Monday, November 15, 2010

Interfaith Arts Connection's FAITH IN ART

Greetings readers :)
Yesterday I had the unique privilege to both participate in and photograph The Interfaith Arts Connection's (IFAConnection) first event, Faith in Art. After meeting people briefly in some icebreakers, we all sat down to create visual stories about our faith backgrounds. During the creation of this art, there was some minor chatting at the beginning, but soon people were totally immersed in their own thoughts, quietly drawing, cutting and gluing, and painting their paths on paper. The results were incredible. Just as differently as 20 people would describe their connections to their own journeys through religion, spirituality, or faith, the art they made was at once unifying and distinctive. We all shared our story- some described what religion was like in our childhood with imagery from "a fertile soil" to "full of judgment".

We all shared where our spiritual paths or faith had led us, and where we hoped to see it go in the future. There was certainly a common thread. Almost everyone spoke of using what they had learned to open up, to branch out, to share, to keep growing, and to nurture themselves and others. Muslims, Buddhists, Jews and Christians (of varying denominations and levels of observance) all colorfully imagined themselves as whole, searching, and open people. Some people had a clear idea, or so I thought, from the sharing we did before we created art, and some people seem to have had insight through the process of creating and sharing their art with others.

By having to make my story come alive I learned about what is important to me, and by sharing it with others, my values became quite real. I am so glad I was there. Being able to see an event like this as a photographer gave me a bird's eye view. I have included a handful of images I think capture the event and our collective process of artful interfaith dialogue.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Sending Art to War

Here are two recent articles that taught me a lot about U.S. Military involvement in the arts. And neither is about the Marine Corps Band. Apparently military-backed visual arts are more than stern Uncle Sam’s star-spangled top hat and centuries worth of propaganda posters.


Enjoy the art from the Marine Corps and Army artists by clicking the next 2 links. Read the NYT and Reuters articles below (both from July 2010) to see what they're up to.


http://www.usmcmuseum.org/exhibits_combatart.asp

http://www.history.army.mil/artphoto.html



http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/18/arts/design/18marines.html?_r=2&pagewanted=print
With Sketchpads and Guns, Semper Fi



http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66I3AF20100719
U.S. Army unveils a trove of soldiers' war paintings





Friday, July 9, 2010

Lapel-sized International Cultural Diplomacy

After reading this article (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/08/AR2010070801760.html?wpisrc=nl_cuzhead) I was reminded about how important subtle cues and non-verbal communication can be. Albright chose to send messages with enamel, stone, or metal pinned to her power suits. She has used craft in her diplomacy, and given thought to how to better make a first impression. I think I'll wear a pin today.

Images from the Washington Post review: 'Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection' at Smithsonian are below.

Madeleine Albright's collection of brooches, on display at the  Smithsonian Castle, include this angel, commemorating the victims of the  1998 bombings at two U.S. embassies in Africa.
Madeleine Albright's collection of brooches, on display at the Smithsonian Castle, include this angel, commemorating the victims of the 1998 bombings at two U.S. embassies in Africa. (Photos By John Bigelow Taylor)
Glass shards, signifying the glass ceiling she broke through to  become the first female secretary of state.
Glass shards, signifying the glass ceiling she broke through to become the first female secretary of state. (Photo By John Bigelow Taylor - Photo By John Bigelow Taylor)
A bee Albright wore to Middle East peace negotiations.
A bee Albright wore to Middle East peace negotiations. (Photo By John Bigelow Taylor - Photo By John Bigelow Taylor)
Read My Pins: The Madeleine Albright Collection Through Oct. 11 at the Smithsonian Castle, 1000 Jefferson Dr. SW (Metro: Smithsonian). 202-633-1000 (TDD: 202-633-5285). http://www.si.edu/exhibitions/read-my-pins Hours: Open daily 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission Free.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Dropping bombs of information

I decided to start posting articles, sites, videos, and blogs I'd like to share on my blog. Most of them will probably be arts/ news/ environmental. Here's the first.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/28/arts/28kaiser.html?th&emc=th

Friday, May 28, 2010

Q: What do you take pictures of?

What kind of photos do you take?
Where is your favorite place to shoot?
If you could go anywhere, where would it be?

What lights you up?


I don't have an answer ready to go when these questions come up. I took time to think about what I find worth capturing, but more specifically, worth sharing. There is a difference between what enchants me and what hooks me, but I want to show you both. Sometimes I take photos because of how something feels rather than how it looks.
I imagine that like everything, the following answers will evolve:

WHAT
The following is a list of trends I saw when I browsed some of my collection of over 15,500 digital images. Things I have taken multiples or cousins of. Things I will shoot again.

-Stretches of corridors and alleyways, crowned by arches, flanked with columns, or paved in cobblestone, especially when seen through an opening
-Innovation and industry that has been well-used or abandoned
-Catching people in the middle of doing things, especially making music or art, or making a living. I love when its both.
-Spaces where people create/ display amazing things
-When purple occurs in nature
-Plants and trees! Saturated with rain or color, exposed for winter, variegated, swaying in the wind, edible.
-Animals and insects I see on hikes


WHERE

Anywhere will do. I love places where the people are kind and the food is tasty.

Top fives:
To visit: Scotland, Tibet, Lithuania, Russia/Belarus, Brazil
To visit again: Spain, the Andes, South Africa, Israel, Italy

Confession:
I haven't been on the West Coast of North America in 12 years. It is time!

ALL IN ALL
I like to share international examples of exquisite streets and gritty nature. I like to take photos of the passionate folks who wander in those places; what they create and the things they leave behind. My work conveys my sense of humor and my love for the environment and art. All of it is colorful, most of it serene.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Gallery Reception for Solo Show- FEB 23, 2010


In December I hung my first photography show in the Boston area! One dozen photographs taken during my time in France are on view at the Boston University Metropolitan Gallery through March.

The reception will be held on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 from 4-6pm.
755 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 103

T: Green line to BU Central
Parking: limited metered parking on Commonwealth Ave.