Blog Archives
The Power of SHe on FB
As of yesterday afternoon, my Power of SHe project has made it’s way onto facebook. This? This is your official invitation. 🙂
For those of you who’ve been following this blog for some time know all about the Power of SHe, for those who don’t, here’s the press bio for my little art instillation: The Power of SHe is about how we, as self-identified Women, define ourselves in light of how society and the media seek to define and confine us.
I’ve been working on the Power of SHe for some time now. It’s been exhibited twice, and continues to grow. I believe it is a very important body of work, and something we desperately need. So I hope you’ll join us as the journey continues. The more the merrier. Let’s force a shift from art project to movement. We can make change happen!
The Art of Drag – TNG
I’ve posted before about the glorious art form that is DRAG, so consider this post The Art of Drag – The Next Generation.
A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of being the official photographer at a rather phenomenal event here in Saskatoon. It was the True Colours Drag Show hosted by the Avenue Community Center. All sorts of performers, from current Drag Superstars to those who are the future of the art, all performing together in a grand spectacle. It really was a brilliant night, and I am so thrilled to have played a part – even just a small one. So here are a few names to remember:
Pandora strikes Lily-Ann mute!
Okay, so y’all are probably getting sick of me mentioning the Goddess Girls series… well… too bad! LOL Today the challenge was to photograph something that I’m reading, and that’s what I’m reading. Book nine: Pandora the Curious.
Our copy of Pandora the Curious by Suzanne Williams and Joan Holub.
Usually we’ve been inside the heads of the popular girls, but the last couple of books have taken us inside a couple of secondary characters (the girl and I ADORED Medusa the Mean). Pandora, along with Medusa and Pheme are the anti-heroines to the cool clique of Artemis, Athena, Aphrodite and Persephone. So it’s kinda fun to get to see inside their lives.
This book, in particular, is awfully special to Lily-Ann. The first time she saw it she was actually rendered speechless for the first time in her five and a half years… well… since she uttered her first word (which happened to be “woof”) at three months of age anyway. 😉 What exactly caused her awestruck silence? Take a peek:
There she is, the first name on the third line… Lily-Ann S.
Kid kid managed to keep her wits about her when she saw that it was an autographed copy (she has a couple other autographed books too)… but seeing her name actually inside the book? Her jaw dropped and her eyes nearly bugged out of her head. She just stood there and stared at it for several seconds, completely mute. It was pretty amazing.
Lily-Ann LOVED the little heart. 🙂
So, that’s what we’re reading right now. And I imagine we’ll keep on reading the Goddess Girls books for as long as Joan and Suzanne keep writing them. I do have to admit… I really look forward to the day that kid kid goes back on her own to read #1 all by herself.
You can keep up with Joan and Suzanne at the following addresses: www.joanholub.com www.suzanne–williams.com
Lily-Ann (hat hair and all) proudly showing off her Goddess Girls books.
Suzanne and Joan thank you so much! You’ve given the girl and I many wonderful memories and are helping to build a love of books in a new generation – and that is something that deserves much appreciation.
Join me tomorrow as I share a little “happiness”:
Breaking the Silence is Fast Approaching
Though our sky was dark and dreary for much of the day today, my heart was happy as I look forward. We are coming into crunch time for planning this years Breaking the Silence conference. This conference is something that is very near and dear to my heart and I am so blessed to be on the board. And while our key theme this year is a sporting one (focusing on issues in the locker room and beyond) it will deal with the same truths we all care so much about, bullying and living as our authentic selves. I’m looking forward to another highly successful conference this March.
The website still contains information from 2012, but it should be updated shortly with information on our keynote and registration for 2013: http://www.usask.ca/education/breaking-the-silence/
Things are looking up! 🙂 The view from my front walk.
And join me tomorrow as we take a look at my “daily routine” in another exciting photo a day challenge post:
Favourite: on collecting art
I spent a lot of my time through the morning and afternoon thinking about what I could share for “favourite”. After all, there are so many ways a person could go with such an open ended photography challenge. I thought about it while brushing my teeth, while running errands, while watering the plants… It wasn’t until it was almost time to pick up the girl from kindergarten that I settled on my subject matter. I would share my favourite piece of art.
I’m an art collector. I love original art. Due to lack of funds I often have to be creative to feed this particular passion. Trading and bartering are wonderful things – and something I encourage even in my own line of work. As a photographer I’m happy to trade time and skill with other artists and craftspeople.
My collection includes work by local talent, and those across the globe from me. It includes digital works as well as more traditional pieces. I’ll admit to the inclusion of a print as well – it’s an Emily Carr, and as much as it would thrill my soul to have an original of hers, purchasing one would put us out on the street… where it’s especially difficult a collection.
And through all this variance, and all this beauty? My current favourite piece of art is hanging on my fridge:
An untitled, four part piece, in ink, glitter, and stickers on construction paper by Lily-Ann Smith and her Uncle, Wilson Yandt:
One of my favourite memories from our first month in this house was watching the two of them sitting at her art station shortly after my brother had moved in. I loved listening to the back and forth, the love and genuine sharing. It filled my heart in a huge way. And I think what they created together is beautiful. It is bright, vibrant and full of goodness. There is a real possibility it may end up in a frame before the Winter is out. I think it would break my heart if anything were to happen to it, so while it’s on the fridge now, I think it will be much safer behind glass.
Tomorrows challenge will be much easier. 😉
Breakfast; the most important meal of the day
I know, just as you do, how important a good hearty breakfast is. It really can make all the difference to your day. I know the days when I take a little extra time to have a half waffle with berries, OJ, and a sausage link are often some of my best.
A good breakfast gives fuels your day. It keeps you energized and helps your creative juices flow. It helps you feel your best and helps you be your best, thusly spreading to those around you too.
However…
Is it odd that while I was typing the “…” I was saying, in my head of course, “dun, dun, dun” slowly stepping down from note to note in a ominous minor key? 😉 Nah, I didn’t think so.
…we don’t always have time to set aside for this all important meal. So sue me. It just doesn’t happen. Heck yeah I love days where I can lounge about leisurely in the morning until I begin to feel sunshiny. At which point I can saunter into the kitchen and pull out all the many implements required to make said fabulous breakfast. Then bake, fry, and slice up my very favourite morning foods. Afterwards savoring every succulent satisfying bite.
Great. Now I’m craving maple syrup drenched bacon and buttermilk pancakes slathered in butter with a pulpy fresh orange juice. Nice.
Today though, like most. Just wasn’t one of those days. So I hopped in the shower (thankfully Damon was home today so he fed the kid while I washed my greasy mess of hair), grabbed a banana, the girl, and my bag and jumped in the car with my Mom and sister for a trip to the Warman thrift shop.
Ta da! My breakfast:
…and yes, I am still on the lookout for some pretty pink placemats.
Want to join in on the photo a day challenge for January? Here’s the shot list:
January Photo Challenge
Okay, so this thing was floating around for January 2012… but lets face it, many of us didn’t see it until the second, or third, or fourth, or maybe you were even more out of touch with the memes of the day and didn’t see it until a week or two into January last year or heck! Maybe you didn’t even see it at all. LOL The point (and yes, I do have one) is that by the time you’d seen it, the thing had already started and, well… who wants to jump in late. So when fellow MomWriter friend of mine posted it on her FB wall today, a bunch of us figured “what the hell”, and have decided to do it this year.
So, here’s to Gina Cook-Maggard, Kimber Bush Schmahl, Sharon Wren, Jessica Ferguson Pearce (yes, I’m holding you to it too), Pam Kock, and anyone else who wants to join us this January. I’ll be taking crappy iPhone photos – because while I’m a photographer, totally corny, crappy, iAnything can be super fun.
And because I’m all about honesty, here I am. Badly in need of a shower, greasy hair, and make-up done by my five year old – and totally rocking the look I might add. LMFAO That’s right, chin out, totally bad in all the right ways. LOL
Wow, you can really see my freckles in that dog awful fluorescent light. LMAO Oh well. Blotchy or not, I’m still awesome. 😛
And then me, looking slightly cuter, less “center stage”. LOL Figured I’d snap a shot with a sketch app I’ve got on my phone. I downloaded the update today so figured I’d check out the changes. 🙂 I like this new feature where it uses the actual colours from the photo. Usually it’s all rainbow or all one colour, so that’s a nice upgrade.
Now, you’ve seen mine, let’s see yours! 😀
Looking Back
There are times when everything is so chaotic in our lives that it can be easy to idealize the way things used to be. Of course, the truth is people’s lives were full back then too… but it is nice to envision a fairy tale simplicity; the not-quite-accurate bygone days. There are times though, when you stand still long enough to realize our lives really aren’t that much different. Our values are the same, as are our priorities. Okay, so that may not be true for all people, but it is for us. Family comes first. And we do everything we can to give Kid Kid as amazing and rich a childhood as we can. The holidays just tend to put the focus there, even for those who normally are too busy living to really notice.
A quiet moment with Santa.
Family Photography at Dusk
Dusk is a time of day often neglected by photographers. The poor light tends to cause folk of our ilk to shy away in favour of brighter times, especially considering dusk is shortly after the “golden hour” with it’s beautiful warming rays. However, dusk can be a lovely time to shoot.
The low light of dusk creates images reminiscent of yesteryear, with it’s last filtered rays of sunshine… It is exceptionally moody, creating romance and intrigue. Especially during the late Autumn or early Winter when rosy cheeks and noses only add to the feeling of crispness. Here are a few photos from a recent shoot to inspire you to get out there and create during this mostly ignored time of day:
My thanks to the St. Onge family for braving the chilly air in search of these shots. It was a pleasure working with you!
