Saturday, May 28, 2016

Three Strikes Park from the Sun Shadow Series

"Three Strikes Park No. 1" from the Sun Shadow Series

Sun shadows. Light and dark at the same time. Opposites that make each other exist. I began this series last year so I could have a parameter to study the stark contrasts of light and shadow as well as the textural nature of the bark and concrete. In this newest installation, I wanted to flatten the image into abstraction and then bring it back into a three dimensional form.

The pebbles and debris that littered the sidewalk were defined by the late afternoon sun. Their long shadows on small objects reminded me of Ruth Bernhard's study of light and form in her photograph "Lifesavers" from 1930. The stark contrasts and simplified forms flattened the image out and became more of a study of spacial geometry. It also reminded me of Piet Mondrian's non-representational forms in his paintings from his neoplastic period.

In post, I began to see the fluttering of butterfly wing patterns, stained glass windows and goal posts. By isolating panels of the image in white, the abstract image began to come back into a three dimensional plane. I was most happy when the image began to bend in "Three Strikes Park No. 4", by incorporating mid-tones back into the image which created depth.

I'll continue to explore and create patterns that I encounter on my sunny walks by playing with light and form in my sun shadow series.

Julie Green
May 28, 2016

"Three Strikes Park No. 2" from the Sun Shadow Series

"Three Strikes Park No. 3" from the Sun Shadow Series

"Three Strikes Park No. 4" from the Sun Shadow Series

"Three Strikes Park No. 5" from the Sun Shadow Series



Saturday, May 21, 2016

The Spirit of the Puppeteer: The 2nd Annual Bob Baker Day


"2nd Annual Bob Baker Day No. 1"



A few months ago my daughter and her pals attended the 2nd Annual Bob Baker Day celebration. The carnival had spilled out onto the street in front of The Bob Baker Marionette Theater while live performances celebrating Bob's birthday were happening inside. 

The overhead freeway was a perfect shelter from the sun. While the little ones crafted masks and played with their puppets, musical performances and puppet shows were presented on a small stage. Special guests included puppeteer and performance artist Paul Zalooom, the amazing costumed characters from Yo Gabba Gabba, juggling by Lindsay Benner and strangely enough LA's own barbie doll, Angelyne!


I first blogged about Mr. Baker and his marionette theater in "Bob Baker and His Magical Marionettes" where I was allowed a peek behind the curtain. The following year Mr. Baker graciously allowed me into his magical puppet warehouse. Our two hour interview covered the evolution of his career. We touched on how he crafted his puppets, the materials and techniques he used, as well as discussing the people he had worked with over the years. The resulting blog became "Bob Baker: The Making of His Magical Marionettes".

I'm so thrilled to see the sprit of this puppeteer live on in this annual festival and look forward to seeing more puppet shows over the corse of the year.

Julie Green
May 21, 2016

"2nd Annual Bob Baker Day No. 2"

"2nd Annual Bob Baker Day No. 3"


"2nd Annual Bob Baker Day No. 4"


"2nd Annual Bob Baker Day No. 5"









Saturday, May 14, 2016

Talkin' Trash with Tina Lucchesi



I don't know anyone who has been more fun, more outrageous, and more into Hanoi Rocks then the Bay Area's own Rock and Roll Queen - Ms. Tina Lucchesi. Originally from the North Bay, Tina is one powerhouse of a human being who lights up a room and gets the party started every time she's around.

Her influence on the "Bay Area Sound" is profound. From her early days as the sassy, sultry drummer for The Trashwomen to the snotty, hot lead singer for The Bobbyteens, her unabashed enthusiasm has always made whatever she is involved in magical.

Every band Tina has ever been in has had an amazing concept behind it. Clothing, lyrics, attitude were all intertwined and emphasized in Tina and the Total Babes, Deadly Weapons, Midnite Snaxxx, The Glamour Pussies, HUNX and His PUNX, Top Ten or her current incarnation drumming for Cyclops.

I met Tina in San Francisco in the late 8T's hanging out with all the other goofballs in the garage scene at the time. We shared a giggle over our shared Italian and Russian heritage and have remained friends throughout the years. I always LOVE seeing Tina. She feels like home to me.

As she departs our fair shores of California for a port in Oregon, I thought it was high time I
interviewed her and catch up on what she's been up to and where she's headed.

Here's to many more lazy days and crazy nights Tippy Teen!

xoxo

Julie Green
May 14, 2016




JULIE GREEN:  When did you open Down at Lulu's?

TINA LUCCHESI:  I started Down at Lulu's in 2006. I was partners with Seth Bogart for the first five years... This June it will be 10 years!

JG:  What was your most memorable vintage find?

TL:  1960s Farisa Organ for $20.. Emilio Pucci sunglasses 60's... I dunnno SOOOO MANY RAD FINDS ...

JG:  How has Oakland changed since you moved in?

TL:  I've lived in the east bay since 1996 and Oakland since 2001. It's changing rapidly!! 
The rich young whippersnapoer carpetbaggers are taking over .. Making rents high for the real people who made Oakland what it is... UNFORTUNATELY ITS HAPPENING EVERYWHERE.. Don't get me started.. Grumpy old lady over here!


JP:   When are you moving up to Portland?

TL:  End of May

JP:   Have you ever lived outside of the Bay Area?

TL:  Nope NEVERRRRR

JP:  Will you continue to play in Cyclops?

TL:  I think so ... We wanna start a new project where I just sing .. 

JP:  Are you going to open Down at Lulu's up there?

TL:  Hopefully in the future... It will be different since my Bf will be partners if we do it .. Hopefully
all ages show space art space and record shop along with vintage clothing and Hair salon.. Do you remember in SF the Compound ??? Punk mall. It's where the Kilowatt is now.. 80s thing super rad...


JP:   What else are you gonna do up in Portland?

TL:  Do Hair build clients sell clothing somewhere .. Trying to get in some collectives now.. Be with my Man Jonnycat, get married, buy a boat!!!  

JP:   Congratulations your engagement to Jonny Harbin!!! When are you gonna get hitched?

TL:  We will get married next year probably .. We are gonna elope I think .. Who knows .. We want a special romantic full moon pagan style wedding!!!! 

JP:   Do you have the dress already picked out?

TL:   No, not yet.. Not trippin'...


JP:  What is the Bay Area going to do without you???

TL:  Turn into a boring uptight homogenized bearded mall wearing land of shit!!!

JP:   What are you listing to these days?

TL:  Today I listed to Malo getting ready for work... Sauvacito .. You know ... Uuuu!! I'm on an XTC KICK LATELY .. Still tons on 60s and 70s rock n roll and soul.. I'm not for anything new at all..  I try to be open minded ..  

JP:   Are you still a big Hanoi Rocks fan?

TL:   Hell yessss !!! Just saw Micheal Monroe in San jose.. Sammy Yaffa is still in his band...       Luvvvv himmm still a great Rock n roll show!



Saturday, May 7, 2016

Vinyl Love



This promotional postcard I made for Tower Records featured two very close friends of mine and was styled with items they literally had laying around the house. Throwing their iconic plastic bag into the middle of midcentury wax, I was able to place the Tower Records brand into a time warp and emphasis the joy teens derived from laying around listing to music and reading the album liner notes.

When I began shooting commercially I rarely used professional models. I suppose its due to the fact that I have always been surrounded by interesting people who are willing to be photographed in the various projects I had going on. I also saw that by employing everyday people in my commercial work, it gave the images a more genuine feeling.

This postcard was so popular they even made them into notebooks and date savers. The outakes below have never been published nor seen since 1997!

For the love of vinyl,

Julie Green
May 7, 2016