{Lucky Seven} Minneapolis, MN Child Photography

I used to live in a room full of mirrors; all I could see was me.
I take my spirit and I crash my mirrors, now the whole world is here for me to see.
Jimi Hendrix

In 10 days my daughter will be a 2nd grader. At a new school.
Her brother will be with her as a brand new Kindergarten Learner.
It is closer and is our neighborhood school, fits our lifestyle.
I believe in Neighborhood Schools.
It builds Community, Peace, Relationships...
Her old school is great.
School Choice is tough.
Oye.
We are in, not lost in Translation.
As I picked her up today,
We walked past the Peace Garden
I stopped. Looked. Whipped out the camera.
Embarrassed the bunches out of her...
Savored
every last bit...
Cause her new school is great...
But doesn't have a Peace Garden...

{Empty Chairs, Empty Tables} Memorial Day Tribute

There's a grief that can't be spoken,
There's a pain goes on and on...
Empty chairs at empty tables
Where my friend will sing no more....
Empty Chairs at Empty Tables
The Muscial Les Miserables
Claude-Michel Schönberg & Alain Boublil

Today I started complaining about the weather. No sun. Too hot. Kids whiny...
Then I remembered what today is....
Because of a fellow brilliant artist, not by my own "a ha" moment.
Thank you Amy for the kick in the ass.
Thank You my friends I have known and not.
I miss you.
I cannot understand the sacrifice.
I struggle.
I am humbled.
And grateful.
Blessings.....

{Soft} Minneapolis, MN Fine Art Photography

"They thought I was a Surrealist, but I wasn't.
I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality."
— Frida Kahlo

{Tropics and Manilow} Phoenix, AZ Lifestyle Photographer

Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl
With yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there
She would merengue and do the cha-cha
And while she tried to be a star, Tony always tended bar
Across a crowded floor, they worked from 8 till 4
They were young and they had each other
Who could ask for more?

-Barry Manilow

{Round and Round} Fine Art Photography

"Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally"
— Abraham Lincoln

{Behind the fence} Minneapolis, MN Nature Photography

The free bird leaps
on the back of the win
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky....

The free bird thinks of another breeze
an the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own....

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for
the caged bird

sings of freedom.

-Maya Angelou
{I know why a caged bird sings}

{Some Like It Hot} Twin Cities Lifestyle Photograhy

I'm not really too worried about the global warming. People like it a little warmer, don't they?
--Larry David as Larry David

Dear god.
So selfish.
Please give me sun
Please.
Some
Like it Hot.

{Running Down a Dream.} Life

it was a beautiful day...the sun beat down..i was driving...
i was flying..
working on a mystery.
-Tom Petty

{Ring} Minnesota Fine Art Photograhy

"How many slams in an old screen door?
Depends how loud you shut it.
How many slices in a bread?
Depends how thin you cut it.
How much good inside a day?
Depends how good you live 'em.
How much love inside a friend?
Depends how much you give 'em."

— Shel Silverstein

So nice to have family in town.
Hoop and whooop it up!

{kazoos and kisses} Shakopee, MN Photography

"You have to remember one thing about the will of the people: it wasn't that long ago that we were swept away by the Macarena."
— Jon Stewart

{Sonnet} Minneapolis, MN Fine Art Photography

When power leads men towards arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations.
When power narrows the areas of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his existence.
When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.
For art establishes the basic human truth which must serve as the touchstone of our judgment.
The artist, however faithful to his personal vision of reality, becomes the last champion of the individual mind and sensibility against an intrusive society and an officious state.
The great artist is thus a solitary figure.
He has, as Frost said, a lover's quarrel with the world.
In pursuing his perceptions of reality, he must often sail against the currents of his time.
This is not a popular role.
If Robert Frost was much honored in his lifetime, it was because a good many preferred to ignore his darker truths.
Yet in retrospect, we see how the artist's fidelity has strengthened the fiber of our national life.
If sometimes our great artists have been the most critical of our society, it is because their sensitivity and their concern for justice, which must motivate any true artist, makes him aware that our Nation fails short of its highest potential.
I see little of more importance to the future of our country and our civilization than full recognition of the place of the artist.
If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him.
We must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth.

John F Kennedy

Speech at Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts (26 October 1963)

Because Art is not a Hobby.
It is a Vocation.
A Calling.
A need as much as Math, Science, History, English...
Perhaps consult if not so sure...
Einstein...
Davinci...

Below a favorite work of mine. Timeless. Bobby and JFK. Cuban Missle Crisis.
A powerful, graceful portrait. I wish I could make it bigger...

{Technicolor Mind.} Meet Your Artist

I closed my eyes, drew back the curtain
To see for certain what I thought I knew
Far far away, someone was weeping
But the world was sleeping
Any dream will do

I wore my coat, with golden lining
Bright colors shining, wonderful and new
And in the east, the dawn was breaking
And the world was waking
Any dream will do

A crash of drums, a flash of light
My golden coat flew out of sight
The colors faded into darkness
I was left alone

May I return to the beginning
The light is dimming, and the dream is too
The world and I, we are still waiting
Still hesitating
Any dream will do
-Andrew Lloyd Weber
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Any Dream will Do

How I see the world, and no it is not an acid trip, just how I see, feel and experience life. You can read about it here. If you care too....and if you do. Read the entire description as to completely understand. It is real. An actual trait and if you don't buy it I really don't care.
My Life
And of course a clip of the last Joseph, Donny Osmond, ignore the cheese factor. His voice is amazing and he does an incredible job with the role.

On the artist front...
And I am nailing double exposure and long exposure...
this is HUGE
without a tripod..all these pics from me!

and yes i Photoshopped the hell out of myself....
I have horrible insomnia these days not flattering...
I should be ok with that...not quite there yet...

{Trust In The Woods}

Careful the wish you make,
Wishes are children.
Careful the path they take-
Wishes come true,
Not free.

Careful the spell you cast,
Not just on children.
Sometimes the spell may last
Past what you see
And turn against you...

Careful the tale you tell.
That is the spell.
Children will listen...

Careful before you say
"Listen to me"

-The Musical Into the Woods
Stephen Sondheim {Children will Listen}
and yes...still on that kick..

This is an incredible musical. The original witch was Bernadette Peters who was amazing...again a clip below...
I love it so much...

{Fresh and Exciting Hope} Minneaolis, MN Child Photographer

"If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut"
— Albert Einstein

Yup. This is what we say to this one. A mix of heart, soul and mind.
He is a graduate, at the start, of a life long journey...
of Education, Compassion, Experience...
WOW...
Now I will wipe the tears and snot off my keyboard as he is my baby..
starting off...

(Ob-la-di, ob-la-da life goes on brah} Minneapolis, MN Life Photographer

Happy ever after in the market place
Desmond lets the children lend a hand
Molly stays at home and does her pretty face
And in the evening she still sings it with the band

Yeah, ob-la-di, ob-la-da life goes on brah
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da life goes on brah
La la how the life goes on
...do i have to say
The beatles....

Andd......it is now summer....this place is odd....(in a not offensive, just my obsessive people watching.. observation kind of way...)

Last week it snowed and it was grey, people were mad...
I was pissed...

Now the market is up, ball and bloom is and the air....and...
Everyone forgets so easy...at least it seems...bit surreal...
We have Our Minnesota Nice Razzamataz going though

Separate subject..
watching little peeps play ball (the five and under crew)
is cute for...five...sec....minutes...
hmmm...so watched all the other parents...soaking the sun in...

La la how life goes on...!

{Physics.Limits.Gravity. Just . The Choices}

So if you care to find me
Look to the western sky!
As someone told me lately:
"Ev'ryone deserves the chance to fly!"
And if I'm flying solo
At least I'm flying free
To those who'd ground me
Take a message back from me
Tell them how I am
Defying gravity
I'm flying high
Defying gravity
And soon I'll match them in renown
And nobody in all of Oz
No Wizard that there is or was
Is ever gonna bring me down!

-Wicked the Musical

Just seemed to fit...with the whole hooping thing. Which I am TOTALLY addicted to! It is so much fun and a great workout for your core....and also since I still unleashing my inner broadway star;) with my continual musical references