Findings and observations from someone without a green thumb.
“Botanica is a visual study of micro-ecosystems, the backbone of our biosphere. The ecosystem depends on these micro-ecosystems to survive. Yet, they are often overlooked in mainstream discourse about the environmental crisis. This work seeks to create a visual space for vital mini-ecologies to coexist before their imminent extinction.” — Aster Reem David
Blissfully Aware Episode 23
A conversation with documentary filmmaker Leslie Askew
“It’s my purpose to be a voice and a vehicle for other people. End of. It has nothing to do with me. If I’m serving that, then I’m on my path. So I’m happy to help anyone who can advance it.” — Leslie Askew
Inside the Episode
The status quo says only some media creators are artists. That resources are scarce. Today, a story from Leslie Askew about her birth as an artist. Her storytelling has taken her from CNN to independent documentary film.
This is a story about bucking the art establishment in favor of listening to your inner voice. What…
Blissfully Aware Episode 12
A conversation with still life photographer Maria Baez
“No one knows where the work is going to take them. Doing work in the first place is such a vulnerable thing. Putting it out there, you’re already in the unknown.” — Maria Baez
In this episode, I sit with Maria Baez, a principal photographer at jet.com. Maria is a friend, and we got to know each other at Estée Lauder Companies, where she set up a fantastic in-house media studio, and I worked on creative strategy. She is a talented content creator and thought partner who is five years into her commercial photography career.
We usually talk with…
Blissfully Aware Episode 9
Photographer Heather White on creating beauty out of love and loss
“Our flaws are what make us interesting. And so I feel like when I’m behind the camera, I’m not just a portrait photographer, I’m a documentary photographer. I’m just there with the studio lights, and I’m documenting the energy and the people. I’m capturing those in-between moments and emotions. Nothing’s posed, everything’s real. That’s the sweet spot where you capture the real person.” — Heather White
I am so thrilled to have Heather White with us this week. Heather is a birth doula and a documentary photographer, and she brings so much warmth and courage to everything she touches.
…
Blissfully Aware Episode 8
Stephanie Rooker’s never been casual about music
“My mission is to wake up the voices. We need all the voices, we need all the songs. No one can be left out. We need all of them, more than ever. The more people can step into owning their power and their magic and their capacity to heal themselves and heal this world, the better.” — Stephanie Rooker
Stephanie Rooker is a force of soul in the New York music community and beyond. She is a vocalist, composer, voice teacher, therapeutic sound facilitator, and founder of Voice Journey.
Her albums have been described as brooding, sometimes sultry, with…
REFRAME
The photographer talks about renewing herself by pushing her comfort zone and even creating before thinking
Dutch photographer Melissa Schriek has had a glorious summer. Her ongoing bodies of work “The City is a Choreography” and “A Study of Uncomfortable Positions” received excellent write-ups (here and here). Her unique eye has also earned her commissions for fashion labels Tony Ta and HENK. Where she goes from here is up to her, and the possibilities are endless.
Seeing Melissa’s work for the first time is impossible not to pause. It’s striking. The images are like a crazy dream, where you’re the spectator of a balletic trance. The city hums in the background. It’s raw, sometimes bent out…
REFRAME
Photography and structures by Massimo Gammacurta
It is hard to talk about pain. To grasp its cause, make sense of it, and put it into perspective. It’s deep-rooted and complex. When the ache is vast, how do we heal? How do we find the courage to acknowledge trauma in the first place? That’s a massive question that deserves exploration. And we will do that at The Daring, separately.
But let’s say that you and I got there. We moved through surprising, messy flashes of awareness where every muscle was straining for a shorthand to escape. Imagine all that behind you for now, and you are breathing…
REFRAME
Marie Weikopf’s intimate portraits capture Berlin drag culture
A couple of years ago, Marie Weikopf started documenting the life of drag queens in Berlin. They showed her their homes, their transitions, and took her to the shows. While shooting and editing the series, she focused on intimate, in-between moments. Indeed, the portraits are pensive records that encapsulate the contemplative artistry of drag culture.
Candid and in color, the personality Marie captures is phenomenal, given how subtly demonstrative the artists are in her presence. We’re gliding into a fascinating and private space. Describing the experience, Marie tells us: “The art of drag queen seems like something staged, or even…
RETHINK
Ben Tyree on the arc of creativity and navigating the music industry right now
Ben Tyree is a composer, guitar player, and eclectic musician with staggering versatility. He came up in the diverse D.C. music scene, and we got to know each other as kids. We’d hang out in record shops and smoke cigarettes while driving around with our friends. We sang to radio tracks on top of our lungs — he like a stallion, me off-key. Yes, we’ve come a long way.
Over the years, I’ve watched Ben build a sustainable music career and collaborate with luminaries as varied as Vernon Reid, Kyp Malone, Nicholas Payton, Dr. …
REFRAME
Tynan DeBold on photography and a look at New York
Tynan DeBold is a keen observer of people and scenery, which he captures off-the-cuff on his travels. These come together as lyrical photo essays, homages to the places where he’s lived and explored. Tynan has documented hikes, walks, and details from more than 30 countries and currently lives in Copenhagen. This collection is an ongoing look at New York City and the surrounding area. We spoke with Tynan to find out more about his approach and daily inspirations.
