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.

Black Lips

Last Sunday, The Black Lips made they're annual appearance at JellyNYC's Pool Party. The new location at East River park obviously can't be beat. Since The Black Lips are one of my favorite bands, it obviously made for a great day. It was hands down the best day of weekend. While the view, as well as the amazing and energetic performance of the Black Lips was amazing, what pushed it over the top was getting to see this great (anonymous) artist sketch the crowd during they're performance.

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

I Love New York

I can't wait till this comes out!

Oh my Heavenly Days.....

Honestly I've been wondering how I'm going to make it through the summer as well as through the affore mentioned situation that at times excites me as well as utterly terrifies me.

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.

How I spent my Saturday....

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.

Worlds Greatest Chef

While I was writing the last post I found this. Boiled peanuts are pretty self explanatory.....but OMG, I love this guy! He is amazing at around the 5min mark onwards.

Gratitudes

Gratitudes list:

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 reminesing 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

Highs and Lows...

So the up side of being Unemployed is that I have finally had the time to get enough work completed that I have my first NYC show coming up next month. Ok, Ok, that's a slight exaggeration, it's actually in Jersey City, but it's a start and I'm really excited about it. The down side is that like the thousand of other Unemployed people in NYC I got called down to the Unemployment office today, which I can only classify as a 3 hrs journey into hell. I think for most people this mandatory workshop/interview is nothing more then a mild inconvenience, but since my previous employment did not fall neatly into their pre-set job categories. It was sheer hell.

I received an hr long lecture on how I needed to change my career, that I was not qualified for any job that would be hiring anytime soon, and that I needed to go to workshops to gain skills that could help me gain skills for real world employment. Although he was looking to help me gain employment, the whole experience was very insulting. He didn't pay attention to my work experience, and told me that my time as a Assistant Director (a very coveted job here in NYC, by the way) was essentially a Secretary job. But more insulting was the fact that he told me that despite my two degrees, from very well known Universities, that I didn't have any real world skills and most importantly that it was foolish for me to be pursuing a career in my field. I'd like to say I took the high road and kept graciously quite, but sadly I did not. I concluded the meeting by telling that I thanked him for his time, but that the 100 plus grand that I spend to educated myself, would not be tossed a side to take a job that I was over qualified for.

Although it sounds as though it were a very tense meeting it wasn't it was just insulting on my part.

On an up note though, there is was an amazing fare sale on airline tickets, so next week I'm jetting off to exotic Northern Alabama to get some much needed Landscape work done. For most this is an odd visit to be excited for but none the less I really am. New York is where my heart is and I couldn't imagine living anywhere else, but Alabama is where my soul lives. Alabama is so inspiring for me. It's been over a year since I've been and I'm itching to get in a car a just see what beautiful landscape I am lead down on those winding country roads.
















I'm so excited to re-discover all my favorite haunts of northern Alabama. I can't wait!

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."

No such thing as False Hopes....

Although we are on the eve of a historical event, I found this speech particularly inspiring. I was a Obama supporter during the election, but i find it particularly inspiring as I currently find myself as many others heavily affected by the Recession. Although not having a job in one of the most expensive cities in the world is hard, I am reminded that there is a light at the end of the tunnel; that with hope anything is possible.

In between frustrating calls to the unemployment office, another one of my daily activities is the continued process of archiving my family photographs. My favorites always seem to be the one's that involve them living they're daily lives.

The Joys and Pains of the Recession....

So to put it lightly the last few months have been kinda crazy for me. I had to move last minute and then a few weeks later I got laid off. On the upside I love my new apartment. It's this amazing loft in the heart of Williamsburg with enough room for studio. My last apartment I could squeeze a backdrop and lights, but sadly you could barely move. While being in the market for a new job in the midst a recession, it has finally afforded me the opportunity to get out of the gallery world and pursue a career in the photography industry. Another great plus is now I finally have the chance to get some work done!

So that being said....I'm finally publishing the pictures I took of my friend who was in town for fashion week.

How much is that Doggie in the Window...

I saw these to on Lexington Avenue on my way home. It almost melted my cold heart! What a great start to the Thanksgiving weekend

Julian Opie

All the way back at the end of October, the gallery that I work at showed at the IFPDA Print Fair. Fairs are fun but hectic, and sadly there is little time left to see what the other galleries are showing. One artist that captured, was Julian Opie's set prints 'Untitled' featured at the Alan Cristina Gallery.

The Coathangers

To all in the New York area, my friends band is in town this week and there worth checkin' out. I'm definitely gonna be there, they put on such a great show. Definitely worth it! If your not in here in NYC, you should look um up. Right now there touring the east coast, up next, Boston and Pittsburg; but their always touring, so check um out, You won't be dissappointed.

Soundtrack of my Life...

So I don't know what prompted this but I got to thinking about my life in the form of the songs that dominated it during certain periods of time.

Fall 2007

'First Love' She Wants Revenge

Winter 2008
'Replacement' She Wants Revenge

Late Spring 2008

'David Nelly' McKay

Early Summer 2008

'Walcott' Vampire Weekend

Late Summer

'Start Wearing Purple' Gogol Bordello

'I'm Not Gonna Teach Him How to Dance With You' Black Kids

Currently:

'Replacement' She Wants Revenge


Looks like I've come full circle, I don't know if thats a good or bad thing. Maybe it symptomatic of how my life is going?! I hope not!

Setting up the new studio....

....for my first real shoot with a professional model (haha, my friend who was in town for fashion week)

pictures to follow soon!

A Modern Love Story.....

Today really was an amazing day, but for an very unexpected reason. After many years, I had the most amazing conversation with my first love. We talked for hours But we were not pining for what was lost or secretly wishing things had been different; but instead, two people who loved each other, remembering and embracing the good and the bad, and loving every minute of it.

What was really nice about the whole experience was realizing that there was still is a lot of love between to two of us after so many years. It may no longer be romantic love, but love no the less. Strong, pure and unfading.

Today really was a great day. It reminded me of something that I was starting to doubt. That love like that was real and very possible to someday find again. It really makes me feel resurged, that any day, just around the corner, in this beautifully chaotic city, that love could be just around the corner.


This Jaded one might just be inching her way towards Hopeless Romantic, who knows only time will tell.

Dmitry Karakazov

Over the last few months I have been reading 'The Gulag Archipelago'. A book that I had tried to read for years, but never had the attention span to give much time to because of school work. Now that I have graduated and am in the real world I have finally been able to fully devote myself to the book. With the current state of Russia, today I got got thinking about the why things have developed the way they have in that region over the last 100yrs. I know thing are very different in Russia now, then they were during the Cold War, but all that has happened recently, paired wit Solzhenitsyn's story of the Russian prison's saddens me greatly.

Today I found this while researching Dmitry Karakazov. I thought it was very fitting of a quote.








"The revolutionary is a doomed man. He has no interests, no affairs, no feelings, no habits, no property, not even a name. Everything in him is wholly absorbed by a single, exclusive interest, a single thought, a single passion--the revolution."

Sadly, I think this might more greatly pertain to the failings of modern life. Thus who are passionate about change often get steam roled

Busted Backup Drive....

Makes for one very sad photographer. Until then it's fixed I guess I'm relegated art related posts.

Today at work as I was researching auction results I found these Warhol prints that I'd never seen before.

I thought these prints were really sweet and whimsical, and a very odd yet intriguing subject matter for Warhol.

It seems that moments like these make me happy that I took this job that at the time seemed a little out of my realm of expertise. Stepping out of your comfort zone can be really enjoyable sometimes.


















(PS. I had more images, that I'll have to upload later, but I'm at work and there's no time for it)