PATTERNS AND TONES

"Electric Sun Shadow No. 1" 2018 Seeing patterns in the shadows below my feet has kept me amused and delighted. I find beauty all around me when I turn my attention to the world around us and take the time to just look. These electric sun shadows are a fine example of finding beauty and significance in the most random patterns of my daily life. My eye is always searching for connections and meaningfulness in simple forms and markings. In this latest batch of images I've created for my  Sun Shadow series , I've expanded my fascination with shadows cast from objects close by (such as stairs, slides and steps), to confining shadows cast from objects from above. They have become more like drawings, separate from their template. They exist in the frame of my lens independent from the world around them. These electric sun shadows were cast from the old electric pole lines that still traverse the neighborhood in which I work. Their presence is an unusual one here in...

"Sun Shadow Signs No. 1" 2018 Summer light in Southern California is so beautiful in the late morning, before the heat takes over the day. You can feel the sun begin to turn its intensity on but are not yet quite affected by their overpowering rays. Late morning is also the perfect time to catch shadows cast at a 45 degree angle, just before they disappear altogether at high noon. Strolling around, looking for inspiration, I began to notice the shapes various stop signs, traffic lights and parking placards were making against the concrete and crosswalks below. Cracks in the sidewalk fascinated me with their random, river-like structures. I concentrated on the interplay between the shadows as they played over the utilitarian patterns etched into the concrete. We often walk around without really looking, too busy to get where we are going. It's when we slow down for just a moment to observe what's around us to enjoy what is right before our eyes, the place wher...

“Track Shadows No. 1” 2018 Although they are throwing very little shade, these railroad tracks are a reminiscent of the lines created in my Sun Shadow series. Their inky blacks and long unending lines contrast nicely with  the textural patterns in the lighter wood and rocks. Their abstract patterns remind me of Japanese Kanji when studied closely. Much like the minute shadows cast from the patterns created in a Zen rock garden, the sun shadows in the tracks are consistent and bold. I was captivated by their modern form and simple function.  Julie Green June 16, 2018 “Track Shadows No. 2” 2018 “Track Shadows No. 3” 2018 “Track Shadows No. 4” 2018 “Track Shadows No. 5” 2018 “Track Shadows No. 6” 2018

"New York Circles No. 1" 2018 On my birthday, I often reflect on years past and it is the people I'm surrounded by that make my life fulfilling. Our circle of friends and family is what matters most. In this last installment of photographs I took in New York at the MCC 2nd Avenue Street Festival last month, I watched as people gathered together. Whether it be participating in a fun activity, security detail or eating together, these people were bound to each others company. It is the bonds of friendship and commradery that binds us together. Enjoying life's little moments together, to be a witness to each others lives - that is the greatest gift of all. Julie Green June 9, 2018 "New York Circles No. 2" 2018 "New York Circles No. 3" 2018 "New York Circles No. 4" 2018 "New York Circles No. 5" 2018

“New York Duos No. 1" 2018 I am fascinated by human interaction. Who we communicate with and how we interact with others says a lot about who we are. As a photographer, I love capturing these everyday occurrences. Everyone  displays habits and customs. It's the non-verbal cues that make the images compelling. While I was in New York at the MCC 2nd Avenue Street Festival last month, I captured several couples who caught my eye.  Their body language conveyed how well they knew each other. The closer they physically were, the stronger their acquaintance. The stronger the acquaintance, the more they visually looked like each other.  It's human nature to gravitate towards others who share similar interests, habits and cultural backgrounds. It's the law of attraction... In "New York Duos No. 5", I captured two strangers. The merchant  is cutting a coconut with a machete and the customer is checking his iPhone completely oblivious t...

"New York Individuals No. 1" 2018 On a recent trip to Manhattan I carved out some time to photograph New Yorkers at the  MCC 2nd Avenue Street Festival. There were over 800 local craft artists, merchants and restaurants who set up their stalls the length of 20 blocks. The street festival provided locals with a chance to relax and enjoy a pedestrian stroll down 2nd Avenue. The Manhattan skyline is not subtle nor organic.  The towering buildings made for an interesting backdrop and became a looming presence behind my subjects. Being a Californian, I'm used to open vistas and single storey buildings. I was challenged by t he angles of the buildings and their doors and windows. I began to consciously incorporate their imposing elements with my human subjects below. It was delightful to interact with random New Yorkers. I forgot how talkative and engaging people are here. I suppose I have also become removed from random interactions with...

“Flora as Fashion: Ameliana Kamstra” 2018 It seems frivolous to create images that aren't addressing social injustices right now while our American society is crumbling right before my eyes. But it is precisely through this project that I have been able to process the tension our daily world is producing. Stitching  has been a way for me to personally keep it all together.   The transformation of emotional experiences into recognizable form is a vehicle most artists employ. Picturing a song, a gesture, or a phrase leads us on a journey of self discovery and expression. The normal structures of our society, which feels like it is hanging by a thread, is overwhelming. Fear of letting life unravel, keeps me stitching. I’m stitching to reduce the stress levels I have about the onslaught of daily high school shootings, homelessness, our diminishing civil liberties, and grotesque consumerism. It allows me to transform my anxiety into something beautiful - a ...

"Hula-Hoop" 2018 20 x 16" Acrylic Well, I couldn't keep myself away from the paints... There is something so enjoyable about applying paint. I dive deeper into shapes and forms. Expressing my creativity through this medium has always been something I come back to time and again. It fulfills a need that isn't met in my photography. I was given a piece of advice a very long time ago that I still adhere to. "If you create an image that really resonates with you, reproduce it in may different mediums." Time has kept me from producing a large body of work. Painting takes time. It's not a snap shot. It requires hours of looking, adjusting, applying and contemplation. It is a meditation onto itself. With a very packed schedule already, I couldn't imagine where I was going to be able to carve out a chunk of time to do the work. But then I thought of Ruth Asawa , who with six kids wove her wonderful sculptures after everyone went to bed. I thought ...

I caught a few sets by Ron and The Reapers at The Famous Barkley Restaurant and Bar last month and couldn't stop dancing! These musicians are the finest around. Their selection of music from the 50's and 6T's unveiled their wealth of knowledge and taste. From a beautiful cover of "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" by Gerry and the Pacemakers to making the unforgettable "Thirty Six Twenty Two Thirty Six" by Bobby Bland their very own, they kept the place jumping all night long.  Headed by Ron Silva on vocals, guitar and bass, this band consists of rock 'n' roll royalty from Dave Fleminger on keys and guitar, Richard Larson on drums, Peter Miesner on guitar, bass and vocals and Chris Davies on guitar and bass.  We were also treated to the amazing vocal stylings and range of Chloe Lou who is a perfect complement to these impeccable musicians. I recently caught up with Ron and below share a brief interview I did with him to accompany...

Flora as Fashion: Elise Wille Deviating from following the exact line of the vegetation surrounding my model, I constructed a floral patterned high-waisted skirt instead. I suppose it was the architectural element of the building behind Elise that inspired me to come up with a different approach to this image.  It was also the vertical nature of the Bird of Paradise she was standing in that hindered construction of a skirt. I just didn't see how I could build apparel that would come up from the ground and still look like something she could wear. I played around with shapes and forms until I loosened my self imposed restrictions of only working within the framework of the surrounding plants and ended up fabricating this lovely tropical sarong. The color choice was certainly inspired by the vibrant flowering heads of the fan shaped crown. A native to South America, Bird of Paradise has thrives in warm climates and coincidentally is the official flower of the city of ...