Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Photomontage

Here are 2 of the 3 photomontages I did of my family, along with my artist statement regarding them.

“Mom” is a work based upon the most influential person to me, who died three years ago. The image conveys her commitment to her faith through the stained-glass background and praying hands. The yellow canary bird represent how much she sang with all of her heart despite the fact that she didn’t think she had a good voice—and her name was “Carol” which means “song.” The wings represent both her death as well as her lifelong career as a nurse, who are often referred to as “angels.” The white dress was a scanned photograph of her wedding picture the day that she married my dad. It is also similar to the nurse’s uniform that she wore at the time. The roots represent her groundedness and how she was the foundation of our family—“the roots” or “the glue” that held us all together. Those roots are still holding us together as we are a strong family rooted in our love of our mother and for each other.

"Mom"



“John-Janet” is a representation of my brother and sister. I chose a paper doll head as to not lean toward one gender or another, as the work represents both a male and a female. The Grouch Marx glasses represent the sense of humor we all share—I think my brother and sister are the funniest people in the world. The wings symbolize the protection I have always felt as the youngest of my three siblings and how they always looked out for me. The heart symbolizes that they are my blood and my heartbeat—I am very close to both of them. The rope represents the ties that bind us as siblings. The Jeep represents both the fun and conflict we had as children, often fighting to play with the Matchbox Jeep my sister had. Several years ago she bought us our own so as adults we could each have our very own.


"John-Janet"

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Mom

She lived her life on this earth to serve those around her selflessly. She lived each day on this earth never taking one single moment for granted. She loved to be kissed by her hubby. She savored the flavor of a good cup of coffee. She loved to rock her grandchildren to sleep and said often that the greatest thing in life is to be a Grandma. She saw that every "t" was crossed and every "i" was dotted. She loved to see sunsets and often said, "There will never be another sunset exactly like that one--ever."

She is a woman, a wife, a mom, a daughter, a sister, a grandma, an aunt, a confidant, an advisor, a teacher, a nurse, an encourager, a comforter, a helper, a spiritual leader, a server, a lover and a friend.

Carol Anne Uhri
April 1, 1943 - February 24, 2004

I miss you, Mom.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Identity Issues Part 2

To all that were wondering which of the images was the original in the "Identity Issues" entry, it was me playing the piano...ah, the magic of Photoshop...

Antiques

My latest and greatest adventures include antiquing, which I have always liked but never done much simply because I couldn't walk out the door without buying everything I liked.

I think my latest adventure started when I decided I need some new ephemera for my collages and artwork.

I found boxes upon boxes of postcards at this particular antique mall and briskly thumbed through them in hopes that I wouldn't want to buy every box (which contained at least 200 cards). So I chose a few that were places that I have been...Chicago, New York, Chattanooga, Paris...good things!

The Edge

So I'm watching tv tonight and saw a commercial for the new Ford "Edge" car. The commercial shows the car driving on the edges of buildings and bridges. I didn't think anything of that at first, but the second time around, I noticed the fine print at the bottom of the screen.

"Yes, this is a fantasy. Cars cannot drive on buildings."


I laughed to myself thinking how ironic it is that they have to let people know that it is not possible for a car to drive with only two wheels on the edge of a building.
I found this the other day amidst some favorite quotes and passages. I hope it encourages someone out there reading:

"After a while you learn
the subtle different between holding a hand
and chaining a soul.
And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning
and company doesn't mean security.
And you begin to accept your defeats
with your head up and your eyes ahead
with the grace of a woman
not the grief of a child.
And you learn to build all your roads on today
because tomorrow's ground is
too uncertain for plans
and futures have a way of falling down
in mid-flight.
After a while you learn
that even the sunshine burns if you ask to much
so you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul
instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure
that you are really strong
and you really do have worth.
And you learn
and you learn.
With every good-bye
you learn."

~Anonymous

Monday, February 19, 2007

Identity Issues

In my digital imaging class, we were assigned to create an image of ourselves through various poses in the same room to represent the conflicts of identity (meaning..."I am a student yet a teacher, etc, etc.).


Here is my completed assignment. I feel, as an artist, to make statements on my work.


I am playing piano to show that I am often conflicted between being a musician and an artist--meaning that I feel like I cannot excel at one without letting the other slip. The next two, with me sleeping and one with me reading shows both the conflict in loving to sleep (yes, it's a hobby) and being a night owl, when I often stay up late working on creative things; as well as the conflict I feel when I realize I may be a good sleeper compared to most, but yet I have those nights of too much caffeine where I toss and turn and sometimes wonder "Do I have insomnia?" It also doesn't help that for the research work I am doing, I am reading a lot of books on sleep (e.g. The Family that Couldn't Sleep). The next one, where I am praying conveys the trust in God and faith in Him. Where I am standing by the window, I wanted to show paranoia...someone who is looking through the blinds may be paranoid of something (not trusting).


In Photoshop, we took one photograph and used it as the original then cut and pasted the others into that document...can you tell which one is the original?


Next up...collages of my family!

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Quote of the Day

“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.”~Fredrick Buechner

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Happy Valentine's Day!!


So to all of those who have someone to share this day with, Happy Valentine's Day!


To all of those who are single, my friend Shelly and I began celebrating "Happy I'm-Not-with-the-Wrong-Guy" Day (so I don't have to spend money, time and energy on him to show a little romance). It is a good day to reflect on the fact that although you are single, life is good because you are not with the wrong guy. Remember, there is always something to be grateful for!


Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Clean Sweep













The first generation of the Uhri's (my brother, my sister and I) must fight the natural innate tendency to be pack rats. It's in the genes...

So this year I decided that I need to start de-cluttering my life. Even though I feel like I am pretty organized, I can always do better.

On Saturday, my friend Lisa Wilson came over to help me organize my craft/office room. In a matter of two hours, we had completely re-organized the entire space...and to my delight, I actually want to be in this room again! There are still a few things I have to go through, but the results are amazing.

By the way, you should have seen the closet before--I couldn't get to anything because it was so full!

Shred-alicious!


Due to my most recent organization conquests, I broke down today to purchase the $100 shredder in order to continue to maintain my sanity...money well-spent, especially after the "5 sheets only" shredder I had previously. This 14 sheet document eater cross-cuts with a lovely pull-out container and even has a special feeder for CD's and credit cards (can you say "plastictomy"). Yes, I'm a geek.

So I have spent the majority of the evening shredding papers that should have been discarded long ago.

On another note, I picked up this shredder at Office Depot, which happens to be one of the favorites amongst my siblings and I ("Ah, Office Depot" I often remark at my siblings trips to the beloved store). What can I say...we're nerds that love large office supply stores...

Monday, February 12, 2007

Jym Davis

My artist friend, Jym Davis, recently updated his web site. Check out his awesome work!

Friday, February 09, 2007

Fred Clarke

Next week I'm going to Nashville's Zeitgeist Gallery to hear photographer Fred Clarke speak on his photographs. He photographs for the International Committee of the Red Cross in war-torn countries, photographing the affects of war on women, children and the elderly. You can check out his images: Fred Clarke

Conversations

Isn't it interesting when the most intriguing conversation you've had today consists of a group of classmates analyzing the life and death of Anna Nicole Smith? It makes me yearn for more intelligent dialogue...

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

The Homeless Beggar

There is a stoplight that I go through pretty much every day that has homeless men begging on almost every occasion. Last week, I was feeling generous, but did not have the guts to hand the man a few dollars.

So yesterday, as I waited again at the light, I summoned the gentleman (who was a different guy from the last time). He was an older man, someone's father, someone's grandfather. So I handed him a dollar and some change. He could barely talk and the smell of alcohol was rancid on his breath. With slurred speech he spoke of blessings and God's grace allowing him to still be here despite his mistakes.

I contemplated my decision to give the man money. Obviously he was drunk. But how can I assume that he is going to spend it on alcohol? Is my heart in giving to the man the most important thing? He himself will have to answer for how he spends that money.

As I drove away, I cried. Tears of sadness, tears of pity...and overall, tears of shame, for how could I ever complain...why complain about cleaning the house--I've got one? Why complain about being stressed--I have things to do?
Why complain about "not having anything to wear" when I have a closet full of clothing?

Count your blessings...you've got so many!

Monday, February 05, 2007

Downtown Pics



I went to the Predators hockey game on Saturday night and took some shots of the BellSouth building in downtown Nashville....

Friday, February 02, 2007

Let It Snow!!

Yes, it's 2am on Friday morning and I'm up...

BUT...I am getting to see what most people are sleeping through...the first snow of 2007 in Tennessee!!

Yipee! Snow makes me happy. I can't help it, I grew up in Wisconsin. How can you possibly argue that it's not one of the most beautiful things God created?

Yes, I'm a nutty photographer--I ran outside to take some shots. They are a tad blurry because it's so dark out there.

I'm going to peek out the window again before I go to sleep where I'll be dreaming of sledding...