Project 52 Week 7 - Textures

I am a very visual person. If I am visually interested in something I want to feel it's texture. In my youth this tactile curiosity caused me pain in the form of slivers of metal, wood and glass that had to be pulled from my hands and fingers. Over the years I grew wiser in my approach to the tactile exploration of objects. Textures are part of our memory that can trigger our emotions taking us back to some of the sweetest moments in our lives. My grandma Kautzman had a container full of buttons that she acquired over the years. There were so many colors, sizes, and textures. Then there were the specialty buttons that included brass, silver and crystal. Without fail, Grandma always had a button to match the one I had lost off a shirt. The button container was magical. I would often pull out the container, dump the buttons on the living room floor, shift a handful of buttons back and forth from hand to hand and Grandma and I would sit and talk. We talked for hours. Today we have our own button container. When I pick it up, open the lid and see the buttons, my heart fills with warm feelings of deep love for my Grandmother and I dwell in my memories of her as I shift a handful of buttons back and forth, from hand to hand.

World War II

Each day he walked the dirt and gravel roads of our small rural town. He walked with a purpose, slightly stooped over, head down, one hand fooled in the other behind his back, deep in thought. He was a good family friend who visited my grandparents and parents often. Most of the conversations took place in German, unless my mother and I were directly involved then English was spoken. When my grandfather died he was one of the pallbearers. He would drop by to see my grandmother for morning coffee almost everyday. He spent many Christmas Eves sitting across from my father at our kitchen table. They spoke to each other in German and drank whiskey. Their voices low and somber. My father would never tell us what they talked about but we new it was about the war.

Alex and his wife Amelia survived a concentration camp. They had several children together. One day Nazis came and took the entire family away. Once they arrived at the concentration camp they were all separated. Their first day in the camp was the last day they saw all but two of their children. Although in the same camp, Alex never saw Amelia for months and he thought the worst. One day another prisoner told Alex he had seen Amelia. Alex soon after receiving the information she was alive got to see her, but he hardly recognized her mostly due to her bald head. They eventually escaped only to live a life on the run, hiding in the hills and woods barely surviving, but surviving. They eventually learned that two of their children had survived, a boy and a girl. Approximately on 1950 they arrived in New York, moved to Pick City North Dakota, my home town. When they moved to the United States, their daughter was not able to make the move as she had been diagnosed with a disease that prevented her immigration.

The personal stories shared and documented are so very few in comparison to the number of lives that were lost, an estimated 70 million plus. We are left with objects, planes, photographs, film, abandoned concentration camps and few documented stories to remind us of one of the most horrid time periods in the worlds history.

Alex will always be in my heart as a dear family friend. The man who walked with purpose. I will never know if that purpose was to remember or to forget.

Project 52, Week 5 - Stuff in My Garage

I love my garage. It is a space in which I can nurture my creative self. In that space I have put oil paints on canvas, photographed people and objects, and created metal art pieces with my dad. It is a place in which I can sit alone for hours pondering life and remember.

Being an only child has it's own challenges. I had many roles growing up; oldest child, middle child, youngest child, and at times trying to fill in as being a son my dad did not have. It was in his garage that we would tinker together. He taught me how to problem solve, use tools and fix stuff. One of my favorite things to do with him was to work on his 1969 Dodge Monaco. He taught me how to use a timing gun. He would determine the timing of the engine was off a bit, we would hook up the timing gun, make some adjustments, get in the car and drive to the edge of town. As soon as we hit the edge of town, he floored it and within seconds we were flying at 115 mph heading towards the 3 mile corner. There was a curve in the highway 3 miles from the edge of town. Dad would determine that the timing was still off, so back to the drawing board we would go. Each adjustment would bring another test run. I loved those days.

These days my dad and I tinker in my garage. I treasure those days. I know our garage days are limited and he still has so much to teach me. On the days that I sit alone in my garage, I look around at so many familiar objects and tools that my dad has now given to me and I remember the hours spent together in his garage. I am grateful for having the time I have had with my dad. He has taught me so much. He is my hero.

The Healing Field

I spent the morning of September 11 walking among nearly 3,000 flags. Each flag representing a person who had died during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Each flag had a laminated card tied to it with the name, age, place of employment and a few sentences about the person who died. The energy among the flags was that of a peaceful silence. I shared this moment in time with other visitors. Some read cards attached to flags, some took photos, some shed tears and some had quiet conversations with their children. Together we shared reflective moments of a day that shot fear through our hearts and great nation.

My last stop in the Healing Field was at the quest book. The pages were filled with emotion and a great sense of American pride. I started to mull over what i believe it means to be a proud America, especially during a time when we seem so split on many issues as a society.

Everyday I hear family, friends, co-workers and myself complain about the government. We have seemed to have forgotten that "We the people", are the government. Instead of being part of it we choose to sit back and relief ourselves of any responsibility to exercise our rights and those around us. We need to start from the ground up once again and redefine ourselves as a community and a nation.

Some people are proud Americans like they are Christians. They show up on the major holidays failing to realize that we have to practice our beliefs and pride on a daily basis. Here is what I believe we can do from the ground up:

We have to get back to having a sense of community, not only when disaster hits, but every day in our daily lives. When we are struggling economically and emotionally in our own lives it is easy to shut out the world around us leading us to become agitated and angry American citizens. I am here to tell you that even in the mist of our struggles we can do more for each other, the community, and our nation.

• Look people in the eye with kindness when talking to them
• Say hi to people, strangers the homeless kids to acknowledge their existence
• Drop off a case of water or a few cans of food at food pantries, i cannot afford to by a pallet of food/ water but I can a case/or a few cans,
• Volunteer even if it is only a few hours a years at your church, a school nursing home, anywhere is better than nowhere,
• Instead of spending hours playing Farmville write some letters/emails to the politicians who are suppose to be working for us, not themselves, they need to be reminded who is in charge,
• Practice tolerance, we must remember why our fore fathers came to this land, to practice freedom of religion, to prosper, and live a life not dictated by by self serving leaders or judgmental fools who try to hide behind God,
• Exercise your right to vote, you don't vote, you don' get to complain, and be an informed voter. Take the time to find out what you are voting for, not what a headline says or one news article,
• Pay attention to what your state's legislature s doing, grass roots and back to basics, what each state is doing is as important as what Congress is doing.
• Sit outside on our driveway and have a beer with your neighbors, be apart of your community, build your community.

By the time in reached my driveway I realized how I have failed at many levels of being a proud American. I need to do more and will. I invite you to do the same and let's fight to keep the Pledge of Allegiance in our hearts and classrooms.

People have given their lives for this great nation and it is up to us to make it better and keep it great.

Project 52, Week 3 - Denver

Denver

Perhaps it was John Denver's Rocky Mountain High or majestic photos of the Rocky Mountians that made me fall in love with Colorado. I knew the first time that I travelled to Denver it was a place I would like to live.

The Mile-High City was originally founded as Denver City; a mining town. Over the years the economy was supported by mining, cattle, saloons and gambling. It was a frontier town in every sense. Today Denver continues to be rich in beauty, culture and has many neighborhood pockets to explore. There are a total of 80 neighborhoods in Denver. Each neighborhood has it's own characteristics that very in architecture, restaurants and boutiques that makes the neighborhoods unique.

If you enjoy outdoor activities, shopping or visiting museums, Denver is a place for you to visit.

Check out this story at Blurb Mobile to see more photos http://www.blurb.com/mobile/show/0297b53c8

Project 52, Week 2 - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Cabo San Lucas is located on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean, in the Mexican Staten of California Sur. Cabo San Lucas, commonly referred to as Cabo, is known for it's Sandy beaches, marine life and diving adventures. We started to go to Cabo 5 years ago and will continue to make the trip until we no longer can. The food is fabulous, the people kind and the community rich in culture. Cabo is a bit of a melting pot of people from the other Mexican states. We enjoy the stories of the people we meet and how they landed in the Baja. People in Cabo work very hard. Many have two full time jobs working in the tourism industry. Cabo is definitely the land of timeshares however you can use that to your advantage. If you can sit through a 90 minute presentation you can get get some great activities free. Here is the strategy. Upon arrival when you are tagged by one of the timeshare sharks, as we like to call them, tell the person what activities you want to throw in $100.00 in restaurant coupons for the gold zone at the marina. Despite the timeshare presentation, Cabo is a beautiful place to relax with just enough activities and an endless flow of tequila and cold beer.

Project 52, Week 2 - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Cabo San Lucas is located on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean, in the Mexican Staten of California Sur. Cabo San Lucas, commonly referred to as Cabo, is known for it's Sandy beaches, marine life and diving adventures. We started to go to Cabo 5 years ago and will continue to make the trip until we no longer can. The food is fabulous, the people kind and the community rich in culture. Cabo is a bit of a melting pot of people from the other Mexican states. We enjoy the stories of the people we meet and how they landed in the Baja. People in Cabo work very hard. Many have two full time jobs working in the tourism industry. Cabo is definitely the land of timeshares however you can use that to your advantage. If you can sit through a 90 minute presentation you can get get some great activities free. Here is the strategy. Upon arrival when you are tagged by one of the timeshare sharks, as we like to call them, tell the person what activities you want to throw in $100.00 in restaurant coupons for the gold zone at the marina. Despite the timeshare presentation, Cabo is a beautiful place to relax with just enough activities and an endless flow of tequila and cold beer.

Project 52, Week 2 - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Cabo San Lucas is located on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean, in the Mexican Staten of California Sur. Cabo San Lucas, commonly referred to as Cabo, is known for it's Sandy beaches, marine life and diving adventures. We started to go to Cabo 5 years ago and will continue to make the trip until we no longer can. The food is fabulous, the people kind and the community rich in culture. Cabo is a bit of a melting pot of people from the other Mexican states. We enjoy the stories of the people we meet and how they landed in the Baja. People in Cabo work very hard. Many have two full time jobs working in the tourism industry. Cabo is definitely the land of timeshares however you can use that to your advantage. If you can sit through a 90 minute presentation you can get get some great activities free. Here is the strategy. Upon arrival when you are tagged by one of the timeshare sharks, as we like to call them, tell the person what activities you want to throw in $100.00 in restaurant coupons for the gold zone at the marina. Despite the timeshare presentation, Cabo is a beautiful place to relax with just enough activities and an endless flow of tequila and cold beer.

Project 52

iPad Fun
I love my iPad. I realize it is not for everyone, however it certainly fills a cretive spot in my life. I have decided to take on a self imposed project using several apps. Blurb recently came out with an app called Blirb Mobile. This app allow the user to combine photos to tell a story. The Story can then be uploaded to the Blurb website and also shared with Facebook, Twitter, and email. Inhale decided to use various apps available through iTunes to don the post editing of the photos. My chosen apps include Best Camera, Photo Studio HD, Grungetastic HD, Photpad, Filterstorm Pro, and PS Express. All the photos will have be taken using my iPad. The iPad combined with the apps mentioned open the doors for many to explore their creative side. I have decidednthat my project will consist of 52 stories, one a week. At the end of the project I will self publish a book book using Blurb.com with the intent to raise money for a charity which will be named at a later date. I look forward to sharing with you "Project 52".

Here is a link to the first story: "A Different Flagstaff".

http://www.blurb.com/mobile/show/021e3bed7#contentMainWrap

Flagstaff . . Home of the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks, Lowell Obsrvatory, San Fracisco Peaks and the historic Weatherford Hotel. It is a popular destination in the summertime for Phoenians whonwant to escape the heat and for those who love to hike in the mountain air. A Different Flagstaff is a story of photographs that will not found in travel brochures.