Visual Ovation

Art and Life and Difficult Realities

 

 

Sometimes the realities of life weigh heavily.  Difficult decisions must be made, difficult messages must be conveyed.  There is no making it good.  There is no happy ending.   The ability of the artist to represent these difficulties speaks to his or her humanity.  And so I turn to these poignant images, created centuries apart, but in the same place:   Bolzano, Italy.  I find them so touching, so moving.

 

 

And yet...

And yet...

The truth is that sometimes even the humanity of the artist and the poignant beauty of his or her work is not enough to make one feel better.

 

The Beauty of Birthdays

We celebrate a birthday this week.  Some worry that birthdays symbolize the passage of time in a negative way, as leading one step closer to the great unknown.  But for others, having another birthday is a badge of courage, a symbol of resilience, of triumph over the challenges that life can bring.  And that is the case this week.

We could celebrate two numbers.  The first acknowledges the total amount of time on this earth.  We won't say exactly which number it is, but lets just say that when we were younger, we used to think that it was a big number.  As you get closer to it, it doesn't seem that old.  Or perhaps, definitions of what constitutes "old" have changed pretty considerably in our minds (and really, socially and culturally, as well) over time.  This first image is symbolic of that number:  One of Frank's favorite views of his Bavarian mountains.

But then there is the second number.  It is smaller.  Actually, it is only 18.  But in some respects, this is the more important number.  Because it represents 18 years of triumph over illness that was completely unexpected and stunning.  Eighteen years of being reminded that one must seize the day, every day.  Eighteen years of gratitude for the skill and grace and kindness of a collection of medical providers who were life-saving.

The image below is a new favorite of Frank's and it is titled, "Eventually, Calm with Prevail, III."  It is the last of a series of three images that show storm clouds brewing and eventually shifting into calm.  Perhaps the series provides a metaphor for the process of coping with struggles.  We can hope that, eventually, out of the struggle and periods of darkness, calm and light will prevail.

 

 

 

So, this is for Frank.  It is to honor him, his strength, his resilience, his creativity and his courage.  I have immense respect for the way he has found light and calm and grace out of the storm. And it is to honor his birthdays.  Because, just like his images, they both are immensely beautiful.

 

The Beauty of Age

 

We start the new year with an image that acknowledges the beauty that can come from age, from wear and with the passage of time.  Taken in the gorgeous early morning light, this image is from St. Petersburg in Russia.  Called, "After the Revolution," it is one of an ongoing series of images I am developing that honors the beauty of age and aging.  

I suppose I am thinking about all of this more acutely as the new year begins.  And certainly St. Petersburg is a city that lends itself to musings about history, change, art, evolution and revolution.  I love this image because this figure stands tall, a little battered, but still graceful and strong.  The old is behind him, also worn but still standing, providing structure and context.  What will the future bring.....?

 

A Wish for the Season

 

Honoring Anja Niedringhaus: The Power of Photography, Humanity and a Piece of Wheat

So, it is nearly Christmas.  A time of many thoughts and feelings.  A time of good wishes and hopes and time with family.  A time of joy and renewal.

Yet it also is a time of struggle for many because of all the expectations that are generated about the season.  A time of assault from advertising and the push to celebrate by buying and consuming.  Sometimes it is hard to find the grace and humanity in the season.

Ah, so cynical...

So I was touched today to see the images and read the words of an amazing Pulitzer-prize winning war photographer from Germany by the name of Anja Niedringhaus. 

I have never met her, but I think she is a woman of immense grace. 

Her photographic work is breathtaking. 

Her humanity is clear. 

Below is one of Ms. Niedringhaus's images, and a quote from her article about a young wounded Marine she met in Afghanistan, the photographs she took during his medevac out of the field, and her search to find him afterwards.  

In her images and in her words, Ms. Niedringhaus speaks of the courage of Marine Cpl. Burness Britt, his colleagues and his family.  She speaks of hope and hard work and persistence.  She speaks about the power of being joined by a touch and a piece of wheat.  She speaks about the power of human connection.  She speaks about the power of images to heal.  And she reminds me about those completely unplanned incidents that occur sometimes in life that are unexpectedly powerful and life changing. 

To be clear:  The following image and text are copyright 2011 by Anja Niedringhaus.

"Inside the medevac helicopter in Afghanistan, U.S. Marine Cpl.  Burness Britt bleeds profusely from his neck.  He and two other Marines have just been hit by shrapnel, with Britt's injuries the most serious.  The medevac crew chief clutches one of Britt's blood covered hands as he is given oxygen.  I take hold of the other. 

With my free hand, I lift my camera and take some pictures.  I squeeze Britt's hand and he returns the gesture, gripping my palm tighter and tighter until he slips into unconsciousness.  His shirt is ripped, but I notice a piece of wheat stuck to it.  I pluck it off and tuck it away in the pocket of my body armor. 

 In  my 20 years as a photographer, covering conflicts from Bosnia to Gaza to Iraq to Afghanistan, injured civilians and soldiers have passed through my life many times.  None has left a greater impression on me than Britt."

Ms. Niedringhaus works hard to find Cpl. Britt.  He remembers her and they eventually meet.  He is glad to see her and they again join hands.  He asks to see her images.  It seems that to do so is healing for him, perhaps because in a time of war and trauma, her images are reminders about compassion.   And then she gives him the piece of wheat... 

Read the article.  Here is the link:

http://news.yahoo.com/wounded-marine-inspires-ap-photographers-search-160517834.html

I am grateful to Ms Niedringhaus.  In a small way she has reminded me about what is really important at this time of year. 

So I honor her.  I honor her compassion, her skill and her grace.  And I am touched by the power of photography, humanity and a piece of wheat. 

Street Art Memorial - Natasja Saad

 

Street art can take many forms and have many meanings.  Recently, we saw one of the most poignant examples of this from the harbor in Copenhagen.  Alongside the usual collection of initials and names painted on the waterfront retaining wall, we were touched to see this memorial.  We wondered who Natasja (or Little T) might be.  And, of course, because the world really is quite small, a little internet research provided answers.

It turns out that Natasja is Natasja Saad.  She was an up-and-coming Danish rap and reggae artist who lived and began her singing career in Copenhagen.  She died tragically in a car accident in Jamaica in 2007.  Certainly, this brief recitation cannot do justice to who she was as a person or an artist.

The art of the street is, by definition, transient.  Images and text are often on display for only a short time, subsequently partially painted over by other taggers or artists, or sometimes obliterated completely.  Yet, sometimes the art is respected and left in place, as is the case here. 

Ms. Saad is buried in Copenhagen's cemetery for artists, Assistens Kirkegard, in the same company as Hans Christian Anderson and Soren Kierkegaard.  But she also has this informal memorial on the waterfront of her native city.  It is a street art memorial for an artist whose inspiration came from the music of the streets.  How poignant.  How fitting.

 An online memorial to Natasja Saad can be found at this address: 

http://www.myspace.com/tasjamusic

 

World AIDS Day 2011

 

The San Francisco Bay Area was one of the places where the devastation of AIDS was first felt.  It also was one of the places where standards of effective, compassionate care were first developed, and where research and treatment protocols were evaluated and established.

Today I find myself thinking about the many patients with HIV/AIDS and their partners and families with whom I have had the privilege of working over the years.  And I think about my colleagues in clinical and research settings, whose work has been so important and humane. 

It has been amazing to bear witness to the developing understanding of this complicated illness.  Because of the effectiveness of current treatment, AIDS seems like a very different disease than it was 30 years ago.  It used to be a death sentence.  But now, for many in the United States, it has become a manageable, chronic illness.  Still, there are many people in the United States who still suffer, and there are many places in the world where AIDS still ravages communities, and especially communities of women and children. 

So today I think about those who have gone and those who were left behind.  I think about those who still live with AIDS and those who care for them.  To be sure, there have been many positive changes in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS.  But there is still a lot to do in other places in the world.  It is no time to be complacent.  It continues to be important to work aggressively in prevention and treatment efforts both at home and abroad. 

But on this World AIDS Day, there is good reason for hope.    And that is something to celebrate.

Many people in the United States don't know that there is a national memorial dedicated to those whose lives have been touched by AIDS.  It is the beautiful National AIDS Memorial Grove, located in San Francisco.  To find out more information, vist the website:

http://www.aidsmemorial.org/

Giving Thanks

 

 

Giving Thanks

for the little things

like unexpected surprises far away from home.

And for the big things:

Love

Safety

Health

Family

Friends

We are blessed.

 

Happy First Birthday!

 For Larkin

In honor of her

First Birthday!

 

 

"c-a-t!"

 

Out of Control in St. Petersburg

 

So, there we were, in St. Petersburg, Russia, a city that is so very rich historically and  photographically.  We were taking the requisite photographs of the Hermitage and other monuments, and loving every minute of it. 

But, of course, I had my eye out for street art of all sorts.  While walking with our guide, I glanced at the truck that was on my right, parked in the street, and saw this.  I don't really know what to make of it,  the image was only on the door.  But in light of the traffic situation in St. Petersburg, it did make me smile.  Just hang on....

If you know any more about the image, let us know.

 

 

Street Homage to Michael

 

From the artistically amazing Balmy Alley in San Francisco, this painting pays homage to Michael Jackson. 

Here is a close up view -

 

 

Now the verdict has been rendered, perhaps he can finally rest peacefully.

Boo! Boo?

 

Happy Halloween 2011!

 

Street Skulls

Street art + Day of the Dead = some great skull images.  So here are a few.....

From San Francisco:

 

 

From London...

 

 

From St. Petersburg, Russia, a very creative piece of car decoration...

 

 

A closer view of the other side...

 

 

Another image from London...

 

 

and back to San Francisco...

 

 

and finally, a more playful image, also from San Francisco...

 

 

So as the Day of the Dead approaches, lets celebrate those who have passed, those who remain, and the artistic souls who make images that join and delight us, no matter where we live.

Mystery, Beauty and the Day of the Dead

 

We are still thinking about the upcoming Day of the Dead celebrations.  We find these images quite captivating and lovely in a strange sort of way.  The Lady of Death is quite elegantly attired, with lovely jewels, but she gazes at us, waiting...

 The scales of life and death are kept in balance until.....when?

 

 

Death, and those who have passed, remain with us always. 

 

 

We reflect on life and death.  These images remind us about the mystery and beauty of both.

 

Preparing for the Day of the Dead

 

Wandering in the Mission District in San Francisco, on the hunt for street art, it was delightful to find these little sweet treats being prepared for the Day of the Dead.  Because every sugar skull needs a lovely butterfly on its head.  Here are some more...

 

 

And more still, tiny skulls that you could decorate yourself...

 

 

And finally, more abstract ones in another store window...

 

 

So I went to the Mission in search of street art, but I found so much more.    Sweet playfulness and creativity, all in the service of honoring and remembering.   Lovely.

 

Street Portraits

 We have become just captivated with the art of the street.  It all started in Vancouver.  And now we have started looking for it, we are finding it everywhere.  We are also finding places we never would have noticed before.  It is a whole new world out there, and there are many canvases available to be created upon. 

San Francisco is a living art gallery, with some amazing murals, some of which have been formally sanctioned, and some of which have simply emerged.  Photographing street art is meaningful not just because it is a delight to bear witness to amazing images, but also because street art, by definition, can be transient.  Indeed, a piece that we photographed just 3 weeks ago has already been painted over.  And then there is the issue of the names of the artists who create such amazing works under such unusual conditions.  Sometimes the name of the artist is clear, but sometimes pieces seem to appear with no attribution, and even internet research doesn't provide any clues. 

But even if there is a question about who it is who is doing the painting, there should be no question about the creativity and accomplishment of street artists.  The range of styles, the range of imagery - it is marvelous.  Here are a few of our latest favorites from our San Francisco wanderings.  Like the haunting blue lady by artist Mark Bode shown above.

Or the sweet portrait by an unknown artist, found in Lilac Alley...

 

 

And then there are pieces that are stunningly dramatic, like this one that reminds us of a modern Maori warrior, by Desi W.O.M.E.

 

And this one, which we call Fire Eyes (unfortunately we don't know the artist's name)

 

 

And then there is this lovely image, made all the more poignant by the vicissitudes of being outside, which we have called, "Black Tears."  It is part of a mural by Max Ehrman (also known as EON 75) and an artist who we only know as JAE 54...

 

 

So we celebrate the art of the streets and the artists who create there.  Wherever you are, wherever you live, take a closer look down alleys you might not normally notice.  You might be surprised what you find.

Venetian Jewels: Portraits from Carnival in Venice at J. Solar Fine Jewelry

 
 

You may not know this, but Riverfront Art Gallery has an external show program, whereby Riverfront artists join with local businesses to show in their venues.  So we are thrilled to announce that currently we are showing a collection of our Venice performers at simply the most lovely jewelry store in Petaluma, J. Solar Fine Jewelry.

 J Solar Fine Jewelry is a marvelous store with some of the most beautiful and unique hand-crafted gemstone jewelry, fine jewelry and fashion jewelry to be found.  The store also carries unique art works including art glass and two-dimensional pieces.   I will admit, it was a little hard to hang the show efficiently because I kept getting distracted.  It seemed that in each case I passed, there was something special that caught my eye.

This show is called, "Venetian Jewels: Portraits from Carnival in Venice."  We have specially selected images that emphasize the beautiful jewels that are part of many Carnival masks, headdresses and costumes.  Some images in the show have not been shown publicly before, and it is a delight to have them make their debut in such a lovely setting.  "Red Velvet Romance," shown above, is one of our debut performers. 

Since the trees are turning to the rich colors of Autumn, we selected the beautiful "Autumn Velvet" to make her debut at this show, as well... 

 

 
 
And finally, because sometimes the most beautiful jewelry is spare and classic, we introduce to you another performer making her debut, "It's All About the Jewels II."  A simple line of elegant pearls and a gorgeous ring is all this performer needs to look stunning...

 

 

At Riverfront, our Venetian performers have become simply known as "The Ladies."  Of course, we are not exactly sure that the performers are all women, and that is one of the marvelous mysteries of Carnival - we do not know the identities of those behind the mask.  But perhaps because they are so beautiful, we assume they must be female.  At any rate, the Ladies are just delighted to be placed in such a lovely setting.  They feel that they fit in perfectly, and we do, too.

We hope you will stop by and enjoy the beautiful and unique jewelry at J Solar Fine Jewelry and visit our lovely Ladies, as well.  For more information about this marvelous store, visit their website:  www.jsolarfinejewelry.com



Honoring Steve Jobs

 

"Don't let the noise of others opinions drown out your inner voice.  And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and your intuition." 

 

"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.  And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.  If you haven't found it yet, keep looking." 

 

Steve Jobs

1955-2011 by calendar years

timeless by his effect on the world

Hanging Days at Riverfront Art Gallery

 
 

It is that marvelous time again:  Hanging days at the Gallery.  Yep, time to turn up the Gallery sound system, get out the hammer and level, move images into new spaces and get ready for a new cycle of creativity to be revealed.  This show cycle, there are 4 featured artists and their work looks marvelous.  A little taste is revealed in the postcard above. 

Partners Mayr McLean and Rhen August Benson captivate us with their soft, elegant and quietly beautiful collections called, "Soft Focus."  Mayr is showing images of trees in fog and Rhen's images are a collection of delphiniums softly moving in the breeze.  All the images have been printed in small sizes, and the effect on the wall is that of a series of soft, delicate little gems.  Their work comes from an appreciation of the simple beauty that surrounds them, and from their open and grounded ways of being in the world.

Amber Reumann Engfer's work is captivating for a completely different reason.  She utilizes non-traditional photographic techniques which result in images that have a ghostly, almost x-ray-like quality to them.  The color tones are fascinating too, ranging from a sepia toned soft purple to rich blues and tans.  Framed in distressed wooden frames to enhance the organic feel of the images, they draw you in and make you want to look even deeper.   Amber's work is quite unique, extremely creative and demonstrates both a strength and delicacy that seems to reflect something deep about who she is as a person.

And, last but not least, there is the work of the extraordinarily talented young photographer, Craig Melville.   At age 20 he has the eye and technical skills of a much more seasoned artist.  In this show Craig presents images of his San Francisco muse, the Golden Gate Bridge.  They are, quite simply, breathtaking.  Trust us, you have not seen the lovely bridge looking quite this lovely before.  Craig is a quiet and quite unassuming young man, but he says all he needs to say about being an artist in his work. 

Of course, we are excited about our own work, too.  Frank is continuing to show a group of abstracts from his beautiful collection, "Water Sorcery."  I am showing a small collection of emotionally evocative portraits of women from the Vancouver Alley Street Art series. 

We continue to be thrilled to join our colleagues at Riverfront.  We are particularly delighted to be in the same company as the four artists who are featured this cycle.  The show opening reception is this Saturday, September 17th, from 5PM to 9PM.  We hope you will join us in celebrating this new show cycle, and particularly the creative visions of Mayr, Rhen, Amber and Craig.   To see more of their work, and the work of other artists in the gallery, visit the Riverfront At Gallery website: 

 www.riverfrontartgallery.com.

 

 

In Remembrance

 

A tower of roses

In honor

In remembrance

 

We Are Cruisin' at Towers Gallery

 

 

Tomorrow is the official opening reception for the newest show at Towers Gallery, called "Cruisin' at Towers Gallery."  The reception is timed to coincide with two great events in Cloverdale:  The 18th Annual Car and Motorcycle Show, Cruise and Sock Hop (today and tonight), and the Annual Car and Motorcycle Show on North Cloverdale Boulevard (tomorrow).  Not surprisingly, the focus of this show at Towers is images of cars and motorcycles. 

We have a joint show for this event, which we have called "The Art of Excitement." We decided to celebrate a particularly exciting mode of transportation:  The motorcycle.  But not just any motorcycle.  A Ducati motorcycle.  And not just any Ducati motorcycle, but a Ducati Superbike, the 848 EVO.  And not just any Ducati 848 EVO, but the one owned and ridden by our dear friend, J.

Of the bike, an evolution of the previous Ducati 848, Ducati simply writes:  "Ducati 848 EVO - Excitement EVO."  And we would have to agree.  The bike is, in all its red Italian glory, an exciting piece of machinery.  So we were delighted to have the opportunity to photograph it.  But what approach should we take?  Now, a traditionalist might have shot images of a rider speeding off in one direction or another.  This is, after all, a vehicle that is designed for speed, and it is red and sexy and Italian and, oh, did we mention it was designed for speed?...You get the idea. 

But for good or for ill, we have chosen not to go that route. Because to our eyes, not only is this bike an exciting piece of machinery, but we also think it is a beautiful piece of art.  So our images have focused on capturing the the clean and dramatic design and more abstract impressions of this lovely piece of Italian architecture.  Here are a couple of images we selected for our postcard celebrating this show: 

 

 

Actually, we were delighted that one of our images is on the Towers Gallery postcard.  This one does constitute our nod to the fact that the 848 EVO is a fast little piece of machinery.  We have called it, "Speed Demon:"

 

 

 

Some have said that they find this a little sinister looking.  Perhaps so.  Perhaps a speed demon should be!  But in a humorous vein, we felt that this was an unusual image that revealed a new aspect of the motorcycle.  It is not just that the bike is built for speed.  Oh no, the secret is that every Ducati 848 EVO is really inhabited with an inner demon that just wants to be set free on the road.

So we hope you will enjoy our images and see a piece of spectacular engineering in a new way.  It is all about these things:  Art, architecture, elegance and, most of all, fun.  In our show, our goal, quite simply, is to show you the art of excitement, the art of Ducati.

Whether you are interested in motorcycles or cars or just want to have some fun, we hope you will join us in Cloverdale for the official opening of this great show, and for all the festivities in the downtown area.  And if you miss it this weekend, the show at Towers is up until October 31st.  Just watch out for those red Italian speed demons!

On Travel, Being Playful and the Art of Discovery

 

We have just returned from a wonderful trip and we are ready to make a confession:  We have finally discovered that we are "Bad Tourists."  Well, perhaps we knew it all along, but we have never as fully embraced it as we did on this trip.  And we certainly have never been ready to make such a public admission.

Oh, yes, before we visit a place we do all the right things:   We talk to fellow travelers, read guidebooks, scan a myriad of travel magazines, look online, plan our days...the whole shebang.  And then, when we get to where we are going, we put it all aside.  Well, perhaps not all of it, but enough that we leave ourselves the time and space to simply wander in a new place and see what we can discover.  After all, why should travel be such a serious business?  Why not follow the sage advice we stumbled upon on a wall on Brick Lane in London:  Be Playful?  OK, don't mind if I do!

In letting ourselves treat travel as play, we have made all sorts of delightful discoveries, finding urban wisdom and images that make us smile.  Sometimes you just have to follow this advice found in Amsterdam:

 

...And then you see things you might never have noticed before.  Like this image:  The love may be worn, but it still calls out to us in London:

 
And, wow, the invitation to sit and chat in front of a coffee shop with this resident of Tallinn, Estonia certainly wasn't mentioned in the guidebooks:

 

And then there are things that you could not have imagined having the good fortune to discover.  Take these lovely images from a mural painted by Eeva Janes inside the small chapel at the Consistory of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tallinn.  We would never have known they existed but for the generosity of the kind man who was pushing the front door just as we were pulling it.  We didn't realize until later that it was the Dean of the Church, Reverend Arho Tuhkru, who recovered from his surprise and so generously invited us in.  More than that, despite being on his way out with backpack in hand, he changed his plans and took the time to show us around.  He gave us the gift of his time and the gift of sweet images from the chapel that touch us, still.  Like this Angel...

 

 ...and these lovely flowers...

 

 

And this image of generosity and compassion... 

 

 But there was more, another lovely surprise.  Reverend Tuhkru led us to the top floor to show us this angel, an image recovered from a frieze painted when the building originally was built, in 1693.  It had been covered up for years until it was discovered when the building was renovated:

 

 If we had followed the guidebooks, we wouldn't have had the delight of these discoveries. 

So being playful, open and "Bad Tourists" seems to serve us well.  We no longer struggle about it.  We will go our own way in our travels, and see what we find and what finds us.  I suppose we just have finally decided that we are old enough now to choose how we approach and explore the new places we visit. 

Of course, this stance may not sit well with others.  We did receive a disapproving look from a fellow traveler when we revealed that we visited Stockholm and did not go to the Vasa Museum.  But, you know, the Vasa Museum will be there for a while.  The lovely piece of urban wisdom that we discovered on this Stockholm window won't be:

 
 

Words of wisdom for us all, don't you think?

On Love, Generosity and Redemption

 

We've kept you waiting for too long....You must be Reddy for that lovely story we promised.  So here it is...

There is the most marvelous organization called Canine Companions for Independence.  The goal of the organization is to enhance the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships. 

Well, that is the official story.  Really, the story is much deeper than that.  Because the relationship between a person and their service dog is deep and incredible to witness.  And the dogs who graduate to become assistance dogs are very special souls, as well. 

So we had the pleasure of attending a CCI graduation last friday.  But not just any graduation.  The graduation of our dear friend, A, with her third service dog...yes, you guessed it, Reddy. 

Candidates for matching with a service dog come to the CCI campus for two weeks of intense training.  For the first few days they work with a variety of dogs, or so it usually goes.  Then a decision is made about which person will be matched with which dog, and the rest of the training is conducted together.  It is rather like dating with a chaperone, then having the chaperone announce your engagement.  Making the right match is an important decision in both practical terms and emotional ones, too.

But for our friend, A., it was clear from the start that Reddy was the match for her.  And it was pretty clear that the trainers thought that, too.  Look at this image from the first several days of training - what do you think?

 

So when we met A for dinner after day 2 of training and she described Reddy and showed us this picture, well, we really weren't surprised when she called us the next day to announce that they formally had been matched.  It just seemed right.

Reddy is a beautiful Lab, very white, very strong, with a big head and a big chest and long legs and a big heart.  He is sweet and smart.  He gives great kisses.  He is gentle.  And he will take good care of A, and she will take good care of him.  There are many people he will touch with his quiet presence.  And so going to the graduation, seeing A and the other graduates and their beautiful dogs was a lovely experience. 

There are lots of moving aspects to a CCI graduation.  I have always said that if you can attend a CCI graduation and don't shed at least one tear (or at the least get a bit choked up), you have a very hard heart.  There is lots of emotion and lots of joy.  And lots of dog hair...but that is another story! 

At graduation, people who have volunteered to raise, socialize and train puppies for their first year return them to CCI for further training.  The puppies are said to matriculate. It must be a bittersweet time for puppy-raisers.  They have loved these furry souls who entered their homes about a year prior as fuzzy puppies, and now they must give them up, just as they are becoming grown up dogs.  Yet, I suspect that each puppy-raiser hopes they will return to a graduation to have the chance to participate in the most lovely ritual - the handover.  Because when a person is matched with their service dog, the puppy raiser attends the graduation and formally hands the leash to the person who has been teamed up with their puppy.  Really, it is the moment that every puppy raiser hopes for.  That the dog they loved and raised has what it takes for this very special job as a service dog.

 So this brings us to the final and most surprising turn of events.  Our friend works in prison settings.  And, it turns out, Reddy was raised by a group of women inmates in a correctional setting.  How amazing.  When A spoke of the experience of team training, she mentioned this incredible synchronicity.  She spoke poignantly of her sense that Reddy had been working ever since he was a little puppy, teaching these women about things like love and responsibility and compassion.  And now, Reddy would be able to continue to serve with love, and continue to teach in his new role as an assistance dog.

When I attend a CCI graduation I am always touched by the love and generosity that is involved in the whole enterprise of raising and training and then placing a service dog.  But in this case, I think this is a story of redemption, as well.  Whatever happened in these incarcerated puppy-raiser's lives, in raising Reddy, they have done something incredible.  They have given back.  They have made A's life better.  They have made the world a better place.  I am not sure that what they have accomplished with their generous raising of Reddy can be adequately put into words. 

Perhaps this image says it all -

 

 So we celebrate A and Reddy and their partnership.  And we celebrate all the people whose love and hearts go into raising and training the puppy that will become a successful service dog.  And that includes a group of women behind bars whose difficult life journey has been touched by a puppy who offered them the chance to learn about love, generosity and redemption.  

To learn more about Canine Companions for Independence, visit their website:  www.cci.org

Are You Reddy?

 

Are you reddy for a wonderful story? 

For a story that will remind you about what is lovely and hopeful  in the world?

For a story of joy and determination and courage and generosity?

Well, stay tuned....

(And no, that isn't a spelling mistake.....)

 

The Winds of War (for STS)

 The winds of war

have been devastatingly hot in the last few days.

Many have been burned:

Elite warriors.

A canine SEAL.

Their brave families.

Lest we forget.

 
   

For Those Who Suffer in Norway

 

Sometimes it is hard to hold onto the positive spirit that is embodied in something like the Kindness Flag Project, the subject of the most recent posts.  We are surrounded by suffering, as well as beauty, if we care to look. 

Right now, the suffering is great in Norway.  This poignant image comes from a cemetery in Bavaria.  But you don't have to be Bavarian or even particularly religious to feel touched by it.  The emotion that is so movingly conveyed is universal.

The Kindness Flag Project has a Blog

 

Tuesday's post showed images from the amazing display of public art and healing called "The Kindness Flag Project" in Vancouver, Canada.

There now is a blog devoted to the project.  Check it out:

www.kindnessflagproject.wordpress.com

It may sound simple, or even simplistic, but the concept is profound:

 

Thanks to Ingrid Tamboline and everyone who participated in the Project for reminding us.

 

Healing Flags, The Kindness Flag Project

 

This is a story about the power of one person to make a difference and the power of art to help a community heal from trauma.

In June, 2011, in the aftermath of the loss of the Stanley Cup to Boston, there were riots in downtown Vancouver.  In addition to injuries, many businesses had windows smashed and there was looting.  But the response to this violation was amazing. The larger Vancouver community rose to the occasion to try to heal the damage done to the city's heart.  The next morning people flocked to the city center to start the clean up. 

But there was more.  On the boards that had been placed over broken windows, people began to write about their feelings.  Their messages were of anger, frustration and hope.  Another blog entry will focus on these.  But suffice to say that the layers and layers of writing were extraordinarily powerful.  Here is a small example from one of the boards:

 

 This is one of the buildings that took the brunt of the damage, the Hudson Bay Company.  You can see the boards behind the fencing.

 

 But this brings us to the other amazing development.  Do you see the layers and layers of prayer flags?  These were the result of the efforts of one woman, Ingrid Tamboline.  She remembered a project that had been developed to honor the visit of the Dali Lama to Vancouver a number of years before.  In this project, prayer flags were created and displayed publicly.  Ingrid's goal was simple and simply profound.  This poster shows her invitation:

 

And so the Kindness Flag Project was born. In an interview, Ingrid thought that only a few people would make these flags.  But the word was spread with facebook and flikr sites developing quickly.  Less than a week later, it was estimated that over 2,000 flags were fluttering over the damaged downtown area.

The riot occurred on Wednesday and we arrived on Sunday.  We had known about the riot, but we had not heard about the community response.  We took the sky train from the airport to the downtown, and when we emerged from the station we were amazed.  To see board after board with layers of writing and then look up to see layer after layer of prayer flags was incredible. 

The next morning we went out with the intent of trying to record this amazing piece of public art and emotion.  The more we saw and the more we read, the more powerful it all seemed. It would be impossible to photograph it all.  We simply hope our limnited collection of images does justice to the intent of the Vancouver community.

The image at the top of this blog is a collection of flags that to our eye typified the beautiful messages of love and hope and peace that were created.  But there were other messages as well.

Words of wisdom about the relationship between darkness and light in life:

 

 

 

Words of thanks to police and first responders (and this was a theme reiterated in the messages on the window boards, as well.)

 

 

 

There were comments of support to the Vancouver community (with a little humor added)

 

And a final comment about the power of social media for good:

 

We came to Vancouver hoping to capture some images of the lovely bay and interesting architecture.  But we found so much more.  In coming when we did, we were able to know Vancouver in a way that we could not have imagined.  We were able to see the strength of a community and the power of art to heal.  The flags gave messages of hope and inspiration to the sad Vancouver community and to us, as well. 

We think this flag summed it up beautifully:

 Google "Kindness Flag Project" and "Ingrid Tamboline" for more information about the Kindness Flag Project and what happened in Vancouver. To see more of our images of the flags, go to our Website to the "Transformation and Healing" folder. 

Summer Show 2011 Opens at Riverfront Art Gallery

 

It has been an exciting 2 days at the Gallery, hanging the new Summer shows.  The second annual "Showin' on the River" Juried Fine Art Painting and Mixed Media show is up, and it is a very exciting collection of work.  The postcard shows just a few of the lovely images.  We are particularly taken with Muriel Sutcher Knapp's "Mademoiselle FiFi."  And Kirk Hinshaw's playfully elegant collages delight us with their misty, magical Venetian backgrounds.

Last show cycle, Frank and I had a collaborative show, with images from the lovely Keukenhof Gardens in The Netherlands.  Over the last several months we each have developed new bodies of work that have been exciting to us, so this time our shows are quite independent.

Frank's show is titled, "Water Sorcery."  Here is one of the images, "Spirit in the Sky:"

 

 

 

Frank's show is a series of abstracts that reveal a beautiful alchemy of Bavarian early morning light, water, wood and good fortune.  He thought of calling the show, "Not your Opa's Bavaria"  because these are certainly not traditional alpine views and they were not the images he expected to bring home.  But in the lovely mystery that is photography, these were the images that came to him.  Did you think you could find the universe in a Bavarian water trough?  Well, you can.  Here is another favorite, called, "Water Dandelion,"

 

 

 

In contrast to Frank's show, which is abstract, delicate and subtle, my show is bright and hard-edged.  But it is no less a reflection of serendipity.  Called, "Art With Emotion:  Portraits from a Vancouver Alley," it pays homage to the amazing street art we stumbled across in an alley outside Gastown in Vancouver.   The title reflects the fact that there is a lot of emotion associated with street art:  In the discussions regarding whether or not it even constitutes something that could be called art; in the experiences of the artists who often are working quickly and surreptitiously, and in the content of the pieces.

This particular alley had a combination of a very large (probably 2 block long) mural by "Cold World Media" along one wall that has been described as legal or "semi legal," while the other side of the alley was covered in work that probably is not sanctioned.  This is one of my portraits from the amazing Cold World Media mural.   I have called it, "The Spirit:"

 

 
 

And then there was the other side of the alley.  The feel of the images on this side spoke to me more of separation, isolation and struggle.  They were very strong graphically and emotionally.  Here is one, by the street artist "S. Vegas."  I think it is an extraordinary piece of work and I have taken the liberty of giving it a title, "Grief."

 

 

 

Did I go to Vancouver expecting to be captivated by street art?  Nope.  But this is what came to me, and I am delighted to have found it.  I have created portraits that I hope honor the rich physical and emotional textures of the original work.

So come to Riverfront to see the new shows.  The opening reception is Saturday July 16th from 5 pm to 9pm.  The show will continue until September 11th, 2011.  Hope to see you there. 

If you visit, be sure to say hello to Mademoiselle FiFi.

A New Photography Show: It's All About the Eyes

 

With 8 fellow Venetian Carnival Maskers, this lovely image is part of our newest photography show. 

We are delighted to have been asked to exhibit our work at The Gallery at Sonoma Eyeworks.  The show's title is, "It's All About the Eyes:  Portraits from Carnival in Venice." Since Sonoma Eyeworks is an optical business, it seems fitting that we share images that really highlight what brings the mask to life:  Each Masker and his or her eyes.  The images in the show, some of which have not been publicly displayed before, focus on the lovely moment of engagement we have experienced with each Masker as we photograph the beautiful madness that is Carnival in Venice. 

The Gallery at Sonoma Eyeworks is a particularly lovely space, with a beautiful exposed brick wall and first class lighting.  We think it is a hidden gem in the Sonoma County arts scene.  We are most grateful to the staff for generously providing such an inspired environment for Sonoma County artists.  We are particularly appreciative to the Gallery curator, Linda Guzzetta, for her enthusiasm and support.

The show runs from July 1st, 2011 through August 31 st, 2011 at Sonoma Eyeworks, 534 Larkfield Shopping Center in Santa Rosa, California.  For more information, visit their website:  www.sonomaeyeworks.com. 

Our Maskers - and the staff at Sonoma Eyeworks, would be delighted to see you.

 

A New Adventure: Towers Gallery

 

We are absolutely delighted to announce a new adventure:  We will be showing our work at Towers Gallery in Cloverdale, California.  This is a new card we have designed to celebrate our first show there.

Towers Gallery is a cooperative members gallery featuring two and three dimensional fine art, wearable art and local food delicacy artisans.  It is situated in a truly marvelous space:  A lovingly renovated and elegant Victorian building in the center of the town of Cloverdale, in the Northern California Wine Country. 

The Gallery features the work of a diverse and talented group of artists showing in a wide variety of mediums.  We are honored to join them.  Come and visit - you won't be disappointed.

Love and the Joy of the Number 31

This is a another little post about a big subject:  Love.

If one is immensely lucky in life, one finds love.  The shiny gloss of new love will inevitably become weathered.  But if one works hard, love will grow and deepen and become stronger over time, developing a more complex beauty.

 

And then there are other realities of the human condition:

   

There is good in the world:  Love, peace, beauty, togetherness. 

But life also can be harsh.  Inevitably there is sadness and loss, and sometimes they seem so big as to be overwhelming. 

But if one is really lucky, well, this sign said it all....

   

So this is for Frank. 

Thank you for making sure that love has always won.  Thank you for reminding me that the rainbow comes after the rain.

 

This is a most beautiful number.  How about 31 more?

For K and B: Celebrating A Day of Love and Beginnings

 

Today we celebrate a marriage.  A marriage of K and B, two very special people who are very dear to us both.  It has been a marvelous experience to be part of the planning of such a special event, and to honor such a lovely couple.

The image above is an example of "luftmalerie" (or "air painting") which is a traditional Bavarian form of trompe l'oeil painting on buildings.  One of the most spectacular collections of luftlmalerie is in Garmisch Partenkirchen, south of Munich. We have visited there many times - in some respects it is a second home - and yet this time the paintings seemed different and even more stunning than we remembered.  We have not visited in spring before, and perhaps it was the spring light that made the images look so warm and luminous. 

As wedding preparations continued while we were away, we found ourselves thinking a lot about the upcoming celebration and our dear friends.  And as we walked in town, surrounded by paintings in the air, we stopped at Gasthof Fraundorfer and found this.  It is a mural by Heinrick Bickel, painted around 1945, depicting the joyful celebration of a Bavarian wedding. Of course, we have seen it many times before.  But this time it had much more meaning and seemed like a beautiful surprise.

As we looked closer, the details of the young bride and groom seemed even more meaningful.  In gestures that mirrored the tastes of our friends, the bride made her toast with wine, while the groom raised his beer glass.

 
 And so we raise our glasses to K and B as they begin their new life together today.   Their wedding is in California, not Bavaria, and yet the hopes and dreams that they bring to this day are universal - for a long, safe and happy journey together into the future.  We hold them in our hearts and wish them well. 

Late Spring Show at Riverfront Art Gallery

 

We are delighted that our work is being shown permanently at Riverfront Art Gallery in Petaluma.  We are getting used to the schedule and routine of gallery life.  Every two months, artists gather at the gallery to rotate their work into new locations, and to show new material.  Even better, the new cycle means that there will be a new "featured artist" or "featured artists," and it is particularly inspiring to see a new body of work by our colleagues.

While this is only our second experience with the gallery "hanging days," we are struck by the sense of community and camaraderie.  There is a sense of closure in taking down the prior show and excitement about seeing what will be revealed in the new one.  There is a chance to talk and get to know our colleagues a bit.  And there is nothing like having the hits of Motown turned up loudly on the gallery sound system to provide an atmosphere of fun as we make our way around our spaces, patching walls, painting, packing and unpacking, wiring, and trying to find the most effective way to display our images.

For this, the Late Spring show, we decided to honor the season with images from the amazing Keukenhof Gardens.  I suppose Keukenhof has been on my mind lately, both because it is open and must be in its full glory now, but also because we have been getting ready for this show.  Frank is showing a collection of large images, showcasing the glorious vistas in the Gardens.  The image above is one of his favorites, called "Don't Fence Me In."

We decided to work in an integrated way for this show, so I am also featuring images from Keukenhof.  But where Frank's work has showcased the "big picture," my images take the more detailed view, with the position that all those big pictures are made up of small, individual flowers.  So I am displaying a collection of portraits of tulips, both highlighting their external beauty, and also revealing the lovely secrets that lie within their petals.  The following image is in the show.  It is called "The Tulip's Secret I"

 

 We hope you will stop by and let yourself be transported to what we call "Botanical Heaven" with our images.  And the delight of visiting any art gallery is that in experiencing art of all sorts, you may be transported to many places (external and internal) in a single visit.  A gallery space provides an artistic journey for everyone who enters, artists and visitors alike.  The newest journey at Riverfront Art Gallery, the new Late Spring Show, opens tomorrow, Wednesday May 11th.  Come and join us.

Nature's Artist

 

It is Spring and we are thinking about the beautiful Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands.  We have called Keukenhof "Botanical Heaven" because of the almost overwhelming beauty of the place.  Rivers of flowers flow throughout the gardens in the most amazing fashion.  Sometimes these rivers of color wind through the trees in a natural, free form manner, as above. 

Sometimes, the floral streams are more orderly, like this:

 

Or like this...

 

Can you imagine?  It really is even more beautiful than these images can convey...

 

We noticed that one little flower seems to run through many of these spectacular floral vistas.  It is a stunning blue, a tiny, compact flower called Muscari which provides a beautiful artistic accompaniment to almost any other spring bulb.  There are many varieties of Muscari, but we saw this one and understood at once that it was quite aptly named: 

 

Muscari - nature's artist - but of course.

The Rewards of Learning to See: The Jazz Singer

 

This is a story about what I love about photography and the process of becoming a photographer.

So there we were.  At the Apple Blossom Festival.  We weren't actually concerned with apple blossoms (and, as I recall, there were none displayed, but that probably is another story).  But we were there because a friend was leading the parade and we wanted to honor him.  We hoped to capture some images that would be meaningful to him and his family on such a special occasion.

We began with some portraits of our friend before the parade started.  And that tends to be my domain.  I love the close view, and I tend to view all of my photography as a search for a portrait of what it is I am trying to capture.  Once the parade started, Frank took over, taking the larger-view images of the parade scene.  He is often more the big-picture-guy.  And so there he was, in full paparazzi mode, following our friend, running down the street beside him, in front of him, taking photographs as our friend waved from his vehicle.  I followed behind, making my way through the assembled masses behind Frank, stopping to applaud as our friend passed.

Finally, we came to the end of the road, and stopped amongst the crowds.  There was no particular rhyme or reason to where we stopped, there just was a gap in the crush of happy parade-goers.  We decided to stay to gather some other images of the parade and visitors.  At one point there was a bit of a gap between parade participants, so I decided to turn around and get a better look at my surroundings. 

We were in front of a small building.  Perhaps it once was a home, now it seemed like an office.  Was it an insurance office?  I can't remember.  It seemed quite non-descript.  Not so visually compelling.  What could be interesting?  I looked at the surrounding buildings - nothing grabbed me.   I looked at the roof lines, perhaps there would be some interesting architecture, or contrast with the sky lines - no not really.  I contemplated the plants near the front step - hmm, not so promising.  I wondered if there might be some interesting reflections or shadows in the large picture-windows - no, nothing there, either.   

And then I looked down.  Just behind me.  And there it was. 

A mural, painted on the pathway up to this non-descript building.  It was quite weathered and many of the images were worn away.  But gradually, as I looked at it, as I truly tried to see it, I realized it was an homage to jazz performers.  As I scanned the mural, my eyes finally rested on her:  The clearest figure, a beautiful and simple image of a woman with her eyes closed, lost in song. I don't know who she is.  I call her, simply, "The Jazz Singer." 

I love that somehow, in the serendipity that is life, I found this mural on a spring Saturday afternoon when I wasn't even looking for her. I am so thrilled to have found this lovely lady, and to be able to capture her before she is worn away, like her fellow performers.  But there is more than just the delight of having discovered what to me is a marvelous little image.  I also appreciate what the process of having found her means.

I am happy that in my journey and development as a photographer, as I develop my eye, I am letting myself look in places I never would have noticed before.  Because sometimes, when I let myself do that, I am lucky.  In this case, at a parade to celebrate the spring and the retirement of a friend, instead of just making images to give as a gift, I received the gift myself:  An unexpected song from The Jazz Singer.

 

Urban Wisdom

 

Today we were at a small town parade to celebrate the coming of the Apple Blossoms.  In addition to the fun of any small town parade, this young lady was serving a dose of urban wisdom.  Her message struck us as rather sweet.  It won't cure the world's ills, but it certainly wouldn't hurt.

But urban wisdom (even serious stuff) doesn't have to be stuffy.  We'll  take that message with a side of joy, please.

 

An Exciting Development: Riverfront Art Gallery Membership

We were very happy to have images selected for the first juried fine art photography show held at Riverfront Art Gallery in Petaluma, in January.  We are even more delighted to announce that now we have joined the gallery as members.  We began this new adventure by hanging our first show in March.  In a fit of enthusiastic insanity, Stephanie proposed a larger show as a featured artist, which was accepted, and so we have jumped in with both feet. 

Frank's first show is entitled, Celebrating Life.  Since his photography is all about celebrating life to the fullest possible, he decided his debut show should reflect this value.  Frank has said that in relishing the world around him, he sometimes finds himself enthralled not only by majestic sights, but also by the quirky, the unique and the everyday ones.  Things like the artistry of light streaming through a window, the peacefulness of a fresh snow blanket, or the pleasing surprises in architectural details. 

Some of the images included in his show reflect captured memories of times with friends and family that make him smile when he looks at them.  Others are of a more philosophical sort, expressing his optimism, hope and resilience, while also acknowledging the complexities of life.  Overall, it is Frank's hope that his images will give visitors a chance to contemplate his view, and encourage them to go out and notice the simple, artistic details that are all around us. 

This is one of Frank's images from the show, entitled, Light Play.   It captures a lovely moment in a favorite tavern in Garmisch, Germany:

 

My first show reflects my passion for Venice in the wintertime, during the visually rich time of Carnival.  Entitled, Enchanting Venice:  Winter Memories, the show includes traditional Venetian views of the gondola and of lovely architecture, but it also includes more personal images.  Because for me, often the beauty of a place is made up of a lot of little glimpses, small pictures that may not be noticed at first glance:  The beautiful brass decorations on the Gondola; the patterns of colored lights dancing on the water of the Grand Canal; the poignant image from a small piece of "street art" (or "calle" art, to use the Venetian term) on a building wall; the artistic flourishes on Carnival masks, the lovely moments of engagement with Carnival "Maskers."

 In more abstract pieces, like The Spirit of the Mask (shown below), I also try to convey the intangible, the sense I have of being surrounded by mystery and spirits, the spirits of history and art and of those who have come before me. 

 

This show reflects what feels to me to be immense good fortune:  First, the good fortune to have been able to spend some time with La Serenissima over the years.  And second, the good fortune to be able to share some of the enchantment of the city and my love for her with my images.  And I will fully admit it:  I am still enchanted by Venice.   It is a romance I am delighted to have been able to share with Frank, and perhaps that is what makes it all the more special, because we share it.  In the images in this show, I hope the viewer will find a moment of enchantment with her, too.

Here is the flyer for the show, with our beautiful Red Lady looking as gorgeous as ever.  It is a joy to see her in the front window of the Gallery.

 
 
We are honored and thrilled to have joined a marvelous group of photographers and artists at Riverfront.  We invite you to visit Riverfront Gallery to see our work and that of our colleagues.

For more information, visit the Riverfront Art Gallery website at:

www.riverfrontartgallery.com

Waiting for Couture

 

This is another one of our favorite images.  Frank took this at the marvelous Paris department store, Galeries Lafayette.  In a moment of inspired humor he titled it, Waiting for Couture, and the combination of the image and the title seems to make people smile.  He was delighted when his ladies were selected to participate in a juried show at Healdsburg Center for the Arts, with the theme of Figure, Face and Form.

But of course there is another story associated with the image that makes it special.  Just like the image mentioned in the prior posting, View of Life, Waiting for Couture was taken on our trip last year with our niece.  Her first trip to Paris.  She is an outstanding traveling companion, a lovely and smart young lady, with a great sense of humor and amazing tolerance for the foibles of her aunt and uncle. We wanted to provide her with a memorable introduction to the City of Light, in the hope that it would be the first of many trips to Paris for her.  Perhaps I am thinking about it because it is this time last year, to the day, that we set off on our adventure.  But I digress.

So, when in Paris, a young lady has to shop, and has to shop for clothes.  But our niece is a very good shopper and was not content to just throw Euros to the wind in any of the very pricey boutique options we explored.  So this lead us to Galeries Lafayette.  It was our last shopping day, and, truthfully, both she and I were beginning to worry that we would not find just the perfect dress for her.  We found the appropriate floor in the beautiful store, and while many dresses were interesting, they just didn't speak to her.  On our way up the escalator to another level, we found another area that looked promising.  Very promising.  Very, very promising.  When she opened the curtain of the dressing room, and said, "Auntie Steph, I love it," well, we both were thrilled. 

While all this was going on, we had left Frank to his own devices.  We thought he might shop in this elegant Parisian institution.  But instead, he turned his camera onto some of the interesting views there, and this was one of them.  While he was not exactly waiting for couture himself, he certainly was waiting for a fashion success for our niece.  And we all ended up happy.  My niece and I found some perfect clothes (and had some funny experiences along the way).  And Frank found these lovely, sparkling ladies, who could only be waiting for the height of Paris fashion. 

And so when we both look at this image, we smile.  We smile because of the humor of Frank's Parisian models, and we smile because it triggers marvelous memories of our travels with our lovely niece.

Frank's models can be seen at Healdsburg Center for the Arts.  Don't be frightened by the postcard for the show.  Stop by, the ladies of couture would love to have you come and admire them. 

 

 

The Art of the Line, The Beauty of the Red Dot

 
"To take a photograph is to hold one's breath when all faculties converge in the face of fleeting reality.  It is at that moment that mastering an image becomes a great physical and intellectual joy.  To take a photograph means to recognize - simultaneously and within a fraction of a second - both the fact itself and the rigorous organization of visually perceived forms that give it meaning.

It is putting one's head, one's eye, and one's heart on the same axis."

Henri Cartier-Bresson

 I was delighted to have my image, View of Life selected for this juried show at Sebastopol Center for the Arts.  And I was even more delighted when it was used in the show flyer and on the Sebastopol Center for the Arts website.  That is it, in the lower right side, the sepia view from above.

As a photographer, there are times when you view a "fleeting reality" that is so visually compelling that you can only hope that the image you create will do justice to what you have witnessed.  I loved this image at the moment that I captured it and it remains a favorite now. I have affectionately called it my "little gem."  There are several reasons why:  First, it is a very strong image graphically, because of the character and detail of the line study.  The lines are spare, strong, elegant, both man-made and natural.  But it is not static.  There is a strong sense of movement - the viewer is drawn through the image by the couple walking and the bicyclist. I printed View of Life as a small image.  I wanted the viewer to have to get close, to really pay attention to the view, to what was going on, to life.

And that brings me to the second reason why View of Life  is a favorite.  To my mind,  is a classic image that could have been taken at almost any time in almost any place.  I emphasized this timeless quality by printing the image in a sepia tone and on a slightly textured paper.  I wanted to raise questions:  When was this image taken?  In the 1930's? In the 1950's? In the 1990's?  In the new century?  Is it an old postcard, found in a dusty attic?  Where were those people going, so purposefully, amongst the bare trees? 

Should I tell you?

It is London.  2010.  Looking down from the most modern ferris wheel in the world:  The London Eye.  It was a trip with our lovely niece, her first to London, and we had pledged to her that we would not drive her crazy by taking a lot of photographs.  But there we were, on our first morning together "across the pond," above London, in the moving capsule of the London Eye, looking out of the plexiglass (not ideal photographic circumstances by any stretch of the imagination) and I looked down and saw this view of life.  And I could not help but try to capture this image.  And so one of the other reasons why it is one of my favorites is that I have the history and context of this very special time.  In a lovely instant, my head, my eye and my heart were on the same axis.

But you don't have to have that context.  It is an image about the geometry of life, anywhere, at any time.  And it is a humble visual homage to those who teach me about what it means to be a photographer.  

 This week the Art of the Line  show ended and I went to the gallery to bring this piece home.  And then I found out it had been purchased.  And so the final delight in this whole experience is that someone was touched enough by my view of life to want to live with it.  My homage to my teachers, my symbol of sweet memories, my little gem has found a new home.  As an artist, there can be no better ending.

 

For Those Who Suffer in Japan

 

 

 After devastation...

 

 

...a visual offering of hope. 

 In time, the chrysanthemum will bloom again. 

Emerging Spirit

 

This image was taken in 1999.  In some respects, it was a wonderful set of circumstances:  My work had led me to Petra, Jordan, now considered one of the seven new wonders of the world.  I wandered in awe, captivated by the structures, but particularly by the colors.  Indeed, Petra has been described as "A rose red city half as old as time." 

But I also was troubled.  The work that had brought me to Jordan was becoming more difficult.  I had taken a huge risk, stopped work that I had loved, that I had been good at, to take on a new job in a completely new enterprise.  But as time unfolded, it became clearer to me that I was working in the shadow of someone who I considered a dear friend and respected deeply, but whose expertise I could never equal, and in whose shadow I would always remain.  On the trip, I had begun to fear that my spirit, my creativity, my self would be worn down if I stayed.

As I was walking in this place of rose red wonder, I turned a corner, and there she was.

Some may say that she has been worn down by the ages.

I prefer to think of her as an emerging spirit.

I include this image, today, to acknowledge the turmoil and change that is blanketing parts of the Middle East right now, including Jordan, but particularly Egypt.  Beginning in Tunisia and continuing in an extraordinary tsunami of popular rebellion, there is a spirit emerging in these places that is new.  It is unclear how this will all unfold - it is a dangerous time, full of promise and fear.

For me, following my spirit engendered a painful separation and loss that I had never imagined would happen.  But out of that time of turmoil came the most extraordinary experience:  The quite unexpected opportunity for a professional "homecoming" with the chance to work with marvelous colleagues, in a setting that I had always hoped to return to, and the opportunity to be of service to patients whose struggles were profound. It was the opportunity I had always dreamed about, but had never dared think could become a reality. In the end, in following my spirit, I found my home.  

As for the situation in the Middle East:  We can only wait and see what will happen.  The emerging spirit of change has made her presence known - it remains to be seen where she will lead.

The Angel

 

It has been a difficult week in many places in the world. 

This graceful figure honors those who have passed and those who continue to suffer. 

She also honors the human capacities to use art to express that which cannot be put into words, and to make meaning and beauty out of loss.

Luck Be A Lady Tonight

 

Tonight Frank and I have the pleasure of attending the opening of a new show at Sebastopol Center for the Arts, "Lady Luck:  An Exhibition Selected by Chance."  The premise of the show is very amusing.  Open to all media and themes, the works admitted into the show were selected by random drawing (although it was noted that works expressing the theme of Luck "could be luckier, or not.") 

Lady Luck was quite generous as she selected images submitted by each of us.  The above image is one of Frank's, showing one of the delightfully creative and quite "over-the-top" costumes from Carnivale in Venice.  Here is a larger view:

    

The costume is quite large, an impressively quirky meeting of Las Vegas showgirl with a casino floor roulette table and cards.  In the brisk morning breeze from the Venetian Lagoon, it is quite a feat for the Masker to manage both the "wings" and the massive headdress.  Performing in this costume certainly is not for the faint-of-heart (but then neither is dancing with Lady Luck!) 

So tonight we will celebrate with the lovely Lady Luck and enjoy viewing the other artworks so honored by Fortuna.  On our way out, perhaps we will consult with one of my two Fortune Tellers in the show, and see what the future holds...

 

We will be "Showin' on the River"!

 

We are thrilled to begin 2011 with the news that we each have had images selected for the first juried photography show at Riverfront Art Gallery in Petaluma. 

This is a delight for many reasons.  It is an honor to have our work selected by photographers for a photography show.  It is particularly lovely to be selected for a show at Riverfront Gallery, because the Gallery holds a special place in our development as photographers. Frank and I have been taking photographs, particularly on our travels, since the 1980's.  But it was several years ago, in good part after a visit to Riverfront, that we decided that it was time to take the leap and seriously focus our attention on developing our photographic skills and ideas.  We each decided that we wanted to see if we could take our work to a new level.  And so this artistic journey began in earnest. 

Just as we are partners in life, with different views and approaches to the world, we are partners in this photographic journey, with different views and approaches to our images. We often work side-by-side, but it is still fascinating to see how we can be in the same environment and yet "see" the world quite differently.  It is marvelous that we each have had work selected for this show, so our unique views can be shown side-by-side, as well.

The opening is on January 15th 2011, 5 PM to 9 PM.  We hope to see you there. 

On Developing Our Artistic Voices

 

I just saw the incredible film, The King's Speech.  It is an extraordinary movie, beautifully written and filmed, with stunning performances by Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush.  It is the story of King George VI and his work and friendship with the iconoclastic Australian speech therapist, Lionel Logue.  It is a story about healing, about a therapeutic relationship, about the effects of trauma, and about the power of finding one's voice.

2010 has been an extraordinary year for Frank and for me in terms of our finding and developing our artistic voices.  For this has been the first year that we have had the courage to submit our work to art shows for jurying by professionals, and for public view and scrutiny.

I will not downplay how significant this has been to us both, nor how, well, terrifying it can be.  It is one thing to show one's work to friends and family.  It is quite another to take that next step in the context of a professional art environment.  And yet it is quite marvelous to have one's work responded to positively, to be able to share that intangible thing that is your art - the combination of your vision, your skill, your heart, your creativity and your courage.  However one's work is responded to, the showing of it in public is a hugely important developmental step.

It has been really thrilling to have our work accepted into three juried art shows this year:

 

 

  

Our thanks to the staffs at Sebastopol Center for the Arts and Healdsburg Center for the Arts for providing environments that support artists at all levels in their professional development.

This year also has been the first year that we have been able to support causes which are important to us by donating our art for silent auctions.  We are so pleased to have been able to support Sonoma County's Face to Face and their Art for Life auction, the San Francisco arts organization, The Imagine Bus, and their Love is in the Air event, and to support Sonoma County foster youth through the Pennies for the Prom event.

The image at the top of this blog entry is one of Frank's, a marvelous image that was accepted into a show with the theme of Reflections.  This is one of those images that reminds us that photography is all about seeing and then capturing exquisite moments that will never be created again. 

The image to come is one of mine, entitled, Map of Desire.  It received a Merit Award at Sebastopol Center for the Art's Mapworks:  The Map as Art exhibition.  A piece that I love, it reflects my stretching and developing in my own work, and it was a thrill that it was received so well. 

So, 2010 has been a year in which we have taken big steps, stretched ourselves as photographers, individually and together, and the journey has been exhilarating. We are excited to move into 2011 as we continue developing our artistic voices.

 

Venetian Dream

 

Is it a photograph or is it a painting? 

Is it reality or is it a dream? 

La Serenissima entices us with color and light, drawing us into her heart and history, inviting us to lose ourselves in her romantic spaces and to fall in love with her again.

Truth On A Technicality

"So, K and L, what happened to the bag of kitten chow?"

 

K:  "I don't know.  I can't possibly imagine  I am shocked and offended  - offended - that you might consider that I had anything to do with it.  No, I did not, on my own, chew the hole in that bag of kitten chow and eat half of it."

 

 

L:  "I don't know, either.  Does this look like the face of a kitten-chow-bag-chewer?  No, I too can state categorically that I did not, by myself, chew into the bag of kitten chow and eat half of it.  I simply can't imagine how it happened."

Hmmmm - Dial M for Mischief.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas

and all through the house

not a creature was stirring...

 

...well, except for L,

who was still wondering

if Santa was really on his way...

 

So while K was dreaming of mice and sugarplums

L was hoping that nice had outweighed naughty

and kept her eyes open for Santa.

Is Santa on His Way?

 

It was Sunday morning and L was reading the papers.   Something caught her attention.  She wanted Frank to pay attention, too...

 

 

It was very important.  She wanted to know if what she read was true...

 

Is there really a Santa Claus? 

 
 

Is he really on his way?

L spent the day wondering if she had been naughty or nice. 

We think that since she's a kitten, by definition, she has been a bit of both (Dial M for Mischief).  But we are in love with her and her sister, anyway. 

With a bit of luck, Santa just might be on his way...