"The word "busk" comes from the Spanish root word "buscar", meaning "to seek" – buskers are literally seeking fame and fortune. The term "busking" was first noted in the English language around the middle 1860s in Great Britain. Up until the 20th century buskers were commonly called minstrels in America, Europe and other English-speaking lands." -Wikipedia
I have just started a project on Kickstarter. For those of you who have never heard of it, Kickstarter is an online venue for funding of creative projects. You'll find anything from films to boardgames on the site at various levels of funding. It is an all or nothing proposition. I decide how much it will take to complete the project and the project only gets funded if that goal is reached. There are rewards set up based on the amounts pledged. Here is the video I did, explaining a little about the project.
Simply put, I would like to self publish a photography book about the buskers or street performers and artists in New York City. I know... not another book about NYC. But yes, it’s another book. Only I think I have a pretty cool angle.
My vision for the book is a photo book about the people and cultures in the city and the way they share it on the streets and in the subways. From the pianist who brings his piano down to the 4,5,6 platform on a dolly and the electric violin player who performs like a rock-star in a giant arena at Union Square to the street artist at the City Hall Park who creates amazing cityscapes using nothing but cardboard, a putty-knife and spray-paint. These are all people who are sharing their art and, in some cases, make a living with it. I will tell their stories, mostly in pictures, but I will also include a little background about many of the people I photograph.
I will post updates and some of the shots I get on this site and also the Kickstarter page just to give everyone a preview. There are lots of cool rewards including prints, the book, a limited edition box of 11 prints, a portrait session and even design services. So please check it out at Kickstarter and make a pledge to help make it happen.
Thanks.
