super moon

I drove around my neighborhood for a while tonite listening to Hearts of Space and watching the sky. I was hoping I could find a cool spot to make a photograph of the biggest and brightest moon of the year. I ended up at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, which is just a few blocks from my home. It felt like the right place to pull over and record the awesome super moon (it is closer to earth than it will be at any other time all year).

who so many somalis in minnesota?

Civil war broke out in Somalia in 1991. Millions fled to refugee camps, many in Kenya. Two years later, the first group of refugees was sent to the U.S. - nearly half to Minnesota.

The U.S. State Department determines where refugees, like those from Somalia, will live, and the number of volunteer agencies in a given location influence this decision. Minnesota has many active agencies, including Lutheran Social Services, Catholic Charities and World Relief Minnesota. Agencies such as these agree to help the refugees get settled, learn English, find housing, obtain health care and begin a new life. Apparently, Minnesota also provides lots of welfare programs.

After the first wave of refugees settled into their new lives in Minnesota, the second and third waves of friends and family members began to make their travel plans.

I've done a little reading about the influx of Somalis into the small town of Faribault, Minnesota (the town where I stayed last weekend). It seems there are a lot of disgruntled residents who like to voice their opposition (on various websites and blogs) to the large number of foreigners who have settled in their town. All I know from personal experience is that the woman who runs the B&B where I stayed told me (when I asked if the town was safe to walk around in at night) there are many Somalis in the town, that I shouldn't worry about them because they won't bother me - that, actually, they won't even talk to me.

I met a very nice Somali woman at the carnival my second afternoon in Faribault, and she let me photograph her four daughters (see previous post).

But my favorite picture from that day was the photograph I made of one of the daughters playing in a plastic bubble that floated on water. Five minutes in the bubble for five dollars.

somali refugees

Over the past 25 years 84,000 Somali refugees have come to America. I did not know this until I went to the Land of 10,000 Lakes last weekend for my niece's college graduation, but 40% of them live in Minnesota.

I spent two nights in Faribault - apparently a popular destination for lots of these Somali families. It was quite something to see the diversity of this small, midwestern town.

I made this photo at the carnival that was in town. Fours sisters.

strike the set and keep on going

After all that,
my show has to come down now
just when it seemed we finally got it up.
Make room in the closets and storage
bins and on the upright shelves.

I have made another photograph from the end of my hallway. It's of the pool again. Seems a simple shift of subject matter on the same exact pallet is kind of appealing.

Again with the shapes.

Yeah, it's true, I was horrible in every math class I ever took - except for geometry, that is.

hello art

Last night I had the pleasure of taking a group of "Hello Art" members through my exhibit. They were so attentive and appreciative. They could not have made me feel more comfortable talking about my work - in fact I talked for an hour and a half about it!! They were curious and engaged. They asked great questions. 

One of my favorite questions was this: "So, how would the 2 1/2 year-old photographer Gloria feel about the work the 58 year-old photographer Gloria has made and is making?"

(That was fun to consider.)

Executive Director Kelly Jander sent me the following information about Hello Art, which, by the way, is a very cool organization:

"Hello Art was established to create access and enrichment opportunities for anyone interested in exploring the arts in Kansas City. Over the past decade, Kansas City has become internationally recognized for its thriving arts scene, yet many people locally still aren’t sure how to (or if they’re welcome to) engage in it. It is our goal to help change that.

We believe that everyone - from the curious novice to the established art expert - should have the opportunity to engage in the arts. That's why everyone is invited to participate in the conversation and explore the arts through Hello Art. We understand how challenging it can be to navigate the arts - from exploring/finding galleries to gaining access to artists’ studios -so we create events for the curious to discover the creators.

There is great benefit in bringing audiences and artists together. Establishing a personal and meaningful connection between artists and audiences can significantly enrich an arts experience. For this reason, our events are designed to give audiences the opportunity to meet the artists, directors, curators, etc. - each offering additional insight into the works being viewed. Artists also appreciate these opportunities to connect with and receive feedback from new audiences.

Our fun, enriching events introduce participants to artists, studios, galleries, theaters and a variety of other arts organizations/venues throughout Kansas City. Our activities create an opportunity for participants to engage in dialogue, explore new venues, meet and learn from artists, and learn from one another."

photos by Kelly Jander

swimmer

Living in our condo means frequent walks down a hallway to get onto the elevator. At the end of our hall is a window that overlooks the swimming pool. We’re on the fourth floor. It’s a pretty cool view.

I don’t know why, but both Eddie and I have gotten in the habit of looking out that window whenever we walk down the hall... just to see what’s happening down at the pool. Usually nothing is happening. Sometimes there is someone swimming laps. Sometimes there are a couple people sunning in the lounge chairs. Usually, though, we just look down at the empty pool, spend a few seconds at the window, then continue on toward the elevator.

Yesterday I was on my way to do a portrait and had my camera gear with me as I walked to the window. I saw a man face down in the pool. He did not move. After a minute or so, he lifted his face out of the water, took a breath, then slowly lowered his face back into the water.

I pulled out my camera and made the above picture.

Later, in the car on the way to my shoot, I thought of the photograph “Underwater Swimmer” by Andre Kertesz. It was made in Hungary in 1917.

on the radio

I'm happy to say I did a fun interview with Sylvia Maria Gross for the local NPR station's show "KC Currents." It's about my Estate Sale photographs.

Here is the link to the KCUR website, which has a link to the show itself.

ctt welcomes melissa and antwain back for a brief visit

This weekend past CTT team members were treated to an evening with Melissa and Antwain, who are visiting friends and family in the US for a couple weeks. It's hard to believe, but it's been nearly three years since they moved to Uganda!

Antwain will soon be 14. He's grown tall, thin and handsome and has a thick Ugandan accent. He is a boarding student at secondary school. He seems very happy and is maturing into such a nice young man. Melissa has found her home in Uganda and is so content.

CTT is incredibly lucky to have Melissa on the ground at St. Mary Kevin Orphanage. But we were very happy to have her on KC soil Saturday night!

CTT board (Carol, Lynne, Eddie, Gloria and Avis) and Melissa

Antwain and Natalie (Team 6)

Lonnie (center, Team 1) with wife Brenda and granddaughter Jaden

Emily (Team 4)

Melissa fills a group in on the state of the orphanage

Melissa and Antwain

Melissa talks with three of the four members of Strings for Uganda (Hannah, Lindsey and Nick)

Jennifer and Jeff (Team 4 and leaders of Team 7)

Avis (Teams 4 and 5) and Lynne (Teams 1, 2 and 5)

Nick (Strings for Uganda)

Lonnie (Team 1) and Jaden

portrait session: zoey and violet

Are these girls yummy or what? I got to photograph them yesterday at their home. They are as wonderful on the inside as they are on the outside. Let the summer portrait shooting begin!

I'm in KC til July 4th. And then in Portland til August 12th.

street stuff

Dimitri Mellos

Last year at the Santa Fe Portfolio Review I befriended a cool guy named Dimitri Mellos. He and I spent quite a bit of time together looking at each other's work and just talking about photography and life. We even traded a couple pictures. Dimitri was actually the one who encouraged me to show my Estate Sale pictures to Jim Estrin of the NYT, and that's how I got that work shown on Lensblog. At any rate, Dimitri's wonderful street photography is currently being featured in a virtual group show at the Forward Thinking Museum. I'd like to share a few of his pieces, as well as some of the other work that caught my eye; I'd also like to share what Dimitri wrote about street photography. There has been so much conversation about it lately (on various blogs, in the media, etc.) and I think he speaks to the issue with sincerity, frankness and intelligence. The cool thing is: Dimitri is involved in the field of psychology. The combination of his passion for that and his passion for photography adds up to something very striking indeed.

"Self-questioning and doubts about the ethics of street photography were for the longest time holding me back and inhibiting me from photographing. I gradually, and thankfully, came to the realization that these concerns were exaggerated. Street photography is indeed a momentary intrusion into the lives of strangers, but it happens in public spaces, where, especially nowadays, all of us are constantly exposed to the gaze of others and to having our image recorded in multiple ways. Moreover, compared to the range of aggressive behaviors humans are capable of, street photography is pretty low on the scale. And, much more importantly, if done right, street photography stems from a respectful interest in, and fascination with, the lives of others, a wish to memorialize and affirm those lives, and not from petty voyeuristic or exploitative motives.

If there is one overarching moral principle informing my work, it is respect for reality and serendipity, for the external world as encountered. This includes being as unobtrusive as possible when photographing, and not manipulating situations. My aspiration is making interesting photographs out of nothing – not out of inherently interesting situations or eccentric or funny-looking people, but out of the supposedly mundane fabric of everyday life."

Born in Athens, Greece and currently based in New York City, Dimitri started photographing seriously and consistently about five years ago, after moving to New York to pursue a graduate degree in psychology. His work has been exhibited in Greece, Barcelona, Berlin, New York and Santa Fe and is in private collections in Europe and the United States. He was featured in the NY Times lens blog and has received several awards for his work, including being a finalist for the Fotovisura Grant as well as the Magnum Expression Award.

Dimitri Mellos

Dimitri Mellos

Dimitri Mellos

Dimitri Mellos

Gareth Bragdon

Gus Powell

A.J. Saker

Harvey Stein

Sagi Kortler

John Fullard

John Fullard

strings for uganda part 2

I'm pleased to introduce you to the rest of the Strings for Uganda team. They have been preparing for their trip to St. Mary Kevin Orphanage for over a year now. They can hardly wait to get there, and I know some children who can hardly wait to get their hands on some little violins!

Amaya is a 7th grader in Blue Springs, Missouri and is currently involved in Girl Scouts, Honors Choir, Orchestra, piano and violin lessons and a local music ensemble group. While Amaya is not in school or engaged in other activities, she likes to read, watch TV and talk with friends. Amaya is interested in going to Uganda because she "hopes to appreciate what she has and to understand that many people in the world live without basic necessities." She also "hopes to not be as picky when it comes to food."

Hannah Ho is a 5th grade teacher, National Junior Honor Society Advisor and Fine Arts Curriculum Coordinator at Allen Village Charter School in Kansas City, Missouri. Hannah holds a B.A. in Elementary Education and an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction with 15 years experience as a violinist, and five years as a pianist. Hannah says, “As an educator and musician I find myself trying to integrate both these aspects of my life on a daily basis.  I only hope that I can bring this gift and share it with others.  I hope that by working with Change the Truth I will be able to take away just as much as I can give to the organization.” 

Lindsey Weaver is a PhD student in the Therapeutic Science program at the University of Kansas-Medical Center, where she also is a graduate research assistant in their Center for Child Health and Development. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Central Missouri and UMKC. Lindsey has over nine years of experience in Special Education, and is an area consultant, specializing in program development. Outside of work and studying, Lindsey enjoys playing soccer and spending time with friends and family. In Uganda, Lindsey hopes to "enrich the lives of children through experiences of joy and freedom, creating sustainable outcomes through music."

strings for uganda

Strings for Uganda Fundraiser 6/16/13

Big Rip Brewery 

 Sunday June 16th, 2013 4:30-7:30 p.m.

216 East 9th Ave, North Kansas City, MO 64116

Come out and support Strings for Uganda and one of our supporters,

Big Rip Brewing Company 

Celebrate Father's Day with food from KC's Chop Chop BBQ and good drinks. Fresh Brewed Craft Beers, 50/50 Raffle and other Raffle items! Your ticket is for admission and a plate of food. PLUS the first 25 people who arrive will get a free

 Strings for Uganda T-Shirt!

***Get your ticket here ASAP only 50 tickets available!

If you are able to donate goods to Strings for Uganda for our upcoming trip, here are the things we need:         

(you can bring these with you to the event or message us for a drop off location):

1. 1/2 size shoulder rests (6)

2. Full size shoulder rests (6)

3. Metronomes (8)

4. Collapsible Music Stands (12)

5. Lined Notecards (12 packages) 

6. Spiral Notebooks (24)

7. Staff Paper Notebooks (24)

8. Rosin (12)

9. Three colors of the thinnest Electrician's Tape

10. Wax Pencils (4)

11. Plastic Pitch Pipe/Tuner Whistle (12)

12. Pocket Folders (24)

"Strings for Uganda" is a group  of four wonderfully talented and caring people: Lindsey, Nick, Hannah and Amaya.

They will be traveling to St. Mary Kevin in eight short weeks! Once on the ground, they will begin a series of violin lessons, further broadening the world of music for our children at the orphanage. 

Lindsey, Nick, Hannah and Amaya are trying to raise funds to help defray the costs of their travel and for supplies needed once in Uganda. The fundraiser at Big Rip Brewery is one of several events they're hosting. Please consider attending - or donating some of the items necessary for their incredible and unique project. This could be a life changing experience for some of our kids... the beginning of something they never could have imagined being able to tap into! Just think about how far our trumpet and sax players, our keyboard and guitar players, our drummers and trombonists have come - and how learning to read and play music has transformed their lives in countless ways.

I'm happy to introduce you to Nick. Tomorrow you will meet Lindsey, Hannah and Amaya. They have all become part of the CTT family. We are indeed lucky that they came our way!

Nicholas Jarrett has been a musician for over 27 years, starting violin at the age of four.  He has studied violin, piano and voice at the University of Missouri-Kansas City's Conservatory of Music. Nick maintains studios for private lessons and directs string ensembles in Kansas and Missouri. Currently, Nick is chairman of the KCMTA Concerto Competition in partnership with the Heritage Philharmonic, annually adjudicates for MAMA and is a contributor to the Gemini Project. He also performs as a freelance musician. Nick is excited to bring stringed instruments to St. Mary Kevin Orphanage’s thriving music program.

poland portraits part 2

Yes, there are a few more to share.