Okay, it’s been way too long since I’ve written a post, and as I settle into the winter months I think it’s a good idea to start getting back into the swing of things. For now I just wanted to announce the launch of Julie Jaidinger’s website, juliejaidinger.com. If I haven’t pointed it out much, web and print design is still my bread and butter, and you can find examples of my work in the Design section.

I’ll try to update what I’ve been up to for the last couple of months soon… more later!

Come see the show for ArtPrize.org at 106 S Division #311, Grand Rapids, MI, September 23 thru October 10. If you like, vote thumbs up #35251.

Truck for Sale is one of the anchor pieces of I’m one of those Americas, the photo essay I’m showing for ArtPrize. It’s a portrait of an unemployed man selling his 1959 Ford F600 truck… a gift he’s had since his 16th birthday. Because of hard times in Michigan, he decided to part ways with it, despite the sentiment. This is one of a handful of stories I collected for this essay.

I produced this piece last year to stir interest in the story, but it’s been sitting in storage until now. The final pieces for ArtPrize won’t be framed and finished like this, so this one’s available for purchase to fund the completion of the show. It’s a big piece… the image area is 33 x 22 inches, while the frame is 41 x 31 inches. Art collectors and enthusiast may find this a worthy investment… I have a reserve price in mind, but please make an offer, and consider that I’m seeking funds to finish this show. This is a first edition that will be unique to any other prints of this piece. Ask why.

In addition, I’ve opened up my social galleries for print purchases. If you’ve seen me around town shooting for the Grand Rapids Social Diary, there’s a chance you might find a great image of yourself in there. Go to GALLERIES FOR PRINT if you’re interested in supporting a local artist!

I’m one of those Americans is underwritten in part by Bridget Clark Whitney of the Kids Food Basket, Drew Nelson of drewnelson.net, and Andrew Bergeron and Camen Maret of foliasmusic.com.

I’m documenting my progress toward ArtPrize, so I had to take account of the frames I’m using as part of the exhibit. The only thing I collected from garage sales while shooting I’m one of those Americans are these 75 frames. My intent is to use these to display a series of garage sale signs and sale items. Please click to see The Frames, and enjoy.

Astrid Warberg is a budding photographer living in Sweden, who I met a handful of years ago in Costa Rica. She gets this week’s Photo Friday pic of the week.

Photo Friday consists of a group of international photographers that share one photo per week, as if sending a postcard. It’s simply an email list that I start on Fridays. If you’d like to be added to the list, send me an email with “Photo Friday” in the subject line. You’ll be added next week.

So I broke down shanty town, when I was planning to spend the entire summer sleeping outside. Actually I broke down everything. Packed it. Dragged it. Found a space and delicately placed everything in order. But damn do I miss that tent and night air and fires and owls and birds at 5:30am.  It was all a kid’s dream.

I spent a week allowing… many weeks, actually, but only referencing this one.

I rolled on. All the gear you’d need to get by in the woods seemed appropriately stored with Brandan and Nicole and Reid. I spent a week there playing house boy… I spent a week trying to keep my head down productively… and the music I remember hearing said “I know, I know I should lay low, I should stand tall…”

I shut it down in an deliberate way, and grieved as adventures in housesitting began. Ghani found a friend in Bruin… I distracted myself with cable news and walks in the neighborhood, and the music I heard said “You told me you wanted to eat up my sadness…” and I thought, well, here’s a knife and fork. In the mean time, Carmen was painting a room for me in the basement… my new man-cave.

And the music I heard asked, “Does it feel too real…” and I though, no, it feels just real enough.

I moved into the happy home of Carmen and Andrew. I have a lime room and an office. Ghani has a cool basement to sleep away hot summer days, but still makes her way upstairs whenever activity intrigues her, especially when food is involved. We discovered that if you want a kiss from Ghani, you have to say “dog food”. She knows where the love is.

Carmen and Andrew fill the house with brilliant music and food and wine. Everything is fresh and locally grow. The back yard is a vineyard, which they’ll let produce grapes next year. Never, ever miss the opportunity to have dinner with them… you’ll be in for a real treat. I’m lucky to be here.

And the music I remember hearing said, “I didn’t want to go to bed and I didn’t want to stay awake…” so I contemplated how having a strong intuition is both a blessing and a curse, in relationship to absorbing one’s gait and silhouette.

On the books… OHC promotion… Brian’s site… Julie’s site… Ralston’s site… tidying up the sites for Drew and Folias… CD art for Folias… all things ArtPrize and “I’m one of those Americans”… Humanfiles… GRSD… shooting… etc., etc. That should keep me busy for a while… it’s funny how you can move into town and suddenly stir demand. I’ll play catch-up, as long as circumstantial depression doesn’t drown me.

And the music I remember hearing said, “the old town cryer says it… the inveterate liar says it… the pilchard, the bream, and the trout in the stream… Babe, I’m on fire… Babe, I’m on fire…”

Vagabond… not ideal, but I’ll give it a try, and see how this bartering thing works. An imaginary schedule could look like this… as you can see, my plate is full for the next two months… I have to find something to do for half of October… in November I could duck out to the Outer Banks of North Carolina and play house boy for Brian and Michelle, as long as I make myself useful… I could spend the month of December in a stone house in Harper’s Ferry, WV… maybe by then I’ll have a house guest and spend Christmas in the mountains. Maybe I’ll just come home. Maybe I won’t go anywhere.

I just got an email from Dave Harvey saying he was proud of me. And the music I just heard said, “I’m not afraid to get it right, I turn around, and give it one more try…”

Things are going to be just fine.

Photo Friday consists of a group of international photographers that share one photo per week, as if sending a postcard. It’s simply an email list that I start on Fridays. If you’d like to be added to the list, send me an email with “Photo Friday” in the subject line. You’ll be added next week.

ArtPrize graciously let me in… I’ll be at Lightbox, 106 S. Division, #311. Stay tuned for all the struggles, successes, triumphs, and tragedies that are sure to be part of the next two months. You won’t want to miss a word.

Bright Sunday, breezy, hot in the sun, cool in the shade… beer and pulled pork.  A talented collection of local musicians came out to play in street, while a giving community attended to help one of their own meet his medical expenses. It was the West Michigan Musicians’ Street Party.

I don’t really know Ralston that well, although we did have a nice meeting yesterday to discuss a fresh promotional direction… we might be on the fast track to working well together. At any rate, I was happy to shoot the event and find endearing moments that surround this photogenic local icon, as everyone sends their love and energy.

Ralston has a classic attitude, looking forward to getting chemo behind him so he can get back to touring and start working on the next album. Best of luck to you sir… I look forward to helping when I can.