MySpace a place for friends

Thank you for visiting my profile. Please keep in mind that this is my personal myspace profile page, as well as a networking page for my photographic efforts. If I don't know you or haven't met you, then please be aware that I may not acknowledge your friend request (without emailing me first). If you have me on your 'Top Friends' list and would like to be added to mine, please just send me an email to let me know...
I was quite pleased to have one of my photos selected for an art show called "Damned", which was held on Oct. 30th, 2008 at the Tangent Gallery in Detroit:

I have also recently had one of my photos accepted into the Dirty Show Fine Art Exhibit in Detroit:


I was born with Spina Bifida, and struggle with the effects of SB (particularly as I age). However, I try to not let that fact hold me back too much. (Information about Spina Bifida can be found at www.sbaa.org )
I enjoy many different activities including photography (digital and 35mm), photo manipulation, jewelry making, costuming, historical reenacting (particularly Civil War era and Midieval), props, community theatre, art, gemology, astronomy, crafts, and a few other odd things...
I have a bit of an entrepreneurial spirit,and I'm a D.I.Y. type of person. For example, many years ago I decided to create and distribute my own line of greeting cards. Instead of looking for a job with Hallmark, I decided to find out for myself how to copyright my own designs and then I 'hit the pavement', selling my cards to local gift shops and art galleries.
I have exhibited my artwork (assemblages) as well as my photography. I have experience in community theatre (props, costuming, makeup, playbill, set dressing, lighting, sound, and hospitality), television production (certified by Southwestern Oakland Cable Commission and worked several positions as production crew for a local public access tv show called "On the Scene"), and Midieval as well as Victorian historical reenactment groups. (I'm a card carrying member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, and let's just say I've done a Renn fair or two...) Here's a link to my wardrobing profile:

This summer I had the wonderful opportunity to work on wardrobe for a short film which was an official selection of Christopher Coppola's PAH Fest 2008 film festival:


My increasing health problems have made it extremely difficult for me to continue to live as actively as I used to be able to do. However, I still consider myself quite fortunate despite my physical challenges. I have many varied life experiences- mainly because I'd rather try something and fail than to regret never having tried something which interested me. I am able to balance that 'joi de vivre' with a dose of pragmatism, though...After surviving the corporate rat race in an assortment of different jobs (advertising agency, insurance companies, and even the Sisters of Mercy- the Provicial Offices of the real S.O.M., not the band), I spent 12 years at one job 'putting in my time' in the corporate world until I had to go on disability a few years ago.

A few words regarding my photography efforts:
I love to see beauty in unusual things and to portray the beauty of the faded and worn, the overlooked, the neglected...often with a nod to dark topics (This theme also follows through to my jewelry making efforts).
The japanese term "wabi sabi" could describe my work. Here's a partial description of the term, from the www.nobleharbor.com website:
"Pared down to its barest essence, wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and profundity in nature, of accepting the natural cycle of growth, decay, and death. It's simple, slow, and uncluttered-and it reveres authenticity above all. Wabi-sabi is flea markets, not warehouse stores; aged wood, not Pergo; rice paper, not glass. It celebrates cracks and crevices and all the other marks that time, weather, and loving use leave behind. It reminds us that we are all but transient beings on this planet-that our bodies as well as the material world around us are in the process of returning to the dust from which we came."
I find it interesting that photography uniquely enables an artist to be a voyeur and an exhibitionist at the same time. I may seem to be peering into places, people and things, but the end result often exposes more about me and my perspective than about the subject of the photos...
Many of my photographs are architectural or editorial, although this is not deliberate. My interest in art and history draws me to places like cemeteries (I'm a taphophile), museums, old buildings and old towns which time seems to have forgotten.
I have a passion for costuming and props, and have enjoyed shooting theme photos. I have also enjoyed just attempting to capture things as I see them, allowing the viewer to see the world through my (sometimes twisted?) eyes. (It would be great fun sometime to incorporate more of the items in my vast costume and prop collection into a photo shoot!)
I do not create the subjects of my photographs, but I usually attempt to showcase the beauty of them. I find it challenging to show the extra-ordinary in the ordinary, rather than simply photographing subjects which already meet societal standards of beauty.

A more extensive selection of my photography (along with my art and photographic exhibition resume) can be seen at links elsewhere on this profile page. My jewelry making efforts can be viewed at: THIS LINK and HERE. (also, please check my "Interests"...)

~ A few words regarding Model Mayhem:
Ever noticed how the ModelMayhem site hardly ever works? Well, I have. And any site which claims to be a site for professional photogs and models, while permitting "GWC" as an option for profiles and allowing profiles for cats/dogs/teddy bears/etc. can't really be *that* serious about modeling and photography... I am currently looking at other photography/modeling sites whose members are more professional people.

~ Here's a vid from that "Phantom of the Opera" movie remake, which apparently features the Garnier Opera in Paris- it is *so* cool to have been able to see an opera from one of the box seats shown in the film!! The Garnier is even more beautiful in person than it looks in the film, though! (my eternal thanks to my dear friend, Lee, for making that wonderful night happen!!). To see my photos of the Garnier Opera House, check out my "An American in Paris" photo album.

I am 71% Tortured Artist.
..

Art is significant in my life, people are scum but I have the capicity to deal with it. Give it a few more years and I will either forget about art or hate the world.

Take the
Tortured Artist Test
@ FualiDotCom

(Here's a Gregorian chant version of Depeche Mode's "Blasphemous Rumors"- how cool is that?!)

You scored as Nosferatu. You belong to the Nosferatu bloodline. The Nosferatu are the spies and theives of the vampire underworld who prefer to go without being seen. This is fitting as their bloodline has twisted them into hideous, loathesome creatures. As such, most other vampires only speak to them when they absolutely must, making them quite the social outcasts. At least the sewer rats seem to like you. Nosferatu 92% Tremere 75% Malkavian 63% Brujah 63% Gangrel 58% Ventrue 25% Toreador 25% What vampire clan do you belong to? created with QuizFarm.com You Are 89% Feminist You are a total feminist. This doesn't mean you're a man hater (in fact, you may be a man). You just think that men and women should be treated equally. It's a simple idea but somehow complicated for the world to put into action. Are You a Feminist? Your Ideal Relationship is Polyamory You want to have your cake... and everyone else's. Which isn't a bad thing, if everyone else gets to eat too! You're too much of a free spirit to be tied down by a traditional relationship. You think relationships should be open and free, with few restrictions. What's Your Ideal Relationship? You Are 60% Emo You're not emo, but you're plenty thoughtful, unique, and even a little angsty. Are You Emo? You scored as The Trainer. You're a teacher, a trainer. You can take any man on the planet and transform him into Your personnal slave. You use punishments and rewards intelligently. You want Your slave to always improve himself and to be the best slave he can be. And You want him to be well mannered and totally respectful. The Trainer 75% Teasing and "bitchy" 74% Sadistic but indulgent 74% Lifestyler 73% Fussy and demanding 67% Psychologist 65% Humiliatrix 60% The Player 59% Kinky and sex driven 58% Possessive and controlling 57% Cold and distant 53% Loving, caring and with submissive tendencies 53% Female supremacist 44% Extremely sadistic, twisted and pitiless 24% Which kind of Domme are You? created with QuizFarm.com

Who I'd like to meet:

Frida Kahlo, Johnny Depp, Dave Vanian, Bettie Page, Mike Halloran, Gloria Swanson, Cecil Beaton, Anais Nin, Louise Brooks, Rudolf Valentino, Bruce Campbell, Howard Stern, Vincent Price, Stephen Hawking, Mike Rowe, Christopher Reeve, Ben Bailey, and last, but certainly not least, You!