The "Soft" Opening

My studio mate and I are having a "soft" opening of our new studio this Friday, October 4th, from 7-9pm, for the October Art Hop. The official, Grand Opening isn't until the November Art Hop.

Although it's not the grand opening, things are shaping up beautifully. I painted my wall, tweaked the lighting, and hung a nice collection of prints in all sizes and styles. Dare I say, it looks like a real gallery! Or in my eyes, it's starting to look like a giant, real-life Tumblr webpage. The finishing touch will be my name at the top.

The nearly blank canvas

The lone coyote 

Filling up the wall

This heron print has been hiding in storage for almost a year. 

It's looking great up on the wall.

Now all we need are people to complete the equation. 
Hope to see you Friday, Oct. 4th.

Unveiling a New Portrait

One of the perks of being a photo instructor at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (KIA) is being able to exhibit my work in the biennial KIA Faculty Review. 

"Lois & Tree Frog" - Digital Photographic Collage

I'll be showing two portraits in the upcoming exhibit. One is "Lois & Tree Frog" from my series MYANIMALANDI (which I premiered at the Arts Council last Spring), and a brand new artwork from a new series entitled BLOOM. Very similar to the people/animal collages of MYANIMALANDI, this new work collages women and flowers. Thus comes the bloom.

This exhibit marks the first public viewing of this new work. Please join me either this Friday, September 27th, for the KIA Members Opening Reception from 7-9pm, or the following Friday, October 4th, for the KIA Art Hop from 5-8pm, which is free and open to the public.

Below is a detail from the new work, "Miranda In Bloom". The only place to see the entire artwork at this time is down at the KIA. So, come on down!

DETAIL "Miranda in Bloom" - Digital Photographic Collage

First day of autumn with some closing shots of summer

Urban Sandpiper Puddle

The City of Kalamazoo's leaf composting station on the eastside has always had a draining problem. 

But the resulting puddle ends up sprouting life and is no problem for visiting solitary sandpipers, who prey on giant waterbugs, tadpoles, grasshoppers and basically anything else that moves.

Where there is water - there is life, and where there is life - there I am taking pictures. And it doesn't get any more urban looking than these concrete canyons. 

The urban animal.

More Meijer Gardens

Meijer Gardens

I recently made it up to Meijer Gardens to play with my new macro lens. I love the bokeh with the short DOF (translation: the soft focus with the short depth of field). 

Although so many of the plants and flowers are non-native, they're a sight to behold and the whole operation reminded me of Frederik Meijer and his grocery store, and how he can bring products from all around the world for all of us here in SW Michigan to buy and behold. 

It's a small world, and little pieces from half way around the world can make it into our lives. 

Frederik Meijer and his thrifty acres.

Eye-Ball

Ring of Fire

WMU's Research Park

Tiger Lily Time

It's the Tiger Lily's time of year

Eastern Kingbird

Kingbird at WMU's Research Park