grandma project/prints

While doing an unexpected/emergency flood clean out of my closet (groan) I ran across my bag of prints from the last time I was at the darkroom. These two stopped me. I have had to set aside the project on my Grandmother's house for so long that it actually pains me. But, alas...
These prints are of my Grandfather's garage. It had been cleaned out and a couple days after I shot these, the sale of the house closed and it was subsequently ripped down. My writing "Leslie was here" probably dates back to when I was 8 years old. That chalkboard was some sort of time capsule for me. How often do you have a record of your writing and drawings in such a transitory media a chalk? It makes me happy to have shot this. A self portrait of sorts.

daily life/inheritance

Last night I slept in this bed. It was my Grandmothers and before that my Grandfathers. I found my eyes opening this morning and not knowing where I was, but when my hand brushed against the headboard, all these thoughts flooded into my head and I thought I was in my Grandmother's old bedroom. It was comforting and disconcerting all at once. I really wish it was possible to be in that room one more time. But alas, the house was demolished long ago. Interesting way to start the day...

cinco de mayo/happy birthday grandma

These two things have always been linked in my head. Cinco de Mayo and my Grandmother's birthday. So today, as I sit here in my apartment in Milan and crave a burrito and some California sun, I find myself thinking of her. She passed away almost 6 years ago but it is beautiful how the most important people never leave you. I love that I photographed her so much. I look at this image I know she is kissing me.
Today is rainy, with thunder and lightening here in Milan. I was hoping I would get to see the huge full moon we are supposed to have, but that may not come to pass. So I have taken this day just to be still. I didn't realize how much I needed that. In the midst of all this travel it is important to find a space to be idle - to just be.
This next week is one I am so excited about. I am shooting two studios that I have wanted to shoot for SO LONG. By Tuesday I will be in Vienna!

grandma's graduation dress/

I have never posted any of my diptychs because it bugs me how small they post, but I had to share this one today. This was my Grandmother's high school graduation dress. She sewed it herself. Can you believe I misplaced this dress? I was silently freaking out for awhile! But it is found (phew!!! I knew it was somewhere...)! Wish you could see the details on it. It has a hand stitched, scalloped edge in a pale green thread - so delicate and pretty.

The day I shot this image I was at a resevoir and the dress was hanging in a tree. I was just playing around shooting...and then the smallest gust of wind blew and the dress fell off its hanger into the water...nightmare! After a brief moment of panic I realized I better keep shooting because it was already wet. Not much else to do, right? Thankfully the dress was unscathed from its little swim. I'm rather thankful for that gust of wind, though. I cherish this dress so much I would never have purposely dropped it in the water. But it made for a ghostly image. And btw, this eventually became a book cover, so that's a bonus.

love letter to my grandmother/

I had dinner with a friend the other night and when I was driving home, I just started thinking about my grandma. I think it was because I didn't have dessert - she was definitely a dessert person. My Grandma used to make the best chocolate sauce and when she was making it, she would always stick her finger in it, give it a taste and say, "mmm, good!"

The whole drive home that night I could hear her saying that in my head and it made me feel so happy. I even left the radio off so I could hear it more clearly in the dark of the drive. I still miss her (she passed a few years ago), but I am finally to a place where the thoughts I have of her just make me happy. Isn't she the cutest thing ever? And super sexy shoulders at 91 years old!!!

the grandma project/drawers

while I was documenting my Grandmother's home I began to just pull out drawers and shoot what they had inside. Her slip drawer was one of my favorites.

the grandma project/empty garage

I was in the darkroom yesterday and I printed this image from the Grandma Project. Like a lot of artists, I have a few projects going on at once. When Handcrafted Modern (then called "the book project") really started getting some interest and attention, I was also working on "the Grandma Project". My Grandmother and I had an extremely close relationship. When she passed away in 2006, I found myself compelled to document her house and it's contents. I really couldn't stop myself. In fact, I think this is where Handcrafted Modern began in a lot of ways. My grandmother's home was the first home I shot in the detailed manner that you see in Handcrafted Modern. I am just beginning to take a look through what I have shot for the project and what still needs to be done. Printing something from it every time I am in the darkroom is my way of treating myself. I'll share more soon...I'm getting really excited about it again.