Coming up in May...

Looks like it's going to be a busy month! I'll be participating in the CONTACT 2008 festival of photography in Toronto this year, with a solo showing of work from the Salton Sea series. Opening reception will be on Saturday May 3 from 6-9 pm at deborah friesen architect inc. at 386 Pacific Avenue. Thanks to the Junction BIA for the invitation to show. Many Junction area businesses will be hosting photography exhibits all month, all with opening receptions on the same night. It'll be a great time, check it out!

I am excited about recently becoming a member of Detroit's HATCH: Hamtramck Art Collective. They are a busy group with a lot of talent - and a brand new home to set up in the old Hamtramck Police Station! I look forward to exhibition and other general art-related opportunies with them in the near future.

I also plan to participate in the CEA's Smogfest exhibit and auction at Windsor's MILK this year - always an interesting selection of works in that show!

Hope to see some of you in Toronto!

- Sandi, 04-01-08

NEWS and SHOUT-OUTS:

New Book: My photograph entitled Ablaze was recently published in the Canadian Mental Health Association's Shades of Grey art book, featuring select works from the 2006-2007 Healing Through Art exhibitions. The book can be purchased from the CMHA Windsor-Essex website for $30 - it's a nice book and a good cause!

Good news: Mark your calendars for June 2009 - that's the timeslot planned for my first public gallery solo exhibition. The Art Gallery of Windsor has invited me to exhibit my Salton Sea work there and I am thrilled: a publication will be created in conjunction with the exhibition, and the show will tour to other galleries after its debut in Windsor. I expect a film screening of Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea will be one of the planned events as well.

My Joshua Dreaming collection of b&w infrareds from Joshua Tree National Park continues its tour in California's Hi-Desert area... It debuted at 29 Palms Gallery in December, and will be seen next in April at the Hi-Desert Water District offices in Yucca Valley. More details will be listed as the date approaches. Big thanks to Melody Friend, Muffin Hill, Anne Lear, Marlene Mitchell, and everyone at the gallery for their assistance and support in making this show possible. Thanks to the Ontario Arts Council's Exhibition Assistance program for financial support.

This year's Detroit Dirty Show was yet another smashing success! I had one piece in the main show and many pieces for sale in the Museum Store. Thanks to Jerry, Chris and the gang for inviting me to take part in this wildly successful and crazy annual event.

Thanks to Tracy Paterson for recently inviting me to participate in the Not Another Coffeshop Art Show at The Gourmet Emporium, 1799 Wyandotte St. East in Windsor... and for shlepping duties, since I was out of town! Thanks, doll.

Thanks also to Electra Westmann, Suzanne Ross and Muffin Hill for organizing my submission for the current MBCAC group exhibit at Roadside Attraction Gallery in 29 Palms, CA.

Finally, I want to give thanks to the good people at State of the Art Framing in Ferndale, MI for inviting me to be in their Photoscapes exhibit in November. They put on a lovely night and have been really wonderful to deal with. Thanks, Nicole and Veronica!

Phew! With two solo shows last year and many group events, it's been super-hectic...

A couple of other neat things: my Bombay Beach House image (see blog entry below, from the Salton Sea show invite) placed 3rd in the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts Ontario-wide print competition. I made the trek up to Collingwood for the jury's critique session; it was very interesting to hear what ther judges had to say about the work entered in the competition. Heartfelt thanks to jurors Pete Herlihy and Rob Stimpson for their time and thoughtful insights.

A fun thing: two of my Salton Sea images were runners-up in the kolo.com photo contest.

And finally: After being asked many times about this, I am taking it seriously... I am in the beginning stages of planning a group photo excursion to the areas I do most of my shooting: Salton Sea, Joshua Tree National Park, historic Route 66 and more. Email me if you are interested. I think it will be amazing.

See you out there...

- Sandi, 03-02-08

A huge and heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone in any way involved with my recent Salton Sea exhibit. I was very pleased with the show, and will definitely be shopping it to other galleries. I will probably forget someone, so feel free to flog me, but I want to especially publicly thank the following folks: the Citizen's Environment Alliance (Suzanne in particular) for support and promotion of the event; Chris Metzler for allowing me to screen his wonderful film Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea in conjunction with the exhibit; Northern Lights Facilitators for the screening equipment and projectionist loan; Sherrie McRae and Sandy McKay for helping hang the show (wow, great work you two!); Andrew Haggert for helping with screening the film and his invaluable assistance on opening night; Sherrie McRae (again) for helping with framing; Rick Hayes for setup and teardown on screening night; Trevor Malcolm for helping on screening night AND for the great exhibit title inspiration (as well as everyone who helped me toss ideas around for the show name forever... you know who you are!!); Rebecca Draisey for transportation support; Laura Gould for gallery support; Laurie Brown for proofing my writing; my super bartender Laura Duncan on opening night... and everyone who came out for the exhibit and the film! Thank you thank you thank you !!

Current exhibit: Come on out to the Walkerville ArtWalk this Friday, July 20, 5-10pm. I'll be at Human Kinetics, 475 Devonshire Rd. Drop by and say hi!

Yay!: I was extremely pleased to learn that my photograph "Buddhist Cemetery, Japan" won the Toward the Light's photo contest, and was published on the front cover of the 2007 Summer issue!

More yay!: I was also pleased that my image "Yearning" was voted Picture of the Month (best black and white) for the month of April at myparkphotos.com. It's a way cool site, especially for anyone who photographs any parklands in the US and Canada. Check it out!

That's it for now. Hope you're all enjoying your summer!

- Sandi, 07-18-07

OK, I have been so busy getting ready for my new Salton Sea show, that I haven't even mentioned it here yet! I hang it in two days and preparations are going well. I am so excited about this project... this is my first "documentary" style exhibition and it is about a truly fascinating (and perplexing) place, along a theme that is relevant to us all - human intervention in the natural environment. But if that sort of thing isn't your cup of tea, you still should come out. Here's why:

1) the images are gorgeous to look at, so eye candy is assured

2) I will be screening a very cool new documentary film about the Salton Sea on Monday and Friday nights at 8pm (May 21 & 25), free! (DVDs will be available for sale; you might want one - don't let the "doc" label turn you off, it's a very entertaining film!) ...I won't have a popcorn machine but I will have soft drinks and water for you...

3) it's always cool to tell your friends, "I'm going to an art opening" - the closing reception is on Saturday May 26, 7-11pm

...seriously, this is a great subject and I think the exhibit will be very interesting to all.

Hope to see you there!

- Sandi, 05-18-07

Last weekend was the opening of the ©POPportunity show at ©Pop Gallery, and it was packed! I urge everyone to get there and check out this wonderful show that includes the work of about 100 artists who have never before exhibited at ©Pop. And while you are there, please take a minute to vote for your favourite artist. 4 artists will be chosen to have their own show at ©Pop this July, and I would REALLY REALLY like to be one of those 4 (hint hint). ...Shameless self-promotion aside, check out the show. It's a great gallery with great work.

Also, another art opening coming up, but this time on the Canadian side: the Canadian Mental Health Association's juried exhibition "Healing Through Art - Everything Isn't Black or White" will be at the Leamington Arts Centre from March 21- April 21. Opening reception is March 24, from 4:00-5:30pm. The show premiered at the Art Gallery of Windsor last month, and now moves on to Leamington. I'm in it and I'll be there - will you? :0)

- Sandi, 02-19-07

I want to take a minute to sincerely thank the organizers of the Detroit Dirty Show, as well as Chris Maher (Museum Store guy at the show) for their support. The show was, as always, a wild success and I am thrilled to be a part of it. Having my prints included in the Museum Store was an added bonus this year - thanks, guys. Keep up the great work.

Now, check out this awesome group show coming up, at Detroit's legendary ©POP Gallery ! Click here for info. I am so geeked about this one!

Also, mark your calendars for the last week in May: my Salton Sea solo show will be at Windsor's Artspeak Gallery. Details to come....

~Namaste~

- Sandi, 02-19-07

Lots of stuff going on lately... I recently took over the lower level of my home to convert it into a workspace. Finally I have my own studio! I have been busily adding equipment and changing things around, as well as bringing in lots of new business. The darkroom is still a work in progress, but I am all set up for shooting and showing, with a lovely gallery space where I can host clients, complete with fireplace. Very cozy.

As a result, I have been expanding my work somewhat to include things like portraits, head shots and the like. One of my favorite additions has been doing maternity portraits. Take a look! I guarantee that if you are pregnant, you will be glad you did a session with me. Not only is it a record of what you looked like during this special time of your life, but it is an artful image for your kids to enjoy later in life, when they wonder what you looked like when they were inside of you. Email me for bookings.

Another result of all this expansion has been that my personal projects have been taking a back seat. That will change soon, as I am planning a solo show for May - and it will be a very different sort of show for me: this one will be a documentary show on a fascinating place called the Salton Sea. Here is a sample of images. Stay tuned for details on the show.

In closing, be sure to come on out over the wekend prior to Valentine's Day: I will be participating in two very interesting art shows: the wildly successful Detroit Dirty Show, and the up-and-coming The Body Beautiful show in Windsor. (yes, I sometimes shoot nudes - and they make gorgeous Valentine's gifts)

Cheers!

- Sandi, 01-27-07

I recently got some great news: I won a photo contest at the Amara Resort in Sedona, Arizona! I visited the hotel last fall, and saw on their home page that they had an ongoing photo contest for their guests. I wasn't going to be doing a lot of shooting that trip (it was supposed to be a vacation, from everything, after all!) - but when I saw that, out came the camera and a roll of infrared film. 8 months later, I learn that I had won a weekend for 2 at the resort! I fell in love with the place so I am very excited to be returning. Expect to see more shots from the Sedona area on the site once I get back from that trip!

Click here to read the press release. Click here to see the winning image.

Click here to go to Amara's website.

- Sandi, 11-10-06

Saturday night's CD release party for Teach Yourself Piano's debut CD "Sweet Waltz, Bitter Waltz" was just great. A selection of images from their performance can be seen on the TYP portfolio page. The Atkinson clan is one ri-DIC-ulously talented family... they're like the Windsor Rankins or something... wow. (Their CD is now on sale at Chapters, Dr.Disc, The Bookroom, Ten Thousand Villages and cdbaby.com.)

- Sandi, 08-28-06

I figured it was about time I jumped on the blogwagon, seeing as there has been lots to say lately...

Let's start with this: tomorrow night (Saturday, Aug.26) is the Teach Yourself Piano CD release party at Mackenzie Hall in Windsor. Evening starts at 7:30pm and the show is free. Drinks, CDs and T-shirts will be for sale. Teach Yourself Piano (who I will hereafter refer to as "TYP") are sibling duo Sarah and Kevin Atkinson. Great people, great musicians, great friends. The release of their CD is really exciting and is something that has been anticipated in the community for some time now. Please come out and enjoy the night with us all. More information can be found at TYP's website. (Click here for press release.)

This release marks my third CD cover shot, which is also exciting. I love music, so naturally I love being associated with musical projects. In all, Kevin, Sarah and I (with Shawn Hupka's everlasting support, of course) did 3 separate photo shoots for this thing. Of course my initial plan was to shoot and use b&w infrared shots for them... We had a productive afternoon down by the river last fall, and we were very pleased with many of the images - but something told us we needed something else... In January, we moved into the studio for portraits, one of which will be featured on the CD inside tray. Finally a theme began to gel, and we decided we needed some train-tracks "Russian Immigrant" images for the cover. They scouted out a perfect location, showed up with even more perfect props, and we came away with exactly what we needed - in spite of the cold temperatures and my looming illness that day. (Click here to see the TYP portfolio.)

Later, TYP had 10 local artists contribute a piece to go with each of the 10 songs in the lyrics liner notes. My "Town for Sale" image of an empty desert town literally for sale accompanies "The Preacher".

Working with fun, talented people like the Atkinsons doesn't even feel like work... and to enjoy creating my work without it feeling like work is exactly how I want to spend my time - so, thank you, Kevin & Sarah!

- Sandi, 08-25-06