road trip!

"No place is boring, if you've had a good night's sleep and have a pocket full of unexposed film."

This quote by photographer Robert Adams is running through my mind this morning as I pack for a quick road trip to central Kansas. I have a date this afternoon with Derrick and Dustin and early this evening with Carrie and Angie (in Smolan and Lindsborg respectively). I haven't seen them since I photographed them for my twins project back in 2005. We'll do an update of those pictures for the "Twins Revisited" project I'm working on now.

Carrie and Angie

Derrick and Dustin

I love hittin' the road. Who knows what I'll find along the way today and tomorrow? I may not have any unexposed film in my pocket, but I do have lots of CF cards and extra charged batteries!

build a good name

Last year I read and loved Patti Smith's memoir Just Kids, so when I saw this video posted up on my friend Susan's facebook page, I was excited to watch it.

It's six minutes long, but totally worth watching. Patti nails it.

I had got to give a little talk/presentation last night to a group of LA collectors/photo enthusiasts who are in town for the weekend. I was really nervous about it. But somehow, after listening to Patti rock on with her gems of solid advice and inspiration, I felt calm and strong.

got good music?

When Eddie and I got married, the things we merged that became our largest asset (we definitely had more of them than anything else) were our our album collections. In fact, one of the reasons we knew right away that we liked each other was that we shared affection for JT, Joni, Bonnie, Eric Clapton, Jethro Tull, Poco, John Prine, Loggins and Messina, Buffalo Springfield, Dylan, the Beatles, CNS&Y and Jackson Browne. In the early 70's, what else mattered but the music?

I used to buy albums (and before those - 45's) at a place called Barney Miller's. Every Saturday I would take the bus downtown, babysitting money tucked inside my wallet, and hang out among the record bins. At Barney Miller's, there was a listening both - kind of like a phone booth. Once I'd selected the albums I wanted to hear, I could go in there and give them each a listen. Grab a bunch of records, drop the needle on the vinyl and presto! you've got the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon. 

Once I got to Kansas City, I hung out among the bins at Penny Lane. They didn't have a listening booth, but they did have Leroy. He was a sweet, hulking hippie with long thinning hair and oversized wire rims. He always wore overalls. Leroy knew my taste in music and always pointed me toward the right albums to take home.

Then came CDs, which I reluctantly started buying. Leroy would open up the ones he thought I should hear and play them on the store's sound system. My own giant listening booth.

Yesterday I decided I needed to add some new tunes to my music library, which is all neatly categorized and stored on my computer. (I've come a long way, baby.) At any rate, my shopping spree for records now consists of going to iTunes and scrolling through hundreds of releases. It's a daunting task. I can listen to snippets of songs to decide if I want to buy or not. There's a lot of clicking involved. I should have been framing photographs last night, but I went album shopping instead.

I should have been framing photographs this morning, but I went album shopping again - clicking my way through records by artists I like, then artists that iTunes thinks I might like since I liked the first artist, then artists who were favored by other consumers who also liked that first artist. It's a long trail down which to trek, and I could have spent all day with my hiking boots on. 

The funny thing is, I came up empty handed. Audio overload, I guess.

The framing awaits, and so does a good record from my tried and true music library - something I will play on my way groovy Sonos system. 

ephrem solomon tenegn

I'm up to my eyeballs in names and addresses as I assemble my mailing list for the show, but I did take a break recently to feast them on this lovely work. These are by Ephrem Solomon, one of Ethiopia's most talented young artists (born 1985).

b-ball

I'm a huge fan of college basketball, though these days I usually don't get into it full-time until March Madness rolls around. Now that it's over, I have to admit I'm going to miss it a lot. Even the commercials. (Charles Barkley and Alec Baldwin have been hilarious.)

Last night's game between Michigan and Louisville was one of the best basketball games I've ever watched. I went into it rooting for Louisville (even though I'm a  UK Wildcat girl from birth) but found myself early on cheering for Michigan freshman Spike Albrecht. This kid, who is only 5'11" was sinking 3-pointers like there was no tomorrow. He averages like 1 or 2 points a game, but he scored 17 points in a sudden, ferocious burst during the first half (and kept Michigan in the game). Then I got into cheering for L-ville because Luke Hancock (the bearded wonder) finally got his game on, and of course, the camera kept reminding us about sweet (and severely injured) Kevin Ware, smiling broadly from the sidelines after handsome Hancock sunk 3 or 4 long ones in a row to revive his team just before the end of the first half.

If UK or KU is not in the game, I can easily be swayed - my emotions are open to anything during a good college basketball game. 

And the Final Four playoff game night is never complete (and here my emotions overflow) until "One Shining Moment." There's nothing comparable to it in any other sport. Sniff, sniff.

The song was written on a napkin in a bar in 1979 by David Barrett. Here's the backstory:

Barrett, a singer/songwriter from Michigan, wrote the song after seeing Larry Bird star for Indiana State in the 1979 NCAA tournament. In 1986, he passed the song along to high school friend Armen Keteyian, an investigative journalist for CBS Sports and, at that time, Sports Illustrated, who in turn passed it to CBS Sports Creative Director Doug Towey. However, Towey originally planned to debut the song not after a basketball game, but after a football game, Super Bowl XXI. It was to have been the postgame montage from that contest, but CBS ran past the expected airtime and had a primetime show to debut in the next time slot, so the montage was canceled. CBS then asked Barrett for use of the song after the 1987 NCAA championship game, in which Indiana beat Syracuse. Towey decided to use "One Shining Moment" to close CBS' coverage of the Tournament. The positive public response led to it becoming an annual feature. It has been used to end CBS' coverage ever since.

The song has endured. Now sung by Luther Vandross, the first one that aired in 1987 was performed by the songwriter himself. For a walk down memory lane... (at 3:13, is that Pitino??)

Watching "One Shining Moment" always points out what good, honest competition should be about: dreams, hard work, determination, fun and camaraderie. With all the garbage we've seen in college sports these past few years, it's nice to think that these guys (and gals - Louisville's women play tonight for the championship!) really dig deep and play their hearts out during this tourney just because, well, they can.

it takes a village

No, this isn't a post about the children at the orphanage. It's about my upcoming "mid-career retrospective" which is scheduled to open on May 10th at the Bohemian Gallery in Overland Park, Kansas.

I've been working like mad to get everything in order for the show, and I've been really lucky to have had lots of help thus far.

The whole process started with the selection of work (many years are covered in this show). I received a great assist from the incredibly knowledgeable and talented Jane Aspinwall, associate curator of photography at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Jane not only helped choose the pieces but has also figured out where everything will go when we install the show. Plus she kindly wrote the introduction to the catalogue.

Speaking of the catalogue - that has been designed by my good friend Gail Lozoff. I'm so excited for everyone to see it (she hit a home run with this piece!). It's 8" x 8" with 32 full color pages and a vellum cover. The proofs have been gone over with a fine tooth comb by the ever capable Tory, Lynne, Jennifer, Sam and Eddie. It should go to the printer this week. The invitations, also designed by Gail have already been printed and now need addressing.

(There's a lot to do to make this happen!)

My Epson 4900 printer has been working overtime these past few weeks. I've just recently finished making everything. For over sized pieces I have had the capable and friendly assistance of John Hans. He always finds a way to be patient with me and to get good results even when I give him questionable material with which to work.

Then there's the framing. I do most of that myself. Rick Heaviland has done a wonderful job of cutting the mats, glass and moulding - preparing all the materials so I can get everything assembled.

There is still much to do, but I feel like I'm entering the homestretch at this point. Soon enough I will have to figure out how to transport 80 some-odd pieces (!) to the gallery, and then it will be time to work with the gallery staff to get the show installed. The opening will be Friday night, May 10th from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. The exhibition will continue through June 14th.

If you live out of town and are interested in receiving a catalogue, just let me know. If you are in the Kansas City area and would like to bring a group to see the show, I'd be happy to talk with you about personally guiding the group through it. Just contact me so we can set up a date and time.

Finally, if you are not on my mailing list and you'd like to receive an invitation, please contact me and share both your email and snail mail information.

Thanks to everyone who is helping make this come together! It's a dream come true for me. The village will be complete when folks show up at the gallery to take a look at the work. Thank you in advance for that.

early works

Opening Friday night at the Newspace Center for Photography in Portland is an exhibition called "Early Works," a show curated by Laura Moya and Laura Valenti Jelen. It features work taken by about 30 photographers - photographers who are grown now but who made pictures when we were young.

I am happy to be included in the exhibit. The picture the curators chose was taken when I was about 5 or 6. My family had recently moved into a new house on a street that was just being developed. Ours was one of the first houses that was built, so we had a bunch of empty lots to explore. I had to leave behind my boyfriend, Harry B., who lived next door, and my best friend Mary Louise (Weezy) who lived across the street. They came over to my new house to play a few times, but then our friendships kind of petered out. In this picture, they are standing in the empty lot next door to my family's new house. They really got dressed up to come visit me. They were making funny faces for the camera. I don't remember if I asked them to do that or not. Since we were 5 or 6, that's probably just what we thought was good for a picture. I don't know whose shadow that is down in the right hand corner. I love how the hat mimics the hat that Harry B. was wearing. I'd like to think I knowingly included that shadow in the corner of the frame. I doubt it. But here's to happy accidents. They still work for me today.

I hadn't seen Weezy since high school, but I did see her this past fall at our 40th high school reunion She's a teacher and as nice as they come.

I haven't seen Harry B. since we were very, very young. I googled him today. He's a sound and picture editor in LA, who's won some rather prestigious awards and worked on some well known films and TV shows. I found this picture of him. It's shocking to see the face of someone you haven't seen in over 50 years. I used to sneak kisses onto those cheeks.

abbie

My daughter is, among many other things (at present a busy mama to two children in diapers!), a fine photographer. I asked her if it'd be OK to showcase a few of the pics she's been sharing on Instagram lately, and she said "yes." They are seemingly simple, loving shots of the daily goings on of her family, but they go beyond that in so many ways. I don't think it's my mom bias; my daughter has a very "good eye."

Enjoy!

90

If Diane Arbus was still alive, she would have just celebrated her 90th birthday. Kind of amazing.

Here is Arbus in the late 60's, a couple years before she died.

secondary school

Evalyn, Claire Faith and Scovia (beginning Senior 2)

Rose and Fiona (beginning Senior 1)

Another academic year has begun in Uganda. The students have received their uniforms, shoes, books, pencils and hygiene supplies and are off and running! 

CTT's sponsored secondary students take the following mandatory classes:  English, Mathematics, Geography, History, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology.  They also take enrichment classes, including classes such as:  Literature, Fine Arts, Christian Religious Education, Luganda, Kiswahili, Entrepreneurship, Communication, and Computer. Sixteen classes in all! That's enough to make one's head spin.

But just wait until you read about the typical day in the life of a secondary school student:

The school day begins at 3:00 AM, when students wake to complete morning dormitory chores, engage in morning study sessions, participate in organized prayer time, eat breakfast and prepare for their day.  Regular morning classes begin at 7:00 AM and conclude at 4:00 PM.  Each class is held in 40 minute increments. Students typically get a short break during mid-morning and for lunch. After classes, students have the opportunity for some social activities (like clubs or sports), complete personal tasks (like laundry), and eat evening dinner.  At 7:00 PM, student reenter the classrooms for Night Prep classes (evening study sessions) to revise notes or complete homework.  Classes finally conclude at 9:00 PM.  Dormitory lights are out by 10:00. Students have classes for a half-day on Saturday. No classes occur on Sunday.  

CTT is now sponsoring 24 students in secondary school, two in vocational school and five in college.

We've come a long way over the years, and so have these eager, hard working students!

could it be you?

Dawn Taylor, Team 5, with her new friends

Wanted: adventurous, generous people who would like to travel to Uganda to be with the children who live at St. Mary Kevin Orphanage Motherhood.

You must be able to travel in December and be away for Christmas.

You must pay your own way.

You must be prepared to jump rope, perform in a talent show, hold hands with lots of kids at once and dance.

You must be willing to step out of your comfort zone.

You must be prepared to fall in love over and over again. You must be willing to make room in your heart for this.

You should be able to work well in a group.

You must be willing to take off your watch and let things happen when they do.

You must be prepared to see and hear things that will make you cry.

You must be willing to be loved purely and unconditionally by many sweet, beautiful children.

You must be willing to get red dirt permanently on your clothing and shoes.

You must be prepared to (occasionally) be without power and (usually) without the other comforts of your own home.

You must be wiling to let your life change.

COULD IT BE YOU?

Team 7 is now forming. Contact Gloria for details. (Feel free to share this with others who might be interested.) gbfeinstein [at] aol [dot] com.

saka

2007

2012

Nsubuga Saka is a good-looking young man who is very quiet and shy. That is, until you get to know him. Turns out this kid has a wonderful sense of sarcasm and humor, and he absolutely loves to be with people and make them laugh! He is confident, caring and playful - a loyal friend and (like Henry) a terrific role model for the younger children. Knowing Saka all these years has been like unwrapping a beautifully packaged gift. Slowly but surely, the treasure inside has emerged. 

Saka has been working hard in vocational school and is now in his final semester at Buganda Royal Institute of Business and Technical Education. This June he will obtain his Certificate of Accounting. Saka is a half-orphan who has been a member of SMK's community since Primary 2. He was one of the first students sponsored by CTT in 2007.  Upon his graduation, he will join the business work force.  He hopes to work in one of Uganda’s banks. 

Saka shared that CTT sponsorship not only provided an educational opportunity, but a way of honoring his late father. “My father was an accountant before he died. People working in banks look so smart, so confident.  When I think of working of a bank, I think my father would be very proud of me. CTT provided me with an education that I did not think I would ever have. Now I have hope for my future.  I will be a good man, like my father.  Thank you CTT.”

Congratulations to yet another successful CTT sponsored student. It has taken a village, and we are proud to be a very big part of it!

i'm heading to panera for some chicken soup right now!

A few weeks ago my son Max told me about a very cool program started by Panera's head honcho, Ron Shaich. In late January, Max's very own Boston was graced with the arrival of the fifth "Panera Cares" community cafe. I hadn't heard of these before, so Max filled me in. Today, I heard a story about "Panera Cares" on NPR. Seems the good word is getting out!

Shaich didn't start the "pay what you can" restaurant movement, but he is the first to bring it to a well-known chain that has a zillion locations and a bazillion customers. It's possible that with support like his, we may see more restaurants of this kind sprout up across the land.

The idea is simple. The customer orders food from the same menu other Panera stores offer. When it comes time to pay, the person behind the counter states what the suggested price of that order is. At that point, the customer gets to make a decision: pay that amount, pay less than that amount or pay more than that amount. It's a retail store that charges on a sliding scale!

The store in Boston seems to be doing very well. Like its counterparts (in Portland, Chicago, Detroit and St. Louis) about 60% of the customers pay the price that is quoted, 20% pay less and 20% pay more. It works out for everyone! Those experiencing food insecurity get to dine out with dignity (and no judgement), and those who wish to lend a helping hand to the hungry get to do so easily and painlessly.

"Panera Cares" addresses an issue that we simply can't avoid. Over 17 million homes in the US are food insecure. One in five children do not have enough to eat each day. These are staggering statistics.

The mission of "Panera Cares" states that they are trying to do what they can to lessen these numbers:

"While many solutions exist to provide access to food, 'Panera Cares' community cafes are designed to address hunger in a new way…in a restaurant setting that maintains one’s dignity and fills one’s belly."


Visit their website to read more about these cool new community cafes. 

henry

2007

2012

Henry was one of the first children I met when I went to St. Mary Kevin in 2006. The way I met him was actually very sweet. I had two disposable cameras with me. I wanted to give them to two kids who would value them and who might take some personal/revealing/interesting/informative pictures of their friends and surroundings at the orphanage. I asked director Rosemary to select one boy and one girl for this mini-project. She took great pride in introducing me to the children she chose, both of whom, she said, were very smart, trustworthy and personable. Soon, I was handing the cameras off to a girl named Samalie and a boy named Henry.

Henry was in the first group of secondary students sponsored by CTT. After finishing secondary school, he chose to attend vocational school so he could become a certified electrician. He recently completed his courses and is now doing what he has always wanted to do. Thank you, generous supporters of CTT, for helping make that happen!!!

Here is Henry's story:

Ssemanda Henry has completed his vocational studies obtaining a Certificate in Electricity from Nakawa Vocational Institute in November 2012.  Henry is a full orphan who has been a member of SMKOM’s community since Primary 2.  Henry was one of the first students sponsored by CTT in 2007 during his Senior 2 year in Secondary school.  Henry already had an interest in electrical work.  Through his sponsorship, CTT was able to provide Henry with an academic opportunity to expand his knowledge base and skill set within the electrical field, thus preparing Henry for Uganda’s competitive job market.  Within only 3 months of his vocational completion, Henry now has his first job with RES (Rio Engineering Services) installing electrical services to homes and businesses.  In his future, Henry wants to own his own electrical company and specialty shop for electrical supplies.  Henry shared that CTT sponsorship meant security in his studies. “When I went to school, I did not have to worry about my school fees being paid.  Here in Uganda that is a big problem.  I never had to worry about not completing my studies.”  CTT sponsorship also offered opportunity and a more secure future for Henry.  “Because of CTT I have achieved skills.  I now have a job.  Thank you for what you have done for me.  You have changed my life.”

CONGRATULATIONS to Henry, who has worked very hard to get to this point in his life. CTT could not be more proud!

a pastel kind of day

I woke up very early this morning and found myself longing for some pastel chalk under my fingernails! (I get very messy when I do this.) So, a new drawing emerged. The first in quite a while, actually.

happy facts

I am sick and tried of losing my battle with a sinus infection (despite drugs), sick and tired of friends having to deal with cancer and break-ups and death, sick and tired of snow/cold weather and sick and tired of reading the news about bad people (Steubenville rapists, just to name a few).

So when I saw this silly post on a friend's Facebook page, I was delighted. Pardon me while I share these very happy facts! (Gullible is my middle name, so I hope these facts are all true. Especially the one about flamingos. I could look it up, but this morning I prefer to just believe.)

Thanks, Erica, for posting. For the rest of you, if you'd like to see the entire list of "The 30 Happiest Facts of All Time" click here.

Squirrels forgetting where they put their acorns result in thousand of new trees each year.

Some window washers at children's hospitals surprise the kids by dressing up like superheroes.

Otters hold hands while sleeping so they won't float apart.

The voice of Micky Mouse and the voice of Minnie Mouse got married in real life.

If you fake laugh long enough, you'll actually start to laugh really hard.

A group of flamingos is called a flamboyance.

When you were born, you were, for however brief an amount of time, the youngest person on the planet.

Puffins mate for life.

A chemical called oxytocin is released when people cuddle, helping to heal physical wounds.

Cows have best friends.

Alexander Graham Bell originally wanted people to greet each other on the phone by saying "ahoy!" instead of "hello!"

Blind people smile despite never having never seen someone smile before. It is just a natural human reaction.

The last man to talk on the moon, Gene Cernan, promised his daughter he'd write her initials on the moon. He did, and her initials "TDC" will probably be on the moon for tens of thousands of years.

In 1957, the BBC ran an April Fool's story about how spaghetti was growing on trees in Switzerland. So many people believed the hoax that the BBC was flooded with calls from people asking how to plant their own spaghetti tree.

the baker gallery

Abbie, Gloria and Andre Kertesz in front of the gallery, c. 1983 (photo by Diane Covert)

My solo show, the preparation for which is beginning to consume most of my waking hours, has been dubbed a “mid-career retrospective.” This means two things: I am at the mid point of my career, and I have enough stuff under my belt to warrant a long look back.

I do have many years to contemplate, especially considering how young I was when I first picked up a camera. No one is quite sure who gave me that first camera, a Rocket Brownie, but whoever it was gave me the gift that just kept on giving! It became attached to my 2-and-a-half-year-old right wrist, where it often dangled like a new piece of treasured jewelry. It was, of course, just the first of many cameras to follow.

It hasn’t been only the cameras and the pictures I took with them that have made this first part of my photographic journey so wonderful. It’s also been the people I’ve met along the way.

Fast forward to my mid-twenties, when I had the chutzpah to open a photography gallery in my new hometown of Kansas City. I did it because I loved being around photographs, photographic books, posters, postcards and photographers. For ten years, I was privileged to surround myself with stacks of prints by people like Cartier-Bresson, Levitt, Robert Adams, Siskind, Arbus, Evans, Cunningham, Doisneau, Kertesz, Meyerowitz, Leibovitz, Josephson, Pfahl, Uelsmann, Dater and Mann. On Saturdays, the gallery would fill up with photographers from the area – people like Loftis, Koch, Kilmer, Tarnowski, Gutowski, Covert, Hamilton and Sutton. Folks sat around looking at prints, books and magazines and chewed the fat about all things photography. Collectors would stop in: Hollander, Berkley, Meeker, Anderson, Nerman, Kaufman and Davis.

It was a special time in my life. I was blissfully wrapped up in being a new mom who adored her role as parent and a businesswoman who had no fear. I made biannual trips to New York for the auctions at Sotheby’s and Christie’s. I brought in guest artists and lecturers, had book signings, organized competitions and sponsored photo workshops. It’s crazy when I look back on it. I didn’t really know enough to start the business, much less run it, but I dove in (ignorance is bliss??) and loved every minute of it.

Even though I had just received my MA in photography prior to opening the "Baker Gallery," I didn’t have time during those years to make my own pictures. The Hasselblad was shoved into a drawer at that point. It would be fifteen years before I reached in, grabbed it and started shooting again.

But what I learned during those heady days of running the local photography gallery was exciting, educational, invaluable and irreplaceable. 

I wouldn’t trade that part of my career for anything.

what's in a name?

Clara, now 6 weeks

The five most popular girl names in 2012 were: Sophia, Emma, Olivia, Isabella and Ava. The most popular boy names were: Aiden, Jackson, Ethan, Liam and Mason. I know this because I studied the lists while Abbie was pregnant, and besides, I happen to be interested in the whole name thing.

Abbie and Sam did not learn the sex of either baby until the moment the children emerged (Henry into air, Clara into water) AND they carefully guarded their list of possible names. So on both birthdays, Eddie and I got to experience two great surprises! I liked it that way. I don’t really understand the introduction of babies via sonogram on Facebook: We are thrilled for you to meet our baby boy Lucas, who will be born in twenty weeks. Isn’t he adorable??!

It’s not uncommon these days for the expectant couple to reveal the sex of their baby at the baby shower. Here’s how it’s done. The couple goes in for the 20-week sonogram. The technician writes down the sex of the baby on a piece of paper, then seals the paper in an envelope. The couple takes the envelope to their local bakery. The cake baker opens the envelope and then bakes a cake with either a pink or blue center. (Yes, the lady at the cake counter at Price Chopper finds out even before the expectant parents do.) At the baby shower, the cake is sliced and VOILA! Everyone, the couple included, gets the happy news that IT’S A BOY! or IT’S A GIRL!

(My friend Kate, over at Eat the Damn Cake, wrote a wonderful piece about the day she and her husband decided to look at the note that was in the envelope. It’s a very sweet and funny account of their experience. You can read it here.)

At any rate, these “gender cake parties” may have to take a back seat to a new trend in the “gender reveal” world. And folks, I am not making this stuff up. Here’s how this particular soiree unfolds: The couple hires a company that will do the sonogram at home. The shower begins. The living room looks like it always did, except that there is a curtain drawn around some rather large equipment and a table in the corner of the room. There is also a big video monitor. Midway through the party, the pregnant person excuses herself and proceeds toward the table and a smiling technician. Behind the curtain they go. The partner of the pregnant person gets the TV fired up and asks the guests to turn their attention to the screen. I think you can figure out the rest.

Of course, once the sex is known, a name selection isn’t too far behind (though I can imagine the pregnant couple has a stash of both “Michael” and “Michaela” party favors at the ready during these “gender reveal parties."). Choosing a name for one’s child is a big deal, and one can only hope the child will eventually agree that it was a good idea. (I can speak from experience on this topic; my son changed his when he was five. You can read about that here.)

A lot of the names being chosen these days are colorful, charismatic and unusual, much like those being given to Hollywood celebrities’ wee ones. If you want to give your kid a really exotic name in 2013 – one no one in her class will have – I would suggest naming her Sarah or Jennifer or Mary or Ann!

I love the names that were given to my grandkids: Henry and Clara. (Of course, I would love these two children even if I did not like their names.) But I think their names are perfect.

Abbie knows I get a kick out of seeing the latest trends in baby names, so this morning she sent me the list of Henry’s pre-preschool classmates (he will begin attending “school” two mornings a week this fall): Julien, Jude, Rosalie, Jubilee and Maple.

Recently a friend of mine became the grandmother to a Penelope. Other names that are growing in popularity are: Scarlett, Harper, Aubrey, Ivy, Harlow and Clover for girls; Brantley, Declan, Grayson, Kayson, Kingston and Archer for boys.

If you’re interested in the history and popularity of your own name, check out one of my fave sites: Baby Name Wizard. Using the baby voyager tool, you can track any name’s usage from the 1880’s til now. Henry, for example, was the 8^th most popular name in the 1880’s, dropped to 134^th in the 1980’s and is now very much on the rise again. 

Gloria, on the other hand, was ranked 0 in the 1890’s and is ranked 571^st in 2011. My close friend Cheryl is ranked 0 in 2013. Now there are a couple unique names to use! 

two girls

I made this picture at Operation Breakthrough last week. There are always certain kids who draw me in. For whatever reason, the little girl with her arms lifted just got a hold of me that day. I think this picture shows her strength, her sweetness and even her sassiness, but also her vulnerability.

And I love the way her friend gently wrapped her arm around her.

gravity and grace

I'm deviating from photography here, but felt this video just had to be shared. Ghanaian artist El Anatsui is celebrating a major retrospective of his work; it's now showing at the Brooklyn Museum. (Perhaps you've seen his High Line piece in NY?) This exhibition looks positively majestic.

Anatsui converts found materials into a new type of media that lies between 
sculpture and painting, combining aesthetic traditions from his birth country, 
Ghana; his home in Nsukka, Nigeria; and the global history of abstraction.

Included in the exhibition are twelve recent monumental wall and floor sculptures, widely considered to represent the apex of Anatsui’s career. The metal wall works, created with bottle caps from a distillery in Nsukka, are pieced together to form colorful, textured hangings that take on radically new shapes with each installation. Anatsui is captivated by his materials’ history of use, reflecting his own nomadic background. Gravity and Grace responds to a long history of innovations in abstract art and performance, building upon cross-cultural exchange among Africa, Europe, and the Americas and presenting works in a wholly new, African medium.

Read this NYT article about El Anatsui if you want to know more.

photospiva

Spiva Art Center, located in Joplin, Missouri, is host to the longest-running photographic competition of its kind in the United States: “PhotoSpiva."  Founded in 1977, the objective of “PhotoSpiva," as stated by its founders is to “present an exhibition of excellence in photography, celebrating the scope and vigorous activity of today’s contemporary photographers.”

I’ve had a relationship with this competition for many years. In 1987 I was actually the juror! (That was when I wore my gallery owner hat.) Other jurors since the show’s inception have included: Keith F. Davis, Ted Hartwell, Mary Virginia Swanson, George Tice, Keith Carter, Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison and Elizabeth Opalenik.  This year’s juror was Natasha Egan, the Director of the Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College.

I have entered my work in the competition five or six times over the past few years. I like supporting “PhotoSpiva”. I like the grass roots feel of it, and I love that it has continued to support budding photographers for such a long time. The folks there even managed to mount the show the year of the devastating hurricane in 2011. I like the unpretentious nature of everything they do and stand for.

I have gotten a couple honorable mentions. In 2007 I received the third place award, and in 2010 I received the second place award.

I’m really honored to report that I received an email late last night from Linda Kyger, office manager at Spiva Center for the Arts, congratulating me on receiving the first place award this year!

Here are the images Natasha Egan chose.