Penn's on the internet!

Thanks to the talented Mr. Daniel, Penn is now equipped with his own home on the internet comprised of my posts here and his photos on flickr.

Thanks, Mr. Daniel!

Kungfoox

Video that explains a little bit about the Kungfoox Collective and what a show in Tyler, Texas looks like. (see previous post)

Kungfoox Art Show | April 23rd Opening Reception

Artist Statement:

I've always been very purposeful about shooting "fine art." (Whatever that is.) I scheme an idea, make a plan, set a date, strive for an external execution that matches the innards of my brain, then edit until time's up and I have to fill a wall with a message. Nevermind that I take photos every day, just because life is a beautiful thing.

When I asked myself what the difference was between this "Art" I was making and the "beautiful life" shots I realized it was only the way I looked at them and only the way I told you to look at them. And all I ever wanted to tell anyone is that life is a beautiful thing.

I'm showing nine pieces that are random moments in my recent life.

12 x 12 prints on 16 x 16 Hahnemühle William Turner archival art paper.

Kungfoox Art Show, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Kung Foox Collective III (KFC3)
April 23rd (opening reception): 6pm-11pm
April 24th, 25th, 26th & 27th: 10am - 10pm

215 E. Ferguson St.
Studio D
Tyler, TX 75702
Downtown Tyler

140 pieces of art
24 artists

Tom Conlon Dallas House Concert

Tom Conlon Dallas House Concert, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Big thanks to Tom for bringing his amazing voice to my house. Too bad my camera battery died before I got a good photo.

After the Good Records celebration (click here and look for me and Penn in the audience) and this house concert, it appears Penn has paved the mental road to becoming both a hospitable host and a rock star. And Fishboy has inspired him to become a keyboard player.

More morning block houses in which Mom is not allowed to live

More morning block houses in which Mom is not allowed to live, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

I don't know what to do about that

I Don't Know What to Do About That test from Daniel Miller on Vimeo.

Undeserved Riches

Penn and Papa Bear's house, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

I won't go into too much detail on the undeserved riches I receive in this house, but sleeping in while someone makes coffee and feeds your kid brekky and then co-builds a house in which your kid decides only he and Papa Bear are going to live and you get a tiny detached quarters with a small yard, and then, maybe follow that up by taking out the trash, a conversation about art, chauffeuring you to get prints for said art, providing pizza and wine and another trip to Florida.....

and I could go on.....

Tom Conlon @ my house this Sunday 8:00 p.m.

Last October I went to my first genuine house concert with Tom Conlon playing and I was completely impressed with how well it worked. How much better it sometimes worked versus the typical bar scene one has to endure to see a musician.


I saw him again at another house concert in College Station.


And then the Sugarfilled team shot a house concert for Lakewood Now showcasing Hans York. So now I'm totally down with the house concert.

Since the previous venue/house became unavailable my house has been volunteered. So I welcome all of you to come out and scatter yourselves on the floor of my abode and let Johnny Citizen and Tom Conlon entertain you. BYOB. Children Welcome.

See the Facebook invite here.

As the poop trickles down against a clear blue sky

When I started seeing them inching their way around the door frame, fat bodied organically decorated caterpillars, I said something to the effect of, "Aw." Nothing more, nothing less. I am more than mildly impressed by the invariable walking metamorphic metaphors.

But there were more. And more. And in my house. And the rain and wind kept blowing what I've termed as "roof trash" onto my back steps which requires a lot of sweeping, only for it to be replaced by more and that replacement occurs far too quickly.

And then one day I looked up. You know, just for the hell of it. A what's-that-air-up-there-doing-today kinda gaze. Backed by a tepid blue sky was the silhouette of many caterpillars hanging on to the bottoms of half eaten leaves. A certain kind of half eaten leaf that appears to only be growing around my back door. Feel free to note the lush unchewed ivy twirling its way around my neighbors steps.



And today it has dawned that "roof trash" was a word and an idea I made up, and as ineloquent as it sounds, it is a much better word and idea than, Caterpillar Poop.

Click here for a few more photos of things that are gross en masse around your doorstep.

Life in Deep Ellum Art Show

Life in Deep Ellum, originally uploaded by carissabyers.


Cindy said it all best:

Life in Deep Ellum and the Carter Albrecht Music Foundation will host an art fundraiser on THURSDAY, May 1, titled “Music in the Life of cARTer” and featuring music-themed works of art. OPEN TO PUBLIC. Click link for details: www.m2s2community.com/art. Some of the pieces of art for sale at the May 1 event will be on display at M2S2.

For More Info about Life in Deep Ellum and CAMF, click on these links:
LIFE in Deep Ellum
The Carter Albrecht Music Foundation (CAMF)

Come on out. My art will be hanging alongside a bunch of other fantastic artists.

Headshots / Portraits

I remember once being ripped to shreds by an agency about how a head shot should look. "PLAIN! BORING!" they said. To which I replied, "WHAT ARE THESE WORDS YOU ARE SPEAKING TO ME?"

Now I feel all programmed to give a ridiculous amount of headroom and for god sakes let there not be a drop of contrast because that might make it interesting. And nobody wants that.

So when you come to me for head shots know I'm going to do my damndest for "plain" and "boring" but THEN we are going to have fun. Because I can't help it. And I loved shooting these awesome girls yesterday.

I like him a lot

Daniel Miller, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

He's over here.

Dallas Blooms

Penn and I headed to Dallas Blooms at the Dallas Arboretum to shoot for Lakewood Now. It was packed. We had to shuttle in on a bus. I think that was Penn's favorite part.


We stopped for a rootbeer float at the Rusty Spur Rootbeer Saloon.
Maybe that was the best part.


Or no, maybe the best part was where he ran down this giant hill over and over and over and over again. And then, over again.

Or no, maybe the best part is this is a small portion of my job and my son gets to go with me.

Click here for more and check out Lakewood Now for the full sha-bang soon.

Also on my flickr.

When the mom is away, the boys will make cupcake icing beards and make stern old-man faces for the camera

When the mom is away, the boys will make cupcake icing beards and make stern old-man faces for the camera, originally uploaded by dealingwith.

Senior Portrait

Whenever I get the call from the mom that says, "I'm interested in you doing Senior Portraits for my daughter. We don't want the average cheesy portrait. She's really more artistic....." I start smiling and I don't stop until I've handed them the disc.

Not-your-average Senior Portrait might be one of my favorite things to shoot.

Click here for a few more from today.

Happy Birthday Laura!

I have a ton of nice clients. But Laura takes the cake. This time, literally. Believe it or not, this smart and vivacious woman is turning 50 tomorrow! She didn't have a Quinceañera when she was 15, so she's having a cincuentanera. (Yo no hablo español.) But you get the idea.

Complete with pretty dress and crown and boots her dad made for her I swear it sounds like so much fun I totally might crash her party.

Pegasus News

I'm in Pegasus News Photo Tuesday.

Best Quiet Game Ever

Penn was a good sport to losing the quiet game. ("But mom, I had to tell you....!")

But they were playing for donuts. And when that sunk in the pouting came out. So he had to apologize and promise to share. Once he realized we wouldn't really take away his donuts, he generously handed over one of the round powdered goodies. Mr. Daniel politely said, "No thank you," because our snack time is scheduled in the sneaky hours of the night while the child is in bed wondering how adults could possibly get by just eating things on plates at tables with manners.

Later that night I asked him if he had a fun day. He paused then replied, "No. Because you made me apologize for not wanting to share my donut with Mr. Daniel and he didn't even want one."

Click here for more.

Random Photo of the Day

old self portrait, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Sorting through old stuff.

Random Picture of the Day: French Press

French Press, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Love how you can see my whole kitchen in the reflection.

The Man Cub is feeling better

Streaker at the New Amsterdam bar

Streaker at the New Amsterdam bar, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Last night I left Dallas in all its fun and events to shoot a party in Fort Worth. I missed another Happy Bullets show and the selling of my feet at Hal Samples Gallery.

But I at least got to hang at Amsterdam for a bit before I headed home.

Suddenly, a large naked man whooshed past us!

Since I had my camera on me from the Fort Worth shoot, I mean, seriously, it would have been a crime to not whip out the Nikon and leap over a chair to get a shot of the Amsterdam Streaker. I have protected your peepers with a NSFW (Not Safe For Work) sticker.

I hit a big FAIL today when I reached for my wallet to pay for Penn's lunch and it wasn't there. All that snazzy whipping-out of the camera made me drop my wallet. Fortunately, Amsterdam kept it safe and sound, 8 clams and all.

Thanks!

More naked man here.

Friday

We headed to Frisco, home of the great Ikea, for a little Velodrome fun. I was so cold I couldn't take a single photo. So we headed back to mon chateau for a little Red Bicyclette, quesadillas and fruit salad.


D. operated on the dvd player. Again.


And we're planning on winning the Dream House from HGTV, then selling it for money to open a bar called "End of the Tunnel" where our band "The Light" will play.

Good times.

:(

I braked for a squirrel I saw heavily contemplating a street crossing adventure, but he ran right under my tire. I left him twitching his tail in the middle of the road.

Forgive me.

Happy is on our to-do list

A Book to my Son (back online)

A Book to my Son (pg 1), originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Back in 05 (?) I wrote a book to my son. A lot of people wrote me about it when I put it out there and I'm still getting emails. Thank you.

Which makes me think that despite the things I would change if I were doing it now and the GIANT TYPO that I'm not going to tell you about, there's something about it that's good.

Click here to read the rest.

The second book is half done.

<3 Fred

fred heart 2, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

The Amazing Fred is one of the most inspirational kids out there. Love him. For all that he is and all that he's going to be. I love him for all the work it takes to be a teenager these days and for the honesty he has with himself and the world around him. I love him for his quick wit and humor that can throw us to the floor with laughter. I love him for how much he cares about people and how much he needs to be cared about.

If you have been blessed with the friendship and art of Fred, then criminey, you have been blessed.

Thanks for being you, Fred.

"pseudo-argument with the person you spend about 80% of your time with"

Would love for the comment discussion to flood this one.

His premise:

"...hanging their art up on every street corner and putting price tags on it and how there's something wrong about that, and you use a phrase like, '[conforming] to the capitalist-'artistic' process'..."

My premise:

I can barely factor myself into this pseudo-argument because my brain finds it impossible to add words like "capitalist" or "game" into a discussion about someone's art and what the hell they decide to do with it. And he would say I'm missing his point. Which I am. (see: first sentence of this paragraph.) But I greatly enjoy listening to him try explain it and think it all out loud across the room.

As an artist who puts price tags on her work, who hangs her stuff in galleries, who attends as many shows as she has babysitters, perhaps I should have a stronger opinion.

I've been called a Pollyanna on more than one ocassion.

So the question is.... well, maybe we should start there.


----------------
Now playing: Athlete - I Love
via FoxyTunes

Nancy, George and Bess

From the announcement:

Artist Reception Thursday April 3rd 7pm - 9pm

Nancy, George and Bess -
A Tough Girl's Art Show in Deep Ellum

Nancy, George and Bess is an exhibit that features local women artists working in all media and in all stages of their career. Named after the three lead female figures in Carolyn Keene's Nancy Drew series, Nancy, George and Bess encapsulates Dallas' own female talent in a cool Deep Ellum property, located at 2824 Main in Deep Ellum as a part of the Deep Ellum Arts Festival. From artists to have never had a show to artists who are collected widely, Nancy, George and Bess allows all stages and ages to emerge and share the same gallery space. Confirmed artists: Zanne Hochberg, Angela Faz, Erica Felicella, Andrea Roberts, Jayme Nourallah, Ryann Rathbone, Kate Nelson, Kim Cadmus Owens, Alison Welsh and Cathey Miller.

Having read many a Nancy Drew book when I was growing up, I'm thinking this is a stellar show idea. Not to mention all of these artists are amazing in a thousand different ways. See you there!

Saul Williams

We went to Saul Williams at the Loft. All I had was this crappy camera phone.

I can't remember the first time I discovered Saul, but I remember that when I first heard some audio, I couldn't stop listening.

Last night was the first time to see him live. I've never been a huge fan of his music, but it still feels clear he was born into a body and voice that was meant to carry a message.

There is one poem that I've never been able to shake. It is maybe one of the most depressing stories I've heard him tell. There's no title for the poem. It's just page 23 in the book "She."

Two excerpts from that poem:

...she's got a brother and a couch
a sister locked in a bathroom
and a mother on vacation
lord, don't let her fall asleep
her brother's got keys to her dreams
he keeps them on a chain
that now cuffs his wrists together
mummy doesn't believe he did it
but he's left footprints
on the insides of his sister's eyelids
and they've learned to walk without him
and haunt her daily prayers...

...and gather the scattered continents
of a self once whole
before they plant flags
and boundary my destiny
push down the warted mountains
that blemish this soiled soul
before the valleys of my conscience
get the best of me
i'll need a passport
just to simply reach the rest of me...

Click here to listen to the whole thing.

Happy Sounding Sad Songs

Happy Sounding Sad Songs available as as DRM-free mp3s now 6.97 at CD Baby!

Sick baby

Sick baby falls asleep in chair, originally uploaded by carissabyers.

Penn has been sleeping a lot the past 5 days. He'll start to make his way to do something.....then just lay his head down "to rest." I think he slept just like this for an hour.

He's at school today at about 80%, I think. He has yet to dislodge the giant lodge. I'm glad he doesn't read my blog where I have a habit of making his bowel movements public.

Truth: Laxatives are exhausting.

Portraits before and after death

Portraits before and after death.

"This sombre series of portraits taken of people before and after they had died is a challenging and poignant study. The work by German photographer Walter Schels and his partner Beate Lakotta, who recorded interviews with the subjects in their final days, reveals much about dying - and living. Life Before Death is at the Wellcome Collection from April 9-May 18."

I shoot a lot of portraits. And when I have someone sit in front of me I tend to watch out for that one look that tells the viewer there is more to know than this photograph. To shoot people after they have passed is looking for something else. I can't personally imagine what that is and I can't personally imagine having the courage to shoot it myself. But I find something important in honoring someone's life and story through such a personal art. Even though it makes me feel really strange inside. I tend to avoid the idea of death altogether. I'm not sure if it's something I am supposed to come to terms with or feel "okay" about. I've a feeling "acceptance" and "feeling okay" are two different animals.

Death makes us appreciate life.