shout out: mom, you make one fantastic soccer cake. 

Three beautiful things happened to me this weekend.  In no particular order: 

1. As part of the Postal Project, I sent a letter to my favorite professor from Graduate School (well, really- the best teacher I have ever had), and, he wrote me back.  For real wrote-be-back.  I cherish this.  

2.  My best friend, Erica  (the muse who is too far away)- sent me this.  In a folder saying "What can you do with wasp paper from 1954?"  REALLY?  How beautiful is the concept of one knowing you better than yourself?  No,  I don't have any particular feeling for wasp paper, though- I am one for challenges, especially unexpected ones.  The kind that initiate thought.  This paper is absolutely beautiful- beautifully fragile and translucent.  It is late here now, and dark. I held it up to a lamp.  

3.  Have you ever been to a friend appreciation party?  It was over the top really.  Each person, upon arrival, was presented with their favorite snack and cocktail.  Large printed images of you/us on the walls.  'Friend Facts" cheerfully written and posted all over their apartment.  Intermission of a beautiful evening consisted of walking to a nearby field and lighting/letting go fire lanterns into the sky.  Midst the field experience. each one of us were given a personal note.  Here is mine, next to a few Poloroids I took of our gracious hosts of the evening.  Amy and C Jason.  They are expecting a baby girl in December.  

Recognize, an image from my current work in progress, was juried into a group show at the Detroit Center for Contemporary Photography.  I am really honored to show with such a wide variety of talented photographers.  

OPENING RECEPTION
Saturday, October 1st
6:30-9:30
Russell Industrial Building
1600 Clay Street, Detroit, MI 

These images were taken over nine months ago at Wilderness State Park and Harbor Springs.  The film traveled within various backpacks, bags, and car consoles, before it was finally developed.  I was not so much surprised  how well the images turned out, as I was by the beauty depicted in this experience.  Perhaps a day that would have been a bit forgotten, and just that more appreciated as the negatives met the light many months later.  

Inspired by Yewknee Summer Mix Series. Click the album cover art to enlarge, and click below to download. 

This year's TED prize winner, JR has opened his global portrait project for everyone to participate.  JR (and recently a small team) have taken thousands of portraits and have plastered them in places such as Brazil and Cambodia.  

These portraits are known to be huge: up to 20 feet in height. 

This aim of the project is to create a visual platform of individual voices.  JR wishes to release the stories of those we don't hear.  Our faces, our stories, our community.  

You are all now invited to upload your portrait and share a personal story on the Inside Out website.  Within weeks, you will receive your portrait as a block and white poster, ready to be posted.  It is quite fun meandering through all the profiles and images of this project.  I was especially taken by the image above, though there are currently over 8,000 participants.  I look forward to being one of them.  Perhaps you should consider also.  

And you know, it takes a certain kind of confidence to participate in this project.  I don't think you are the only one that might find it strange (or somewhat vulnerable) to paste an enormous image of yourself in the world.  Though, this is the thing about community art.  It is indeed a little bit about you.  Though ultimately, your little bit joins all the other little bits, and the camera pans back, and you are able to see, not your face, but rather something else entirely.  

Then you are surprised.  And moved.  

Inside Out Project Website 
JR's photographic website

A short film about the project: 
 

It's official.  I have mailed my first two letters.  I will upload images of all the letters I send weekly to this page.  I have generated a list thus far of about 75 people, and the list, of course, continues to grow.  I am not quite sure as to how in the lords name am I going to acquire all these addresses, when I even loose track of my close friends.  

Though, this just forces me to be a bit more creative (and hope people are able to physically "forward," out of the goodness, of just....?).  I was excited to discover Anthony Doerr writes a bi-monthly column for the Boston Globe- YES-an address.  Publishers, record labels, and universities- let's see what delivers.  

I am quite surprised by the mix of emotions I have already experienced.  Nonetheless, I am focused.  This project is not so much about me, as it is about everyone else.  The recipients.  Mail.  And it's not a baby announcement or an invitation to a wedding of someone you barely know. 

I am working with only found and recycled materials, and each letter is hand stamped and sewn with a blue thread- the signature of the project.