portland photo month.

Portlanders: Did you know that April is Portland Photo Month? Pretty exciting for us in Stumptown.

I'm especially looking forward to Chris McCaw's lecture on Sunday, and have been enjoying 

THEN. NOW. HERE. Don't miss out - check out all of the photography goodness here, here and here.     Hope you have a creative weekend. Oh, and Happy Earth Day too!

Photo: ©Chris McCaw, Sunburned GSP #193(SF Bay), 2007. 8"x10", unique gelatin silver paper negative

29 ways.

A little inspiration for your weekend. Enjoy it!
Found this here.  

joanbird.

Allow me to introduce my dear friend Jody Katopothis. You may recognize her from this sun-drenched evening we shared together. Not only is Jody a dear friend of mine, but she is a devoted artist and dedicated musician. She is now embarking on the exciting journey of creating her first album. To do this, she is asking for a little help from her friends through the use of Kickstarter, self-described as a “new way to fund and follow creativity.” What I love about Kickstarter is that it brings the creative community together; artists helping fellow artists to make things happen. This powerhouse made my husband’s dream a reality, and I am still blown away and forever grateful for the community and support that was created during the process. If you are so inclined, please head on over to see all of the imaginative endeavors at work, including Joanbird’s aspirations.  As friend and artist, Jody has been a huge inspiration to me, making my world that much brighter through her soulful spirit and vibrant song.   Please, have a little listen…

hello 2012.

Hello 2012. I realize that it is towards the end of January, so I may be a bit late to the party, but regardless, Happy New Year to you. It is the first month of 2012, so perhaps I am just fashionably late to welcoming what lies ahead.

I really love this time of year. I love the clean slate and the grand idea of possibility. I crave the feeling I have at the dawn of January. Year after year. Some of you may know that the intention behind starting this blog was to hold me accountable. It helps me take responsibility for my mistakes, as well as noticing my achievements. When I look back, I sometimes cringe, while at other times, I feel grateful for a memory or an experience. I try to embrace those cringeworthy moments, because from that is where growth stems.

The morning of New Year’s Eve, with my first cup of coffee in hand, I sat down to write my resolutions. A Resolution. A promise. A resolve. An intent. A commitment. In the spirit of honesty, 2011 was tough at times, so my resolutions to promote change hold more weight for me this year.  At the risk of sounding dramatic, I do feel a sea change coming on, and the duty to nurture that. I, on a personal and professional level, will be diving deep into R&D (research & development) mode, as a transition is on the horizon. Consequently, it may be a bit quiet here on the home front, as we are hard at work at “renovations” for this particular space. I look forward to resurfacing and the opportunity to share new work and fresh ideas.

Thanks for joining me on my travels. May your 2012 be bright. Onward and upward, yours truly.

polaroid: ann mcgarry

She shoots Polaroids. It’s how she remembers.

You've probably heard me speak of her before: Ann McGarry, The Polaroid Queen. I am happy and proud to announce that this royal friend has a solo show up at Albina Press here in Portland.

In her words, “the photos of Polaroid: Ann McGarry illustrate the last 15 years of my life. Polaroids are my memory, as my actual memory is spotty at best. The photo I took at 3:00 PM on the afternoon the Hollywood Hills were on fire, the day that migraine almost crushed me, beer with an old friend, the heat wave from that one fall…all catalogued and viewed as my visual diary, helping me recall time and space which seem to always elude me.” 

She gives you a glimpse into her world, inviting you in with beauty, humor and wit. I love the way her photographs make me feel by conjuring up a memory, and giving meaning to the mundane. There are just a couple of more days to catch this work in person, so treat yourself to a delicious cup of coffee and get lost in some beautifully crafted photographs. 

All images courtesy of Ann McGarry.   

Albina Press, 5012 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, Oregon 

Closes January 4, 2012.

inspiration.

I found this video through the blog of the talented Ben Blood. Have a listen and leave truly inspired.

hayley barker.

Allow me to introduce my friend and Portland artist, Hayley Barker. Her latest body of work, titled Cathedrals, is now on view at Charles A. Hartman Fine Art. The work is inspired by the diary of Opal Whiteley, which in Hayley’s words, “focuses on her uniquely religious relationship with nature.” In her diary, Opal speaks of "cathedrals" that Hayley describes as “locations in nature that Opal routinely revisits in the text, places where she plays, prays, and performs makeshift rituals.”

Hayley was generous enough to share with me her own “cathedrals” - the sites in her neighborhood of some of her recent paintings. It was so exciting to be in the physical space of her inspiration, breathing more life into the already vital work. This beautiful show comes down June 30th, so please treat yourself and go see this work in the flesh.

Of note, I didn’t realize it until I was editing the film, but I do believe that Hayley’s paintings seeped into my subconscious during the making of some of these photographs. Hayley, thank you for your inspiration, generosity, and for sharing your brilliant work.

To learn more, please visit the gallery's website, Hayley’s website or her blog devoted to this project.

Side note: There is a little project of mine in the works, PDX studio visits, featuring Portland artists on this blog or perhaps a blog all on its own - so please stay tuned.

Please click on the photos to view larger. I think they look nicer that way.

Hayley Barker owns the copyright to all images of the paintings. Painting images courtesy of the artist and Charles A. Hartman Fine Art.

Corey Arnold: Fish-Work Europe.

Please don't miss the opportunity to see the work of Corey Arnold: Fish-Work Europe, now on view. This is the last week of the exhibition and the prints are absolutely luscious in person. He also has a new monograph out, Fish-Work: The Bering Sea, published by Nazraeli Press in association with Charles A. Hartman Fine Art. Signed copies are available. Go enjoy!

(Corey Arnold owns the copyright to all images. Photo courtesy of Charles A. Hartman Fine Art)

catalyst: jody + matty

The weather is turning cold here in Portland, and before hibernation begins, I feel compelled to reminisce in a sun-drenched evening among dear friends that wasn’t too long ago. Even though this kind of warmth feels decades away, it was October sun, which always seems a little bit sweeter before the gray descends. We headed to The Dalles and enjoyed an evening of friendship, music, beauty and late autumn light surrounded by rolling hills. Shooting in an expansive landscape with big skies is something I absolutely love to do and hold dear.  
Late November, I posted a little something about a new project of mine, called cat·a·lyst, where I acknowledge people that have caused some type of change in my life, or perhaps I just want to let you know about these individuals and their artistic talents, share a story, or give thanks.  Allow me to introduce two of my own personal catalysts, Jody and Matty. They are creative powerhouses. Jody and Matty immerse themselves in music, and Jody also creates beautiful, vibrant paintings, and Matty some of the most gorgeous pieces out of wood and metal. 

My first meeting of these two included them bringing over a collection of homegrown vegetables and a warm welcome to my new neighborhood. This first interaction says a lot about them – they are salt of the earth, engaged in their community, and meet newness with open arms. Since then, they have grown from neighbors to kindred spirits, and perhaps without their knowledge, they have been memorable teachers for me. They have taught me how important it is to get back to the roots of things, the value of togetherness, and how life can be rich with artful experiences, all while helping me find the courage to accept the creative lifestyle that I love to live. These soulful songbirds also remind me that especially during difficult times, the small, simple moments – in nature and with others, can be the most precious.

Forgive me for being long-winded. I guess I had a lot to say about these two. I hope you enjoy the photographs from our evening, celebrating their affection for music, nature, friendship and each other. 

(Click on the photos to view larger. I think they look nicer that way). 

To learn more about the premise of this project, please feel free to click here.

To learn more about Jody’s work, please visit here, here or here.

To learn more about Matty’s work, please visit here or here.

Greater Atlanta.

This is the last week to see the gorgeous work of Mark Steinmetz: Greater Atlanta. His work is beautiful, compelling, thoughtful, and not to be missed. The exhibition is on view at Charles A. Hartman Fine Art through June 12, 2010.
(Mark Steinmetz owns the copyright to all images. Photo courtesy of Charles A. Hartman Fine Art)

Drop of Dreams.

Please don't miss the opportunity to see the amazing work of Toshiko Okanoue: Drop of Dreams. The exhibition is on view at Charles A. Hartman Fine Art through May 1, 2010.
(Toshiko Okanoue owns the copyright to all images. Photo courtesy of Charles A. Hartman Fine Art)

O. Winston Link

Please don't miss the opportunity to see the stunning and important work of O. Winston Link: The Last Steam Railroad in America. The exhibition is on view at  Charles A. Hartman Fine Art through March 13, 2010.
(Photo courtesy of Charles A. Hartman Fine Art)