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Part One: Originally Posted here
I’ve written and rewritten this caption about 10x. Nothing can really explain what the loss of creating feels like to an artist but just know that it basically feels like your fingers are being slowly cut off one by one. It’s dramatic yes but, the need to create is literally tied into our core. So, Like most of my friends, I’ve struggled not only with the financial aspect of our world right now but also losing the freedom to create in the way that I feel I was meant to do so.
Portraits are probably one of my favorite types of photography. It really lets you make a connection to someone without them even talking that much to you. Everything about it is body language and communicating without even communicating. For so many folks, having your photo taken is such a hard thing and I am just so grateful that they choose to put their trust in me. Because, it’s such a weird thing to be left with actual seconds of a persons life. Eyes staring back at you for weeks at a time. I find that I focus so much on a lot of these photos for so long that I almost think I have memorized their faces and lives.
And that is such an intense energy and I missed that energy. So, how could I get that back? I needed to find a way to do that, that was safe but still fucking dope. I narrowed the idea down to using a digital platform and I decided with zoom because of various technological reasons that I still don’t understand (and you don’t care). It’s definitely been trial and error buttttt, I think it’s working out ok so far. (Unlike all my grammatical mistakes in this caption…)
So, here’s the first set. The first real photos other than stuffed animals, liquor and food that I’ve taken. This project is a mix of photos, visuals and audio which I’ll be posting in 3 parts. Thank you so much Eugene for being a part of this. Can’t wait to share.
Part Two: Originally Posted here
"What's kept me going during this time...I don't know.
I practice a lot of social distancing already, so I think, I see and I talk to the people that I need to be around and that doesn’t bother me too much. I miss everyone I really do but, it doesn’t make me stir crazy. I think I embrace the time alone now. I think you have to turn it into something that you don’t fear. It's this constant distraction, those few excuses we all have and you know, then you get home and there's nothing to do or you can’t do what you’re supposed to do or you can’t see these people...
Now all of a sudden there's no distractions to keep you from yourself. And I think it’s important to not only assess what that means for you but, you know if it's dangerous for you, be more aware of that. And how do we find preventative measures to grow from here because right now we’re stuck in it and it makes certain people realize certain things about themselves but everyone gets somewhere to move forward from.
So, I'm grateful for you Kiki and allowing me to be part of your project and, can’t wait to do more in the future [inaudible 00:01:44]
Showing the normalcy of people but, how our personalities shine through in that normalcy. So, that was my quarantine TEDtalk thank you."
Part Three: Originally Posted here
Something I’ve loved about this is that the concept has been a bit different for each of the folks that have participated. The shoots start off with an idea but, with the main goal being creating with others, it quickly morphs into it’s own entity. Everyone tells stories differently and it’s such a cool thing to be a part of someone else’s.
So, thank you again @madeintruthclothing. Can’t wait to share some more of these. Hit me up if you’d like to get weird and do a digital session.
