JUNE 26, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

There is a longing to be part of the world —
to celebrate it's glorious diversity
and embrace the mystery
of the unknown.
We are often warned of a very
dangerous world. I have found
that the greatest danger is in
"staying safe" and not experiencing
the freedom of fearless, international
consciousness.

JUNE 19, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

"Art must be a direct communication
between the artist's imagination and that
of the looker. For that reason, I avoid,
so much as possible, busying the looker's
eye with too many details in order that his
imagination may roam wide and far."
— Kahlil Gibran

JUNE 14, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

The police had just ordered him to
get up and go. I had never heard
anyone play the violin so beautifully.
He was not asking for money.
He was simply giving his music.
His name was Oliver, an Austrian
Jew — an old man who was marched
through that same structure behind
him 58 years earlier and taken to a
concentration camp.

JUNE 6, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

"The new human being is in
pursuit of becoming more
like a Zorba the Buddha —
Capable of enjoying both earthly
pleasures of a Zorba the Greek
and the silent serenity of a Guatama
the Buddha."
— Osho

MAY 29, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

Fame, fortune, accomplishment —
how insignificant compared to
the grace of our own being.

MAY 22, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

When I was fourteen, my father gave
me my first camera. I asked him what
I was supposed to take pictures of.
His response was "everything that you love."
Little did I know that would be the only
artistic advice I would ever follow.

MAY 16, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

Only 25% of the people of New Orleans
have returned to their city. It appears as if
nothing has been done to clean up the mess.
The place looks like a country bombed by
an overly enthusiastic, satanic military on
steroids. Mile after haunting mile in which
civilization has been ripped apart from the
inside out. In the neighborhoods that were
spared, there are still some night spots.
The moment I walked through club Tipitina's
doors, heard the brass, and saw all the cool
cats, I realized that the spirit was still alive.
As one gentleman put it so poignantly,
"when we hear the music, we forget
about all of this shit!"

MAY 10, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

A work of art need not ever
be seen by another for it to
be given to life.

MAY 2, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

"The living model, the naked body
of a woman, is the privileged seat
of feeling, but also of questioning....
The model must mark you,
awaken in you an emotion which
you seek in turn to express."
— Henri Matisse
1869-1954

APRIL 26, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

How often we forget
how amazing women truly are.

APRIL 20, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

"Grace makes beauty
out of ugly things...
Grace finds goodness
in everything."
— U2

APRIL 12, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

The President of Iran's mouth is a
"weapon of mass destruction."
Recently, he stated that the Nazi
Holocaust is a myth and that Israel
should be moved to Alaska.
Today he announced that Iran is
furthering its development of nuclear
weapons. The world is not wondering
what he will do with these weapons.
The world is wondering what we are
going to do with him.

APRIL 3, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

What is commercialism to an artist?
Is it not simply an opportunity
to reach a broader audience
that may not have the luxury
of visiting and enjoying museums?
Is it not precisely the role of
the artist to try and raise the
level of taste of the masses?

MARCH 28, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

When I visit museums there are always
sophisticated stories about why an artist
made a picture – what they were thinking,
what was going on in the world, bla, bla, bla.
First of all, how in the world do the art historians
know such things, especially when
discussing such temperamental figures as
artists? Not that this is ever going to be in
a museum, but for the record, here's what
was happening: I was in Paris and crazy in
love, I had a few drinks at the bar, and I
really was seeing double.

MARCH 22, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

At first, I laughed.
It takes time to understand the
complexities of Cuban life. For starters,
very few Cubans speak any English,
they do not have the freedom to leave
the island, the U.S. has not permitted
trade with them for 47 years, and the
poverty level is heartbreaking. Left
behind by a tourist, this shirt is probably
the only one he has and no one in Cuba
is laughing about it.

MARCH 14, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

There are approximately 300,000 veterans
of war living on the streets of America today.
They have served in World War ll, Korean War,
Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama,
Lebanon, Desert Storm, Operation Enduring
Freedom (Afghanistan), and Operation Iraqi
Freedom. One third of all homeless people in
America have put on a uniform and served
their country.

MARCH 6, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

"The job of the artist
is always to deepen
the mystery."
— Francis Bacon

FEBRUARY 27, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

Henry Butler is a New Orleans pianist who
lost everything he owned as a result of the
hurricane. He was a resident of the ninth ward
and now resides in Boulder, Colorado.
This series is being created to help displaced
musicians get back on their feet and eventually
return to the Crescent city. You can learn more
about this remarkable human being by visiting
www.HenryButler.com

FEBRUARY 21, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

Thoughts are power.
They create and destroy.
What is possible is everything.
I look around and see that my entire
life has been born out of my thoughts.
Knowing this, I plant my seeds accordingly.

FEBRUARY 14, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

It would be foolish to say that
creativity has something only
to do with artists.
Creativity is a life force
that has something to do
with everyone.

FEBRUARY 5, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

My work has taught me that if I
stand in front of a scene long
enough, a subject, more perfect
than my imagination could have
produced, will always come along.
In this case, I simply was waiting for
someone to pass who complimented
the colors of the sign and building.
I had not considered matching hat,
shirt, pants, shoes and a baguette to
top it off.

JANUARY 30, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

I have always felt a profound connection
with those who end up in my images.
They bring their spirit to the work
and for that I am forever in gratitude.
On my last trip to Cuba, two years after
this image was created, I walked past
this same corner, and to my amazement,
this same dog was taking a nap right there.
She was no longer wearing the red collar,
but it was the same dog. I was so excited,
I bought her a plate of rice, beans,
and plantains and thanked her for
being my model.

JANUARY 23, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

India — Land of eternal poetry!
Everywhere I looked,
there was so much beauty.
It seemed the entire population
of over one billion people were
performing just for me.
After two months, I ran out of film.
And the film I use is very difficult to get.
So, I had to watch all of this poetry and
I thought to myself, "okay everyone,
I am going home now. You can take a
break from doing life so eloquently.
I'll be back soon."

JANUARY 17, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

A song here
a poem there
leaving signs of beauty along the way
the artist is in service to life.

JANUARY 9, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

There is an exercise for photographers in which
we are permitted only one exposure per day.
This trains us to open our eyes and see with
more clarity, decisiveness, and sincerity.

JANUARY 3, 2006 PIECE OF THE WEEK (PDF)

"The trouble with artists
is we always think we can do better."
— B.B. KING