Sunday, December 18, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Mimeographed
My friend Alicia hit me up today with a picture of her street performing on Colley Avenue yesterday. Some would call her a mime though, to me, if you're not in the white makeup with the striped shirt, there is room for interpretation.
Alicia in Colley Avenue
Anyway, I'm stoked and inspired at her balls and whimsy and put together this little post of pictures of street performance and art inspired by it.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
jEScO jESiO jEScO jESiO jEScO jESiO jEScO
Recently I learned my interview with Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia director Julien Nitzberg is the most read story ever on AltDaily. Nice to hear, nice accolade, sure. For me, the best part of that statistic is its subject. I really care about Jesco and co., both as individuals and as representatives of the hard-to-explain truth-myth hybrid I call Appalachia.
As more readers are exposed to this story on the White family, they are also exposed to all the stuff surrounding it. Debates continue to spark. Are they rebellious anti-heroes? Are they moochers and addicts? Obviously the answers to both of these questions is yes. They are. They are also exploited and aware of it and maintain their own sense of freedom within the parameters of lives they navigate, but to destinations predetermined by forces larger than even White.
We come from the same world: where you're addicted to Jesus or to the Devil and there's very little room for in-between in the minds of your community. Jesus may come with cleaner clothes and more money but he often comes with corruption and politicking after the final hymn, over ham and green beans in a townie's eat-in kitchen.
The Devil brings many types of fire. Hellfire, surely--a concept rarely punctured into sinners as they make their biweekly pilgrimages out of hollers and creekbeds to the post office and liquor store. This conviction is instead whispered among the do-gooders as though they were dandelion tendrils, whirring and buzzing audibly round their ears. This sinner doesn't make much eye contact. Keeps his head low and alert high, as confrontation in his world ends in bruised bodies, not egos.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Houses and Homes
Friends or followers of jESiOwastaken know I shoot photography around the 757---and that it's largely comprised of bands (like the recent Flaming Lips concert ) or architectural angles. This post isn't really about that.
I'm trying to get a part time gig with my day job shooting Airbnb listings but don't have a fancy, schmancy portfolio....and I'm limited on real estate type shots. I should probably put one together at some point but seem to be doing okay (getting lucky) referring people to this blog.
Anyway, here are some pics from my, ahem, portfolio that are house-y or home-y enough to submit for entry. So, regular readers consider this kind of off topic blog post a necessity in my future happiness. And Airbnb photography department: let's talk!
Recognize this place? Thought you might.
And this guy? Yeah, he's my boss too!
Environment example
Pretend my husband wasn't there.
Fancy listings have fountains, no?
Who doesn't love hardwoods and houseplants?
Models aside, check out this loft in downtown Norfolk! Wouldn't you want to throw a party there?
So there's some random examples. A full monty of my blog photography can be found here. Also, I get published sometimes:
Friday, November 18, 2011
Went to a wedding last month at New Canton Plantation in Church Hill, TN. This also marked another Airbnb trip for me. I got stay at Hannah's lovely little house in historic Abingdon. She was an actress and had all sorts of cool books and theater swag in the space. It was great because it allowed me to spend the weekend wondering around an 1840s plantation in between visiting The Trail Cafe and an operational mill from the 1700s. Here are some pics of the wedding and plantation. For the full monty, check out the Flickr.
This window is older than the Civil War. Like whoa.
The Atlanta based artist Bill Birdsong owns the plantation. His work and other fine art is on display throughout.
There was also a plethora of vintage photography.
I love these ladies.
And that gentleman.
We had full access to the mansion because we were family of the wedding party.
