I have been exploring ways to see creative music for nearly 30 years. At first, documenting the musicians whose spiritual creativity moved my own creative soul, and eventually seeking to transform my intuitive experience of the music into the visual medium of photography. How does one photograph the music itself? The exhilaration for me is when light waves transcend the boundaries of sound and sight.
In the late 90s I experimented with movement and montage, seeking to abstract the feeling—rather than document the performer. I made very large mosaics in an attempt to reflect how all-encompassing the music felt to me. In 2001 I reluctantly crossed the digital divide and was surprised to find an instrument that could give voice to my vision.
I’m now exploring how pixels can explode into textures and colors beyond what is seen through the viewfinder. I approach it as a collaborative form of art making; when the music moves me, I move too—I don’t hold my camera still. Recently I showed my new work to flautist and composer Nicole Mitchell who commented that “it looks like what I see inside my head when I am playing”. My newest work returns to montage; reflecting rhythmic patterns which some musicians have compared with their own contemporary forms of musical composition and improvisation. My current process of composition has evolved from composing through the viewfinder of my camera to creating compositions on my computer where I find I can orchestrate images in infinite variations, as I seek to transform music through the alchemy of shadow and light.
Dear Lauren. Thanks for friendship, Lauren.I hope you're doing good.Thank you again for the photos you gave me 3 or 4 years ago in Chicago. Friendly. Bernard.
Hey Lauren, thanks for the frienship and the add. What a unique and fasicinating way to look at music!Looking forward to seeing more. Drop a line anytime. Peace
Ain't it the truth? And I'm glad I got to see them too! Awesome! Thanks for visiting my studio and taking time to look at my work as well. See you on myspace, lol! ~ A
Hi Lauren! I saw you at Jazz Chicago, making an announcement after a performance. You go girl! What a party! I posted a pic from the fest in our Photos Album.
The Ass Whuppin'! WE HIT f/ Discopoet Khari B ALL THE WAY LIVE at the Spoken Word Cafe 4655 S. King Dr. 10:00p $10 Energy way past 10, ya dig? Come get some...
Yeah, it's grown since it's initial posting. Kobe and Lael Watkins has now joined the squad and a few mo' ! Ya'll ain't neva seen energy like this!
Special thanks 2 Fourth Eye Photographics and the Ra Group 4 the plug.
Please listen, please love, please spread the word WIDE “the People’s Vocal…Undiluted!!! Undoubtedly all the music U’ve been missing, something 4 your minds and yo behinds
Every Wednesday from 7pm-10pm CST …and rebroadcast throughout the week on your station “eradicating ‘ignance’ one song at a time,”
