Esscents of Flowers

Description

Meet Ariana

I am a proud East Oakland native. The home of where culture, political awareness and music/arts all intersect. The joy and pain of the city are plastered onto murals that adorn the sides of buildings, shown by the graffiti of varying street artists and stories told by those who have seen the many iterations of Oakland. My roots run deep.

I Love, Love, Love music! I mean… I really, really love it. I am amazed at how instruments and different sounds come together to make a rhythmic beat. I am amazed at how stories are told over these beats. And, even when there are no words, you can still feel the emotion pouring through. Music transports me to another world, a world where I feel the most free.

You know how some people have life champions or someone they label as “their person”? Well, my person was my grandfather. Frank Richard Gilbert was the one from whom I learned the meaning of unconditional love. One of my fondest memories was him teaching me to plant vegetables in his backyard garden. I loved being with him during that time and I believe he was just happy to have someone willing to garden with him. I don’t remember if we talked a lot or at all, I just remember the feeling of the warm sun and his company. In turn, he helped me create my own garden in the backyard of one of my childhood homes. That was probably some of the best corn I have ever had in my life and most likely where I gained my first appreciation of the land we stand on, the land that provides us food and beauty! While he has since passed, I know he visits me from time to time.