I walk here so often, that it does run the risk of feeling ho-hum, or even, dare I say it, ordinary. When I feel this, it’s time to bring my camera. It’s time to notice.
🐦
“Effie…I will not be pigeon-holed.”
Sometimes I like to imagine birds having conversations.
Especially pigeons. These were far off, but body language still talks.
at 7am
Small things seen at sunrise, are so easy to miss in the morning midweek rush.
to beg
Finding myself
who normally rejoices
in the darkness of winter,
never one to need anything to come alive
on my behalf,
begging for Spring
the hope of Seasons.
3 Variants
I recognize I am air in varied states of holding and letting go. At times, too much is contained which forces the release. Other times I am light and free, invisible, having let go of the weight. Often, as is today, I am holding things, unable to rest, unable to release, a mist seen but not felt. The idea is there, but it is both too much and too little to transcend.
Shoestring #5
To end this fun series, I chose my favorite portrait, and possibly the most recognizable. Britt Lower (aka Helly R) playing “Queen” at the Shoestring circus, after filming season 2 of Severance. Dope that I am, despite being a huge fan of season 1, AND being very braggy about never forgetting a face, I had no clue who this was. My mind was in circus mode. I simply snapped this image of a pretty woman playing ukulele on a tent.
I may have even accidentally bumped into her while she welcomed people and showed them their seats before the show, but I can't be sure 🤣. Had I realized, I would have told her just how much I appreciate her work, because good art is good art, regardless of the medium. Still, I'm thrilled to have caught this portrait of an artist I admire.
For now, this concludes circus week. I’ve set the reminders in my calendar to purchase tickets April 2nd, and you can bet I’ll be attending again, camera in tow!
Shoestring #4
An acrobatical abstract,
where the performer isn’t
the only one holding her breath.
Shoestring #1
One of the interesting things about living in a semi-small, liberal arts town is that you get access to quirky goings on. Many things have changed in Bellingham over the years, but thankfully there remains an undercurrent of artists, performers, creatives, and the like, people interested in making investments in our community through creativity, talent, and fun. I’m more than happy to support these events. Having kiddos makes it extra fun.
In honor of tickets going on sell in about a month, this week I’m sharing a few photos from the local/regional 2024 Shoestring Circus. A friend of mine invited our family to the inaugural performance two years ago, (thanks Teizeen) and we’ve been hooked. This year they’re expanding, again, because guess what? People love the circus. People appreciate exceptional talent, goofiness, cotton candy…Check out the link above if you’re in the PNW, looking for a fun summer activity.
Hopefully you enjoy this visual departure from my normal mood. It’s spring, after all!
inscrutable
the Galvanized woman
who sees it all, spread before her,
the necessary intuition,
the overwhelm that comes from being
unable to compartmentalize.
Galvanized woman
who moves to find her heart beat in anything,
in ultrasound focus.
oh the inconsistencies, oh the insecurities.
Inscrutable nothing.
Inscrutable everything.
a snow day
Making the most of a modest amount of accumulation, our youngest still maintains the can-do spirit around the cold, excited for even the lighter of dustings. Plus, she didn’t have school today. Nothing to be mad about here.
I’m trying to be better about catching family moments, instead of just creating artful representations around our goings on.
My, how the turn tables… years ago my goal was to see things differently, share things differently. The big hope was to create art, less personal to our family, but more universal, around nature, life, and belonging. This goal has been firmly accomplished and solidified.. I’m proud of the work, happy to convey the mystical around this world of ours. BUT.. in a striving for balance, I do hope I can also photograph moments for what they are this year.
And, so, this is our almost nine year old, on the cusp of adolescence, seen from the porch, working the hill with a vintage Radio Flyer. She’s loving every minute of it, despite the lack of detail and monochrome edit.
Lake Padden, Washington, via iPhone 15
CYH No. 1
The blue heron makes a sound like the world is ending.
Ripping like doomsday through the air.
a regal beak, a torrential sound.
I thought life might be over, if you’d heard it too, you’d know.
once more with feeling
Interrupting Canadian imagery from our trip to bring you a surprise I experienced at 11:07pm last night. It lasted about 15 minutes and was stronger in color visible to the naked eye than what we saw months ago.
I can’t believe I’ve now seen the aurora twice this year.. life is full of the unexpected.
context is everything
Windows and doors
and false starts
and hopes for nothing
and hopes for everything
and some longing for a view,
and others longing for a new path.
Bound/Influenced
What it feels like to be a wave
Influenced by a small thing you can never touch,
Pushed and pulled always in motion.
To hold such force..
But only within the confines of
That small thing that binds you.
That thing that is smaller than you.
That thing you can never touch.
Creature #5
In times of joy, all of us wished we possessed a tail we could wag. ~ W. H. Auden
Blue
A simple kind of blue,
Collected, released, dispersed.
Allowed to exist in many states, and not end.
Blue feels hopeful. Blue feels… simply eternal.
Even when things around are complicatedly finite.
Alternate
Mountains as the backdrop of a lake, or a small tide pool? ;-)
🌼
these beautiful things that I’ve got
Summer Rise
Summer,
descended like a daze on my mind
a shapeshifting todo list,
a lack of clarity…
but at least, a capacity for color.
Archived Daisies
2021, Rental House in Bellingham
Something audacious about making this image monochrome, when the sky was the brightest blue, and the greens, shocking. We find little acts of rebellion everywhere ;-)