Faces of the Recession

As one of the many who have been laid off and affected by the Recession when I came across this blog by Photographer Andy Cook, I was greatly moved.

Photographer Andy Cook, was laid off in December of last year and decided to hit the road and document the many faces of the country who have also been affected by the Recession.
















Do check out Andy Cook's blog:
http://facesoftherecession.blogspot.com

F Train

I took this picture of the workers on the Downtown F Train at the Sixth Avenue station yesterday with my Iphone. Such an awesome New York moment. It couldn't be more better...well if only I had my proper camera!

Sunday afternoon at the MET and Roxy Paine

Last month after I dropped off my Grant application to the Brooklyn Arts Council in DUMBO, I decided to take the opportunity to enjoy the last of the great weather; so I stopped by the park at the Brooklyn Bridge. This little girl playing by the water seemed to perfectly capture beautiful day.

I get really frustrated with young artists or designers who yap about all the great ideas they have and don’t take any action because they’re waiting for a manufacturer, sponsor, or whatever to help. Or even worse, they’re waiting to “make it big” to realize these projects.

— Tobias Wong

Endless Possibilities.....

So recently I have been completely overwhelmed by some new personal possibilities in my life. While this is a positive situation, I think it might be driving me completely crazy. My mind is contently ticking away wondering where these possibilities might lead me. I'll leave it at that until the reality of it actually reveals itself to me. Until then I'll leave you with a piece I recently finished for a show in Boston.

Albert Maysles

This time last year I was working with Albert Maysles at the gallery on his exhibition (and the accompaning book), 'A Maysles Scrap Book'.




















I must say that in all my time here in New York, it has been one of my most enjoyable professional and personal encounters. To hear about the people he filmed and photographed over the years was incredible. I wish I could focal and paint a picture of this wonderful and beautiful man, but sadly I cannot. To anyone who loved Grey Gardens, I would suggest checking out the book and watching some of his interviews. As an artist he is just so inspiring to hear him talk about his work, and as a person he is so intriguing and joyous to watch.

I really hope the new film not only captures the spirits of the Beale's, but also the shows what extraordinary film makers David and Albert were.

I have fallen in Love...and his name is Charlie Lucas

While his words are simple his sentiment expresses my artistic frame of mind perfectly right now.
























Charlie Lucas
'Mask'
1988

"My career is at the point that I want it to be. I don't care if my name is in lights. My art is my family and friends. Through the Kind Spirit the pieces that I don't sell talk to me and teach me."
(Charlie Lucas from Miriam Fowler interview in 1991)

Lovely deterioration...

These are some test Polaroids that I did last year. I found these as I was on my monthly achieving duties. I know Polaroid prints don't have the greatest shelf life but I couldn't believe they were already deteriorating. They could've been stored better but that was fast. Supposedly have should last for about 5 - 20 yrs.

Oh, well I must say I kinda love whats happened to them, very other worldly.

One City Exhibition

So last Friday was the first real exhibition of my work. Dispite my trepidation, everything went really well. The placement of my work couldn't have been better and a really great crowd came out for the show.





























































Some other pieces that we enjoyed....



































This video piece about being a young female Muslim artist was really great.





And this collage was exquisite, if I had any money I would've died to take this work home with me.

Gratitudes:

1. This amazing little girl, who on my down time during my trip was a ray of sun shine that made feel like kid again. I received so much love from her and her family that I felt like I was home.

2. I-phone wireless access

3. The kind, outgoing and open nature of the Southern people

4. Beautiful and vast landscapes stretched out in front of my eyes

5. Pecan Pie, Boiled Peanuts, Corn Bread

6. How the City of Birmingham itself smells of BBQ

7. BBC Radio 1 on the Sirius satellite radio that I had in my rental car. Without Sarah Cox and Chris Moyles... I may have gone out of my mind listening to vast amount of country music that seems to be the only thing that I heard on local radio. It was also a great trip down memory lane to my college days back in Glasgow.

8. New Franz Ferdinand album...AMAZING!

9. Sitting around the table reminiscing with relatives about family stories and the old days

10. Finally after all these weeks of stressing how to get my photos done for this show, and all the mis-steps that occurred, I have finally finished my images for the show

Dear Iphone,

Thank you for the santity that you have provided me in this land of isolation (ie no WiFi) that exists here in rural northern alabama. The Pecan Pie almost makes up for it...almost!


-Liz

Hopeful

These closing paragraphs of Obama's Inaugural Address not only make me feel hopeful for the countries future; but in the midst of our current crisis, also for own own future as well.


"So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."

The Rodger Family Archive

One of my daily activities of the past few years has been to continued process of archiving my family photographs. My favorites always seem to be the one's that involve them living they're daily lives.