PATTERNS AND TONES

"Destination: Point Reyes No. 1" 2018 Making not taking photographs is important to me. I want to add to the lexicon of imagery, not take something away from it. While traveling last year, I focused on crafting a narrative that would encapsulate the feeling of each place I visited in five images. Like portraiture, landscapes evoke emotions we immediately interpret from our own personal experiences. Those interpretations lead us to read images differently whether they are faces or places. For example in  Destination: Palm Springs , for me the images I made of the desert, with its sandy floor decorated in brittle vegetation and bathed in hard light, conjures feelings of anticipation and vigilance. I want you to experience the powerful wind whipping sand across your face and the dry heat beating down on you. In todays body of work shot at  Point Reyes National Seashore , when I look at these images I feel a sense of trust and contentment. They are quite images that al...

"Destination: Palm Springs No. 1, Part 2" 2018 Continuing my presentation of location shots in the desert of Palm Springs, this set of images was taken just north of San Jacinto Cove. On my second visit to this striking desert town last year, I decided to pull off the first road leading straight into the hillside. I pulled over into the sand and got out. The wind immediately swung my door open with such a forceful blast, I thought the door would tear right off. I didn't realize how windy it was outside. I mistakenly opened my automatic hatch in the back of my car to get my cameras out. Trying desperately to close it again, the intense gusts of wind ended up breaking my automatic lock. I was finally able to shut the hatch manually and quickly jumped back inside my car to load my film. It was a bit harrowing but thrilling at the same time. The desert was alive, the wind was howling and my sudden awareness that snakes could be afoot added to my trepidation. The cre...

Six years of Patterns and Tones!  After my yearly break in January, I am delighted to start working on my weekly blog again. Today marks the 6th year I've posted to this blog and as long as it continues to be a creative inspiration for me and others, I will share my thoughts and images with you. On every anniversary I like to present the top 10 most visited blog posts from the previous year. I like to split subjects into two main categories: Patterns (artwork) and Tones (portraits of musicians).  This years award winners in the Tones department ran the gamut from LA's Permanent Green Light and The Checkers to Seattle's finest The Fastbacks. But the most viewed blog entry went to "A Rave Up with Ron and The Reapers!" . This blog entry on this amazing band of musicians continue to see lots of traffic on a daily basis! You also really enjoyed reading my Caspers , New York Portraits and Sun Shadow series. But it was "Flora as Fashion: Lory...

"Destination: Palm Springs No. 1" 2018  Part 1 I traveled quite a bit throughout California, Washington State and Texas to see friends and family near and dear to me this year. I visited Palm Springs three times during 2018 and every time I photographed this unique destination in black and white, I was always drawn to the looming San Jacinto Mountain Range on its western edge. This batholith dominates the background of this Sonoran desert town and demands its portrait to be taken. Th light colored Mesozoic granite mountain range is otherworldly, an entity of its own. No wonder The Beast with a Million Eyes, The Monster That Challenged the World, and Blood of Dracula's Castle were all filmed in Palm Springs. I tried to get close to the mountain but most of the property near the base of the mountain is either private property or built so close to it, that it us nearly inaccessible. But I was determined and found a few places in the historic Tennis Court neighborh...

The Checkers are back and playing a show tonight at LA's finest pirate supper club (with thee best Fish and Chips on the Eastside),  The Redwood Bar and Grill !!! The night will be hosted by sonic siren Asia Muka  with a musical line up that includes Sirens in the Night (with  Jail Weddings members) and those fabulously loud and snotty  Tenement Rats . To wrap the night up in a bow, sonic gold DJ John Tyree with be spinning records all night long for your listening pleasure. It's been three years since we've last set foot on stage and in honor of this rare occasion and as a Christmas gift, I thought I would share with you flyers from The Checker's past and present. Happy holidays and I hope to see you at The Redwood! Julie Green Lead Singer of The Checkers December 15, 2018

"Flora as Fashion: Naomi White" 2018 The last stitched portrait of 2018 is a work in progress that has taken on a life of its own. At first I had the nylon flower petal hat's of the sixties in mind but it grew into a snood of sorts. It certainly is a bridge between my "Home as Hat" and "Flora as Fashion" series , combining both elements of a hat and foliage as the structure of the garment. My dear friend, the lovely and talented artist  Naomi White  graciously posed for this portrait. We have been friends and photographers for 3 decades. As an educator, intersectional feminist and visual artist Naomi has always been very observant of herself and the world around her. She has continually produced a translation of her cross current narratives in vibrant and unique ways. In a way I am happy to show you a work in progress. Not all pieces can be completed in a week and with the holidays upon us, time has become a rare commodity. I will continu...

"Flora as Fashion: Alyssa Taylor Wendt" 2018 This week, an ombré cropped cardigan-like shrug began to emerge from this portrait I had taken as I studied it's structure. Although this shrug enveloped only one of her shoulders, I could see how this knitted sweater could conceivably be worn like this. The tendrils of the vines added a unique element to this construction and I accented the berries in a coordinating mustard yellow color. Artist, scénariste, and presence -  Alyssa Taylor Wendt  graciously covered herself in shrubbery for my project. A long time friend and a highly creative, original and feisty hot tamal, Alyssa now lives in Austin, TX and is a part of the artist run  ICOSA Collective . Ms. Alyssa was also in a band called Panda in San Francisco. Recalling the power of the blue chakra, I decided to color this piece in honor of this singer and healer. As I was photographing her, I recalled her body of work " Compartments of Desire " which consi...

"Flora as Fashion: V. Marc Fortress" 2018 When I sit down to embroider a portrait, several elements influence what shape, color and pattern I eventually use to embellish each piece. The characteristics of the vegetation I have chosen to place my subjects in front of is the most influential element that helps to shape the garment and influence its eventual pattern. The color selection is often determined from the historical reference a particular piece of clothing conveys. Yet the one component that has the greatest impact on all of these elements is the personality of the subject I have photographed. In this portrait of V. Marc Fortress, I placed him in front of this bush because I was attracted to its structural branches and repeating patterns that reminded me of V. Marc's dreads . But it is his smooth, warm, engaging personality that lead me to the shape of the super hero cape. If more people were like V. Marc, we would be living in a peaceful and just world. W...

"Flora as Fashion: Lola Carroll" 2018 I'm back in the stitching saddle again, creating more pieces in anticipation of an exhibition of this body of work in 2019!  I was inspired to photograph several friends for this series while I was visiting Texas in August. Lola graciously posed for me while we were visiting Blue Hole , a swimming spot in Wimberely, TX. The clear water was in stark juxtaposition to the swamp-like foliage that surrounded the swimming hole. The water was chilly but exhilarating. Being surrounded by old-growth cypress trees dripping in spanish moss while swimming was a novel experience for me.  While I was thinking about the memories my friend Lola and I have shared over the years, t his bridal veil began to take shape out of the foliage in the photograph. I remembered photographing Lola's wedding back in the 9T's in the Palace of Fine Arts  Rotunda and capturing her own veil as it blew vertically straight up into the air. It...

                         With the new release of their remastered album " Hallucinations " on Omnivore Recordings , Permanent Green Light are back from the 9T's.  Along with a collection of out of print favorites and unreleased demo trax,  this new compilation is also packed with rare photographs and ephemera for fans to enjoy. I recently photograph the band in picturesque San Pedro.  Michael Quercio and Matt Devine kindly gave me an interview giving us a chance to catch up and fill in the blanks on the past, present and future.  I'm absolutely thrilled  to present to you one of  Southern California's seminal bands: Permanent Green Light.  Julie Green November 3, 2018 Julie Green: What was the impetus to release these remastered recordings now? Matt: I attended The Quick  pane...