More enthusiastic guests

The real test of anything cool is to ask a teen what they think. I had three very lovely girl’s stop by for a short visit with their Mother, none of whom I’d previously met. I told them what Anuvue was about and what my future plans were and they were all very enthusiastic. When I can make three teenage girls grin from ear to ear (and eyes light up, dance and sparkle)…well people… that’s a very good sign. They graciously modeled for me in front of my little mural and well, you can see for yourself, just how charming these three are…

Visitors and new Friends

Today was visiting day at Anuvue… It gave me unexplainable joy to see some of the Artist’s take a look around for the first time and to meet fellow members. I’m all about having it feel more like a Family of people all trying to create something wonderful together and I could see they all felt the same…that we were all about to embark on a great shared adventure

It was wonderful to see the excitement on their faces as I described the full vision of what is still to come (and describing what’s in my head is never easy). I have to laugh because one of my lifelong friends, Jamie, left me a voice-mail… and it all these years… it was the first time I’ve ever been able to render her speechless… when she saw the classroom she will teach in.. Now that alone was worth it 😉

Meet some new Friends…

Photos (Mostly) by Jim McGill. (He’s the one behind the laptop bag.)

The meaning…

“Just when I discovered the meaning of life, they changed it…”

George Carlin

One room almost down…

You’ve seen the sneak preview of the classroom and now the Sony Bravia is in place. I watched the latest James bond flick on it and I am here to say…I was in 007 Heaven. ( I know you may be shocked, but yes, I am a BOND Fanatic…even have a secret agent watch!) Anyway, this beautious flat screen will allow a Teacher to show demonstrations to the Students from a lap top… while the Students themselves follow on screen.

The Teacher’s desk, files and shelving just came in from San Francisco…And where else was I to get orange furniture …people? It’s all so cool, powder coated in bright orange… with everything on wheels…and it was quite reasonable to my pocketbook. I SIMPLY LOVE IT.

Check out the hour glass on the desk. It has bright green sand and it really pours for one hour. The Teacher can flip it to allow a break at the end of each sand cycle! The 2 bright orange chairs behind the Teacher’s desk will actually be under the flat screen…waiting for use by a Parent wishing to participate in their child’s Art Class. I know how much my own Friend’s loved being involved when their children were young so…well, you get the idea.

All the white student desks and chairs fold up so that everything in the room is portable. It allows me to basically fold it all up from a classroom and turn it into a photography studio. I’ll add some roll down backdrops, a few props and voila…instant studio! Oh yeah… a Model might be good too! 😉

There is a tiny model changing room in the back…or a storage place for openings when I don’t want to use all the furniture. The Teacher’s desk can roll in front of the flat screen and with a laptop, a Model can see shots taken just moments after the action.

And…all the student desks can be pushed together to become one big banquet table to hold appetizers for the openings… while some artsy video, portfolio or whatever is playing on the flat screen to entertain the gathering. I’m all about multi-purpose and I think this room is up to it…and even better…won’t interfere with the gallery itself.

For you poets ;)

Robert Frost said, “Being a poet is a condition, not a profession.” I understand this. Wanting to write…actually, needing to write can feel like a weight that presses upon me until I just give in and pour out my soul. So, tonight when I try to sleep – if I haven’t written some inane thing or another – the words will roll around in my head like marbles…

Masters who capture moments

The first photograph that caught my young attention was by Irving Penn. It originally served as the cover for Vogue Magazine in 1950. I saw it much later, while in my teens… and for me, it was a turning point in “seeing”. Since then, I have studied and collected books on various Photographers who captured an image that left me with a lasting memory. Below are just a few of the greatest legends…

W. EUGENE SMITH (1918-1978)
Tomoko in her bath, 1967

DOROTHEA LANGE (1895-1965)
At the Cotton Wagon, Migrant Agricultural Worker, Eloy, Arizona, 1940

RICHARD AVEDON (1923-2004)
Nastassja Kinski and the Serpent, June 14, 1981

DIANE ARBUS (1923-1971)
Child with Toy Hand Grenade, Central Park, N.Y.C., 1962

HARRY CALLAHAN (1912-1999)
Eleanor, 1947

EDWARD S. CURTIS (1868-1952)

The Vanishing Race, 1904

HORST P. HORST (1906-1999)

Mainbocher Corset, Paris, 1939

IRVING PENN (B. 1917)
Black and White Vogue Cover, 1950

ALMA LAVENSON (1897-1989)
Eucalyptus Leaves, 1933

ALFRED EISENSTAEDT (1898-1995) 37,000
V.J. Day, Times Square, 1945

TINA MODOTTI (1896-1942)
Mexico, c. 1926

EDWARD WESTON (1886-1958)
Fiftieth Anniversary Porfolio, 1902-1952

JULIA MARGARET CAMERON (1815-1879)
Study of a Magdalen, July 1874

HENRI CARTIER-BRESSON (1908-2004)
Siphnos, 1961

ALFRED STIEGLITZ (1864-1946)
The Steerage, 1907

ANSEL ADAMS (1902-1984)
Vernal Fall, Yosemite Valley, 1948

LISETTE MODEL (1899-1983)
Reflections, NYC, Rockefeller Center, 1939-45

Margaret Bourke-White (1904-1971)
Fort Peck Dam, Montana 1936

Paul Strand (1890 – 1976)
Blind woman, New York, 1917

Imogen Cunningham (1883 – 1976)

Marsh, 1901

Fan Ho (B. 1932)

Approaching Shadow 1952

Great Quote by the Master

“There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept.”

— Ansel Adams

Today is carry a poem in your pocket day

I carried this one…

If you sit down at set of sun
And count the acts that you have done,
And, counting, find
One self-denying deed, one word
That eased the heart of him who heard,
One glance most kind
That fell like sunshine where it went–
Then you may count that day well spent.

But if, through all the livelong day,
You’ve cheered no heart, by yea or nay–
If, through it all
You’ve nothing done that you can trace
That brought the sunshine to one face–
No act most small
That helped some soul and nothing cost–
Then count that day as worse than lost.

George Elliot 1819 -1880

Who indeed?

My Green Eyed Monster