Light, Shadows, Art, Music, & Community

I love AWOL, Portland's Dance Collective, and enjoyed their opening warehouse show last month. They always amaze me with their motivation and execution, and here on their opening night of their new space, it was no less. They invited local area artists to participate, AWOL is all about artists, living your dream, being creative, and being a part of the community! Myself along with other artists in ceramics, painting, sculpting, two bands, and of course AWOL dance was there. Wine and beer was aplenty and the seats were at capacity, and the rest of the space loaded with an art centered community. It was a night you just don't feel like going home or going to bed, and it seemed everyone was inspired and enjoying the riches of living with art. I took along my camera and my artistic documentary eye. I was especially intrigued by the shadows of the dancers.

Little Fascinations

Everywhere, everyday, little details, small fascinations. Juxtaposed

Mt.Hood

One of my favorite things to do as a Oregonian is to investigate the little lost areas of Oregon like, Lost Lake. As a birthday request we camped on Lost Lake and enjoyed some endless sun on a quiet lake reflecting the icy glaciers of the North peak of Hood. It's almost unreal that in just two hours we can be here, in a quiet, remote land, where the standing trees here were mostly born in the 1,600's! I actually counted an old growth tree that was cut down to be 450 years old! As people here on the North American Continent, we are young and new. The contrast to what was and what is, is well, inspiring. This is such a remarkable place to spend time thinking about time. We did some kayaking and spent time with the great Mt. Hood waterbound.

Pelicans

While spending some time at the coast we spent the afternoon at one of our favorite beaches, Hug Point. One the way our daughter told us she was going to see lots of pelicans. While that is all together possible, it is just not so probable. However we arrived and after a few minutes on the beach we were stunned to see a giant flock of fishing pelicans. They were just mesmerizing and with the sunlight shining right through the water it looked like we might be in Thailand. I thought a panoramic was the only way to really show off the surf and those pelicans. You never know what you will experience on the Oregon Coast.

Camera Obscura

About a year and a half ago I was sitting up late thinking of designs for a camera obscura, that could be easily accessed by adults and kids alike, something waterproof for outdoors, and that will withstand the Oregon weather! A tall list, so during one of my late night creative insights I thought how the perfect camera obscura would be a revolving darkroom door. Only thing is they are often about $2000 before shipping!!! I found one on the east coast on ebay for a few hundred in poor shape, then on a whim I check the Portland Craigslist only to find one that had been posted ten minutes earlier at 11:55pm just outside of town for a song!!! This is how affirming creativity can be. I spent the process of a rainy winter cleaning, priming, painting, creative wool baffles, securing the camera to it's base and so creating a magnetic aperture set that the kids can interchange for different light and effects. The camera obscura is installed in the lower playground of Multnomah Playschool, where my daughter attended playschool for the past two years. It has been life inspiring to see kids and adults alike take in the amazement of the living world question what we see and how light works. It's unreal to see the world upside down and backwards moving, and all projected through a hole the side of a paper punch. The image wraps around the entire inside of the camera from floor to ceiling! Here are a few images of the camera, and a few photos corrected for orientation that were taken of the image reflected onto the camera wall.

Car Pe Diem!!!

You just never know what the day holds until it comes. I am always amazed at life and the intricate connections it is always offering. Just last November I met a woman from my home town, who I'd never met, yet we shared so many connections. Over the past six months she has proven to be a client, teacher, friend, and most of all a contagious inspiration! It's like we've needed to know each other and with each day I am so grateful for her presence. Through her dance collective team AWOL's Grande Opening Performance, coupled with their passion for the arts and networking, I am going to be showing some of my images along with other artists, Saturday night, 8pm, at NE 10th & Flanders for the grand opening of AWOL's new space. Emily is a little of everything and an amazing artist she is. She will be presenting with the AWOL Collective Team an aerial dance performance you'd be better for seeing. The whole experience is only $5, so get out this Saturday, support the arts, have a ball, a beer, and experience art at the ground level, Portland Style!

Climbing at Smith Rock

Summertime in spring, sunscreen, blue sky, and open rock at Smith Rock. Delightful! The vista from the belay point is a stunning wrap of rock hitting the high desert and a wandering creek where birds spend the days riding the currents. We had a solid group of climbers and made our way up and down the face and cracks all day. Off the wall I enjoyed playing with light and shadow. These are a few of my favorites!