposite was true. It was an enriching experience– I found a community of performers who were excited and passionate about making ‘weird’ art not found elsewhere.
The Fringe opened my mind to how much I can do by myself as an artist. I used to have ideas for art and shows, but I wouldn’t follow through with them because it felt like there was no where I could create my work.
Now when I have an idea for a show I think “oh, I can do this at the Fringe! I can try it, see how it goes, and experiment.” It’s like I eradicated the blocks that prevented me from writing. At the Fringe, I feel supported and encouraged to make more art– even if it’s not ‘perfect.’ Everyone walks in with a mindset of experimentation– not just the artists, but also the audience, techs, and even designers. They all support risk-taking and unusual art that doesn’t have to be ‘polished.’ There’s nowhere else like it.
Find more of Ariel at the following:
Website: https://arielslack.squarespace.com/
Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/arielslack
