I met Brian Tsiza my freshman year at Purchase College where we both were in a couple of studio art classes together. After falling out of touch for about a decade, Brian and I recently reconnected through Facebook and I was really delighted to see his online portfolio of architectural photography. All the photos are amazing and it proved to be challenging to edit down to a select few to share. So check his website for even more beautiful work.

In other news, my fairy shadowbox came together so quickly, more so than any of my other recent projects. It’s a dreary, rainy day here in NJ so I don’t know when I’ll be able to photograph it to share, but it was a lot of fun to make. Things are shaping up for my show! Poor Ravana in my Ramayana shadowbox has wilted over with the weight of his many heads (and I suspect humidity) so I will be building some hidden support for him today.

About a month ago, we had a firefly in our house. When I see them during the day, they zip around doing their important business, but at night they take their time. I was sitting in my dining room with my sister-in-law, chatting, and the firefly made lazy circles around the room. . Each time it passed in front of us, it would stop to regard us, and looking at it, still in the air, I could see why people once believed in fairies.

My fairy shadowbox for the show is underway and I hope to share it in a couple of days.

Photo is a still from Miyazaki’s 1998 movie Grave of Fireflies.

New piece by Peter Callesen:

Saturday night Matt and I had a date. He was on his laptop and I was on mine and we were both on the Kiva.org website. Kiva is an organization that lends money out directly to developing world entrepreneurs. Each entrepreneur’s profile tells you a bit about the person and what they plan on doing with the money, how much they need and already have been loaned, and the repayment terms. After they’ve repaid the loan, you can withdraw your money or loan it out again. It’s a way to change lives, which in turn change communities in small denominations that empower the individual rather than just handing out. And you can do it over and over each time you are repaid. Or more frequently if you choose! Kiva states it has a repayment rate of 99.7%.

The individual profiles are incredible. You really get a peek into lives around the globe in a new and real perspective. This morning I checked out my lender page and both entrepreneurs have now raised enough funds to fulfill their business goals. Last week a loan was made every 31 seconds.

Interesting trivia: Kiva is the only website that Paypal does not charge it’s usual fees.

This week’s shadowshot was taken yesterday in the kids’ wading pool in the backyard. I love how the water distorts the second shadow as well as how leaves and shadows line up with the pattern of the pool.

I’m almost hesitant to post this since it’s been built up so much. But of course I will anyway! And I’m having a difficult time in getting good pictures, may swap this one out later for a better shot. I’ve tried three times this morning so far…may have to wait for the light to change a bit.

So Ravana, the ten headed demon, only has five heads shown. I gave this much thought (um, too much thought!) and decided that if you were to have many heads they should enable you to see from many vantage points. So I believe that there are more heads unseen, so that he can see what’s coming up behind him. Don’t ask me how he sleeps…maybe he doesn’t.

Matt suggested I add one more layer in the back…a silhouette of a cityscape in a different shade of grey. What do you all think? Would that detract from the silhouette of the action? It’s less consistent with the other pieces but do you think that making one piece stronger throws the balance off? Your opinion matters, so if you have one, please express it!

My Rama shadowbox is nearly completed. I plan to glue it together this morning during nap time as we are going to get some serious heat and humidity for the next few days that will make my studio unbearable. Hope to share the finished product tomorrow.

Filmmaker Nina Paley is responsible for the first image I posted in yesterday’s blog post in search of references for Ravana. Check out a scene from her animated film of the Ramayana, Sita Sings the Blues, told in a humorous manner but sympathetic to Sita. It’s been Official Selection at film festivals around the globe and I am itching to see it in it’s entirety. If you are a fan of Persepolis, you won’t be disappointed in this 2 minute clip.

Found here.

I’ve been working on my sketch for my Rama shadowbox. I’ve been scouring the internet for good references. Drawing a ten-headed, many armed demon just doesn’t come natural to me. How does it all attach? Some of the versions I came across are kind of amusing:

Found here.

Found here.

What good are ten heads if they are lined up like ducks in a row?

This one is quite useful:

Found here.

A few people have mentioned to me to check out the work of Jayme McGowan. I had a small mention of Jayme’s work a while back when I first discovered her on Etsy and bought one of her papercut dioramas (pictured above.) Her work is so amazing she deserves revisiting!

Check out these amazing circus themed dioramas which must have sold out in a flash: