Dancing ’til Dusk in Seattle is a project I have been photographing for six years, 2011-2016. Seattle Parks and Recreations produces and Dance for Joy organizes this free of charge public summer dance event in the parks around Seattle.
I happened upon this event while photographing the streets of Seattle and it brought back memories of my mothers love of dancing the polka. It was wonderful to see the interaction take place as opposed to seeing solo interaction with technology. I feel such joy as I watch the learning, and playful behavior that takes place among friends, spouses, and strangers that come for a night of social interaction, human touch and dance.
I think Martha Graham sums up my feelings about photographing these events in her quote “dance is the hidden language of the soul”.
We do not open ourselves up to the world if we stay more tuned into our gadgets than experiencing the activity surrounding us in the streets. The human touch is for healing, loving and the affirmation of living, playing and friendship.
I was in Hong Kong staying in the Mong Kok area about two weeks after the start of the Umbrella Revolution. This protest started on September 26, 2014 and continued until December 2014. The umbrella normally an everyday item that protects users against the rain and the sun, has in the past, symbolized political weakness. In the context of the Hong Kong protests, it has been used to shield against the pepper spray and tear gas of the police, thus has become a political symbol of resistance and named the umbrella movement. I went down to Nathan Road to document the protestors demanding the right to elect their own leader without interference from Beijing. On October 17th, 2014 at 5 am the police tore down some of the barriers on Nathan Rd in the Mong Kok area and by mid day the protestors were back in full force to take back the streets that were cleared. By evening over 400 police arrived in Mong Kok to prevent the takeover , at least 9000 protesters tried to retake the northbound lanes of the road. The police claimed that 15 officers sustained injuries. There were at least 26 arrests, including photojournalist Paula Bronstein. Around midnight, the police retreated and the suffragists re-erected barricades across the road Saturday morning the protestors had taken back Nathan Road and Argyle St. These photos document a piece of this historical event.
My Love Affair With Rain. I love rainy days. The glistening of the streets, dark contrasts that come out of limited light and the colors that pop from the canopy's of the umbrellas. The movement of the the street with the scurrying of the people and the texture of the rain is also part of the intrigue that I like to capture.
These prints are printed on Japanese paper called Washi Unryu that is made of mulberry with long fibers throughout the print that help give the feeling of movement of the rain This paper creates a one of a kind photograph.
"Baby Doll" was a collaboration project with Bo Young Choi, fashion designer. I met Bo at a fundraiser event and was taken in by her work. We knew her costumes and my love of masks could make a fun project. On this shoot we blended the fantasy of plastic masks with the whimsey of her costumes. I had a love and haunting relationship with these images and with Bo's costumes the doll came alive. Thanks to Jean Nagai who created a beautiful backdrop tent "Helen Morris" that we took advantage of using during a festival at Volunteer Park, Seattle. Thanks to my collaborators for making this shoot possible. The team Marcia Glover, Constance Brinkley, photographer and Bo Young Choi, designer.
I studied theatre in college and have always loved masks and how people relate to them. I would have friends and family put them on and watch how they would let go and have fun with the experience to take on a new alter ego or secret identity. It gave them permission to let their inhibitions go.
I began to collect these latex animal masks and using them to create stories while shooting the day to day street sightings. I enjoy finding the irony in the captures. I use friends, family, and strangers off the street to don the mask and help me create a scene. The theatre training promoted the art of spontaneous fun!
"Masked Identity- Bird Project" was a collaboration project with Bo Young Choi, fashion designer. We blended the fantasy of bird latex masks with the whimsey of costumes made out of nylon parachute material. We wanted to create these birds that would look natural in the park setting.
Theatre of the Streets
I am drawn to the streets to observe human nature, social, political systems and consumerism... life.
I look for the unplanned performance that is serendipitous in creating a layered photograph with a story ready for the telling. I am the director and the audience of these captures that momentarily unify and coherence is achieved.
