April 30, 2014

An Artist Statement...

Music | April in Paris by Billie Holliday

In the last few minutes of the month of April, I thought it would be appropriate to have Billie Holliday sing off the month along with my spiritual city of Paris...

I was asked to write an artist statement for my exhibition coming up at the begining of June. When the month of May begins, I'll have to have the goal of 20 finished and framed ambrotypes ready to deliver.

To keep my mojo in the positive, I am meeting the deadline of my artist statement, due May 1, which can also be read here. Not so much about me in the general sense, but more precisely, the relation of the process of my photography and the interests of the subject matter...

My path to learn and explore Wet Plate Collodion and my curiosity in Kink started at about the same time. Though a few years passed when I combined my two new interests, I went along my merry way without much thought.

Recently, the question of why I do what I do was asked of me and for some time, I wasn’t sure I had an answer. The one thing I did know was that my passion to learn Wet Plate Collodion had taken hold of me and demanded much of my time. I had fallen in love with photography again much in the same way it did when I first learned to process film, develop prints in the darkroom… Photography was not only visual back then. The sense of touch and smell, timing and hand to eye coordination were abilities one had to hone… Wet Plate Collodion brought all the back and upped the ante, almost if not specifically, spiritual.

As I wandered thru all the world that is Kink, I felt an affinity to rope, and bondage from my Japanese heritage. Shibari and more specifically, Kinbaku, the art of erotic bondage held me much in the same way as my desire to learn Wet Plate Collodion. It was at this point where by natural serendipity that my 2 worlds intertwined.

Through the past 3 years, it wasn’t until recently where I have decided to take on a more active role in learning more about Shibari. Like learning the art of the Wet Plate, I have my moments where the feeling of helplessness rages on in my brain. However, with time and the willingness to move foreword, I’m often rewarded with the feeling of creating and the embracing of souls.


In One Session...

Music | Avalon by Roxy Music

A new Muse... I hope so.

Juliana and I have recently collaborated in informal settings before, but this session was our first formal sitting. We came up with a general game plan in advance. My goal was to have an 8x10 ambrotype for the upcoming exhibition, which is counting down way too quickly. Interspersed between the plates, I used a digital slr and my ipad with the tintype app to "grab" what I could. I thought it was cute, even before we started that Juliana felt nervous. However, I knew I would get what I needed. The filler photos that I don't count on to get meaningful images worked out amazingly well...


Tin Type App


Tin Type App


Tin Type App


Tin Type App


Digital


Digital


Digital


Digital


Digital


8x10 Ambrotype


8x10 Ambrotype

April 20, 2014

2 Minutes of Fame...

Music | Alone in Kyoto by Air

I've ridden the coattails of Françoise Weeks before and I've done it again. This time, Françoise was featured on a local PBS arts program called Oregon Art Beat. The piece was centered around our photo shoot together and I managed to garner a few of my 15 minutes of fame. I'm so happy for this lady as the program truly captures the essence of who Françoise is... understated, brilliant and just a fantastic person!

April 04, 2014

Questions and Answers...

Music | Car Wash by Rose Royce

What is it most we want out of life? I think ultimately, it isn't money, power and most of all, not stuff... At least not for me. Frankly, I never really thought about that question... Today, I was out with some photographers looking at some art. We got into the discussion about why we do what we do. It was pointed out to me that I have life interests that I am exploring photographically. I thought that was rather poetic, but in truth, he was correct. Again, there was a question I never really asked myself, or at least took some time to actually think about. Why do I shoot what I shoot? In my own way, a lot of my subject matter recently has been about finding answers and experience what life has to offer. In all the years of wanting to find my rhythm, my path, little did I know I was actually all ready on it, experiencing it and in the process, getting answers to some questions.

I plan to think more about this topic and hope to generate some sort of artist's statement for an upcoming solo show I am having. I'm realizing that some of these basic questions need to have answers. Communication between me and my viewers is important. I was once in the mindset that my work should speak for itself, but to get to a more profound space, understanding where my work comes from will only be more food for discussion for more concise discussions and hopefully, answers...


... a totally random image out of the archive that has nothing to do with my recent work. At least from what I gather now. :-)>
 
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