Saturday, December 23, 2017

Happy Holidays!



Wishing you a wonderful holiday season!

Patterns and Tones will be back in February 2018, just in time to celebrate our 5th year anniversary.

All my best to you and yours,

Julie Green
December 23, 2017

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Zen Sun Shadows

"Zen Sun Shadows No. 1" 2017

Like undulating waves on the surface of a body of water, these stylized sun shadows were composed to emulate nature. Zen gardens started in Kyoto, Japan in the 14th century to imitate the essence of nature and to give the viewer (originally for the head monk of a Buddhist monastery) a view to meditate on. Carefully constructed, the dry landscapes represent water in the meticulusly raked gravel and are usually dotted with three to five rock "islands" giving the "water" a place to radiate out from.

I was fortunate to visit the famous 15th century Ryoan-ji Temple garden in Kyoto years ago. I was struck by its simplicity and after meditating on its pristine landscape, felt a very deep sense tranquility and relaxation by its orderly structure. I know many artists who have been drawn to represent their experience at the garden through their work. John Cage was inspired to compose a series of works called "Ryoanji" 1985 and David Hockney constructed the photographic collage "Walking in the Zen Garden at the Ryoanji Temple Kyoto" in 1983.

The garden I photographed for this Sun Shadow series was at the Zen Court in the Japanese Garden of the Huntington Library and contains the same architectural elements I found in Kyoto. The effects of their sun shadows are just as mesmerizing.

Julie Green
December 16, 2017


"Zen Sun Shadows No. 2" 2017


"Zen Sun Shadows No. 3" 2017


"Zen Sun Shadows No. 4" 2017


"Zen Sun Shadows No. 5" 2017

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Sun Shadows Down the Garden Stairs

"Down the Garden Stairs No. 1" 2017 from the Sun Shadow Series 

I have always fought against the two dimensionality of photography. I was always trying to expand space within the constructs of the very nature of the medium. But in this Sun Shadow series I've been working on, I've actually embraced it and have been working on ways to actually flatten out perspective within the photograph.

In "Down the Garden Stairs" I began looking once again at how graphic hard edge shadows created in the midday sun refract against the linear steps below. Removing color from these images, it flattens the image plane out even more to create a dialogue between just the shapes and the space they occupy.

I am continually in awe of Ruth Bernhard's 1930 photograph "Lifesavers", where the objects are transformed by the space and light in which they are arranged. But it's the discovery of the unexpected in the image that rings my bell, especially when a visual mystery is revealed over time.

I'm also fascinated by the geometrical work done by the Concrete artist Alberto Magnellie and  Auguste Herbin's cubist forms. Both were looking to see how form, shape and color interacted with each other.

Looking is where its at,

Julie Green
December 9, 2017


"Down the Garden Stairs No. 2" 2017 from the Sun Shadow Series 



"Down the Garden Stairs No. 3" 2017 from the Sun Shadow Series 



"Down the Garden Stairs No. 4" 2017 from the Sun Shadow Series 

"Down the Garden Stairs No. 5" 2017 from the Sun Shadow Series 

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Getty Sun Shadows

"Getty Sun Shadows No. 1" 2017
The light at The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles at sunset is spectacular. High on the hilltop of the Santa Monica Mountains in Brentwood, its unobstructed light filters across its expansive travertine plazas and courtyards. The interplay between interior and exterior spaces was expertly choreographed by architect Richard Meier.

My fascination with light and shadow continues in this newest installation in my Sun Shadow series.

Julie Green
December 2, 2017


"Getty Sun Shadows No. 2" 2017



"Getty Sun Shadows No. 3" 2017



"Getty Sun Shadows No. 4" 2017



"Getty Sun Shadows No. 5" 2017

Saturday, November 25, 2017

Beneath the Surface: North York Moors

"Beneath the Surface: North York Moors No. 1" 2017


You realize why there are so many writers from the UK when you start walking around the glens, and moors and the wide open spaces that have been inspirational for centuries. You can see how these stories then migrated into the minds the world over. When we stayed with our lovely friends Welly and Rachel up in Rudby, Yarm in North Yorkshire and walked around the Cleveland Hills, my heart quickened its pace when I saw for the first time hillsides covered in heather.



As we finished our three mile hike, we walked down into a rushy glen and I saw before my eyes a place I had seen in my dreams. Perhaps illustrated in a Henry Moore novel or my idea of what a picturesque narrow valley in the United Kingdom would look like but there it stood complete with fern and bracken and emerald green leafy trees.



A new image appeared in the reflection of the water, this time an extension of the trees around the water, an arm reaching out - more human than branch. Or are our arms just an extended branch that has evolved? What ever, I felt deeply connected to this very spot and was fortunate to capture my dream.

Julie Green
November 25, 2017

William Allingham. 1824–1889
  
The Fairies
  
UP the airy mountain,
  Down the rushy glen,
We daren't go a-hunting
  For fear of little men;
Wee folk, good folk,         5
  Trooping all together;
Green jacket, red cap,
  And white owl's feather!
Down along the rocky shore
  Some make their home,  10
They live on crispy pancakes
  Of yellow tide-foam;
Some in the reeds
  Of the black mountain lake,
With frogs for their watch-dogs,  15
  All night awake.
High on the hill-top
  The old King sits;
He is now so old and gray
  He 's nigh lost his wits.  20
With a bridge of white mist
  Columbkill he crosses,
On his stately journeys
  From Slieveleague to Rosses;
Or going up with music  25
  On cold starry nights
To sup with the Queen
  Of the gay Northern Lights.
They stole little Bridget
  For seven years long;  30
When she came down again
  Her friends were all gone.
They took her lightly back,
  Between the night and morrow,
They thought that she was fast asleep,  35
  But she was dead with sorrow.
They have kept her ever since
  Deep within the lake,
On a bed of flag-leaves,
  Watching till she wake.  40
By the craggy hill-side,
  Through the mosses bare,
They have planted thorn-trees
  For pleasure here and there.
If any man so daring  45
  As dig them up in spite,
He shall find their sharpest thorns
  In his bed at night.
Up the airy mountain,
  Down the rushy glen,  50
We daren't go a-hunting
  For fear of little men;
Wee folk, good folk,
  Trooping all together;
Green jacket, red cap,  55
  And white owl's feather!

Saturday, November 18, 2017

Beneath the Surface: Norfolk Broads

"Beneath the Surface: Norfolk Broads No. 1" 2017

Watching the undulating waters ripple into the reeds as we boated upon the Norfolk Broads in East Anglia this summer put me into a meditative state. The smooth, calm waters where punctuated with Lilly pads and the occasional swan. But what fascinated me was its vast surface mirroring the dramatic sky above. Like a watercolor before my eyes, the quickly changing weather of England in late summer went from blue skies filled with billowing clouds to dark and stormy during our 3 hour tour.

Like watching the clouds in the sky, I obsereved their distorted shapes float by as we slowly boated down the Waveney river and curiously thought about what was hiding in the thicket. This 12th century man made waterway was cultivated for its fossil fuel peat. Over subsequent centuries the channels that were dug out were flooded and became  what is now known as the Norkfolk Broads. The 120 miles of rivers and lakes (known as broads) are the UK's largest protected wetland. I have enjoyed many journeys on this picturesque marsh and still marvel at the windmills occasionally dotting the landscape and thatched cottages lining the rivers edge.

In this newest image I tried to create a portrait of the countless men and woman who have spent time on this waterway, their long departed reflections caught for a moment in the shadows where the water meets the reeds...

From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads,

Julie Green
November 18, 2017

Saturday, November 11, 2017

Beneath the Surface: Moon Bridge

"Beneath the Surface: Moon Bridge" 2017

The Huntington Library and its 120 acre garden is a botanical delight. I am constantly drawn to the end of the property towards their 9 acres Japanese Garden. The moon bridge, which was commissioned back in 1919 and was built by Toichiro Kawai, is a perfect foil over the koi pond. Its reflections in the water below creates a full circle in the still waters. The koi fish swimming in the pond reminded me of flowing hair beneath the surface.

Once again I combined multiple elements to create a new image for this series.

Julie Green
November 11, 2017

Saturday, November 4, 2017

Beneath the Surface: Self Realization Fellowship

"Beneath the Surface: Self Realization Fellowship  No. 1" 2017

I found myself contemplating shapes and reflections on the surface in various bodies of water this year. From my own backyard pool, where I spent a good deal of the summer working on a series of images which culminated in "Body Refractions", I was constantly looking at how water distorted the shadows on the surface and people swimming just beneath the water.

On my travels throughout California and England this year, I began documenting small bodies of water (creeks, lakes and ponds) which held my fascination. Their mirrored surfaces and natural shapes captured my imagination. The still water was punctuated with vegetation and animals not seen in my swimming pool. The more I meditated on these peaceful spots the more I began to see forms emerge on the surface and just beneath the water. I wanted to capture these musings photographically and quickly began to sketch ideas of who and what I was imagining.

"Beneath the Surface: Self Realization Fellowship  No. 1" was a koi pond I captured at Paramahansa Yogananda's spiritual center in Escondido. I was particularly drawn to it as I had just been studying his writings and was touched by his following words: "When the consciousness is withdrawn from the sensory surface of the body and its surroundings and centralized in the cerebrospinal shrines of soul perception, that is the most effective time to pray".

I'm not a praying person and I can only assume he is making a mind and body connection when he describes the "cerebrospinal shrines of soul perception" but it struck me that we humans are bodies of water who can also reflect what is on the surface. Letting the ripples of daily life wash over us by maintaining our centeredness beneath is what makes up our character.

I hope you enjoy the results of my visual investigation as I dive into this body of work.

Julie Green
November 4, 2017

Saturday, October 28, 2017

A Rock 'n' Roll Checkup with James Lowe

The King of Psych: James Lowe

I was in utter disbelief when I recently started talking with the lead singer of my all time favorite Psych band The Electric Prunes!!! James Lowe was as down to earth as it gets and was still as psyched about music and the Prunes as I was. We bonded immediately. I got the nerve up to ask him if he would possibly pose for a photograph that I could include in my Rock 'n' Roll Checkup series I've been doing this month. Lucky for me the stars aligned just right since he happened to be in town and could spare an hour during my lunch break the following day!

I've never met a cooler guy and I wasn't surprised...

As he pose in the amazing 1963 Thunderbird that was being restored at the auto body shop on Santa Monica Blvd, we chatted away about life, music and art. I'm very honored to say that I met a kindred soul and am happy to present to you all of you wind-up girls and wind-up boys a brief low down on what the King of Psych has been up to and where's he's headed.

Papa came, Papa saw, Papa conquered!

Julie Green
October 28, 2017

Julie Green: Hey James, what have you been up to lately?

James Lowe: Well, a vintage band has to keep trying to be valid and play live but the venues are limited. I prefer the smaller places where ou can interact with the crowd. Since reforming in 1999, we have gotten to play in Europe and on both coasts as well as playing in Tokyo. I have done a couple of gigs with The Fuzztones in Italy and The Out Keyhole backing me in Sicily. It is rewarding to play our songs with other band's because I never got to do this in the past. Our last gig was in San Francisco and it was like old times. Once the music starts the years melt away and it is like American Bandstand all over again.

Many people do not know we have recorded new albums since reforming. Atifact, California, FEEDBACK, (LIVE) Return to Stockholm, REWIRED DVD and CD, and the latest, WaS.

JG: What are you doing right now?

JL: I came in to town (Los Angeles) to see the SPARKS show at the El Rey. I was involved with their first two albums so I like to keep up with them (like anyone can!). The Electric Prunes are rehearsing for hopefully some more USA dates and we have been invited to play in the UK again. As I said it's a challenge to keep something on the plate when you are time traveling from 1967!

JG: What are you up to in the new year?

JL: We are going to try and focus on the USA for live dates. WE like playing here in Hollywood too. The challenge will be to get people off the sofa and down tot he gigs... We are the people who were going to change the world (right after dinner... haha).

We have some other material in the scan that we may put out on vinyl at some point but we want to play some live dates at the moment.


Saturday, October 21, 2017

A Rock 'n' Roll Checkup with The Two Tens

The Two Tens
I recently checked in with one of my favorite local bands The Two Tens. This year. the dynamic duo of Rikki Styxx and Adam Bones have been very busy indeed completing their Sophomore EP "On Repeat" after completing a US tour with the amazing pop-punk band The Dollyrots. And they just release a single in time for Halloween called Looney Bin.

You can catch Styxx and Bones performing Halloween night at The Viper Room with the sassy duo out of St. Louis, MO Bruiser Queen and FEA, a rockin' Chicana led punk raunch band out of San Antonio, TX!

Julie Green
October 21, 2017


Julie Green: Hey gang, what have you been up to?

Rikki Styxx and Adam Bones: S&B: Didn't you hear? The Two Tens released our 2nd album and we are so extremely proud of it! We signed a record deal with Man Della Records and it was released in August. We also made a few kick ass vids to go along with the release. Yahoo Music premiered "Mean Sprit" recently. In the vid, we team upto take everyone down playing the game of dodgeball. We also put out a video for "Friends" that takes you behind the scenes and on the road with the band!

JG: What are you doing right now?

S&B: Right now we are gearing up for the next storm. We are playing on Halloween at the Viper Room. But really, we are laying low for our huge push in 2018. Stay tuned!

JG: What are you up to in the new year?

S&B: We are really hoping to get back on the road and tour with some awesome bands that we love.

Saturday, October 14, 2017

A Rock 'n' Roll Checkup with Dr. Frank

Dr. Frank from The Mr. T Experience

I thought it would be a good time of year to check in with some of my favorite musicians out there and who better to start this rock n' roll checkup than with the multi-talented and all around great guy Frank Portman (AKA Dr. Frank) from the seminal punk rock band The Mr. T Experience!

Julie Green
October 14, 2017

Julie Green: Hey Dr. Frank, what have you been up to this past year?

Dr. Frank: My band released King Dork Approximately the Album, featuring songs from the books, initially as a digital download with the paperback edition of the book. As of just last month we've released a vinyl and CD version as well. We've been doing some live shows as well. We've done some work on organizing the back catalog for possible future re-issues (beginning with the digital Shards compilations of odds and ends that hadn't yet made it to the digital catalog.) And I've been working on a couple of books.

JG: What are you doing right now?

DF: Right now drinking some coffee and typing this. Currently my co-conspirators and I are readying the release of the Punkemon seven inch, a never before issued Pokemon-themed "supergroup" put together by Lookout! Records prez Chris Appelgren around the turn of the century. Very limited and obscure but important to me because one of the songs is one of my favorites I've ever done and I never liked the idea that it was "lost." Well, it's "lost" no more! I also have my guitar on my knees because I'm working on more fingerpicking arrangements of old songs, plus some new ones.
 
JG: What are you plans for next year?


DF: Look for more records, including Shards on vinyl, an expanded Show Business Is My Life, a possible best of MTX album, and some new MTX material as well. Gonna continue plugging away at the novels, writing songs, etc.