Armand Ruhlman

Bio

A native of New Orleans. Studied Business and then Graduate Studies in Theater/FilmMaking at The University of New Orleans. Currently, a writer, photographer and a FilmMaker, with particular emphasis on the East Village, through the use of both abstract and documentary photography.

Artist Statement

I work out of my cave in the East Village. Living in the East Village since the 1980's. One of my recent short films, entitled, "Downtown Shadows, was an official selection of the New York Short Film Festival.

I have created a number of Film/Video projects (which have been official selections in festivals) and have performed excerpts of my writing at various venues in the city. I’ve produced, directed, and performed in a number of my theater/performance art pieces at La Mama and other venues in downtown Manhattan. Besides New Orleans, I have lived in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, CA, Paris, and Marseilles, France. This included time writing various text pieces in a crumbling garret overlooking the rooftops of the historic Bastille district in Paris.

My work revolves around three distinct areas: Writing, FilmMaking, and Photography. My writing has been influenced by Tennessee Williams, Samuel Beckett, Joseph Heller, and George Orwell. My FilmMaking has been influenced by Bergman, Fellini, and Antonioni. In addition to absurdest drama and humor in my writing, my FilmMaking is also focused on protecting and maintaining one's local community and neighborhood.

Living in New Orleans offered a grassroots education in the city's historic preservation efforts - and an appreciation for the city's cultural legacy - beyond its incredible musical history. This importance of protecting and nurturing a local community/neighborhood carried over to living and working in the East Village - which has been continually threatened by powerful, well-connected interests seeking to transform the area from a place of realness into something much different.

This drama has been the theme of much creative activity. This includes theater and video pieces, writing projects, audio pod casts, and photography - all of it part of an effort to both document what's left of the East Village and call attention to the serious issues that still confront the community.