The exhibit is:  Doing Time – Depth of Surface.  Artists, Patricia Gómez Villaescusa and María Jesús González Fernández use a unique process called, Strappo, to detach, preserve and recreate the walls of the prison.  The exhibit is very unique and includes wall transfers, monoprints, audio and video.

The exhibit was both disturbing and intriguing.  I couldn’t help but to look at the art work and think about the prisoners and how they may have spent their days.  It is something that I can’t imagine and felt myself becoming very empathetic.  Particularly, it was disturbing to see the transfers of the cell walls.  Below are a few iphone photos that I snapped:

Even more disturbing is when my friend Jenn informed me about the clinical trials that took place at the prison. Below is an excerpt from Wikipedia which speaks of a book that was written specifically about this:

“Acres of Skin: Human Experiments at Holmesburg Prison is a 1998 book by Allen M. Hornblum, published by Routledge, ISBN 0-415-91990-8. The book documents clinical non-therapeutic medical experiments on prison inmates at Holmesburg Prison in Philadelphia from 1951 to 1974, conducted under the direction of dermatologist Albert Kligman.^[1] The title of the book is a reference to Kligman’s reaction on seeing hundreds of prisoners when he entered the prison: “All I saw before me were acres of skin” … “It was like a farmer seeing a fertile field for the first time”^.”

Wow.

Anyway, if you are near Moore or want to make the trip, it is a very interesting exhibit.  You can read and see more about the exhibit here:

http://www.philagrafika.org/gomez-and-gonzalez.html

http://www.printeresting.org/tag/doing-timedepth-of-surface/

This photo is for you, Sauce.  Thanks for being a fan!

Okay, okay…. so, this wedding was really all about ERICA & ANTHONY!!!  These two are absolutely fantastic!  They are fun, laid back, energetic beautiful and cool all at the same time.  Below I am going to list just some of the things that made them and their wedding day so awesome:

- the bride described the wedding day as “My big fat Italian wedding”…. and didn’t disappoint

- the huge and very fun wedding party (I think I could say something about a taser gun here…. but won’t)

- the giant party bus that included drinks and mini soft pretzels (my favorite!!)

- they stopped at their local watering hole, McGillicuddy’s, after the ceremony for a shot of liquor

-  their wedding party was announced wearing costumes (including a man in an overweight nude woman suit!), holding signs, throwing candy canes, playing with noise makers, creating dance moves…. and the list goes on!

- there was an impromptu karaoke singing of “Love Shack” by the B52′s

- multiple people were picked up and put on shoulders on the dance floor

- nearly all 300 guests got up to dance

- Anthony & Erica are completely in love and know how to have fun… they also have great families and friends

This list most definitely could go on and on….. It was simply a fabulous wedding!  Danette  Pascarella (whose wonderful talent is also featured in the photos below) & I had a great time photographing this wedding.  It was the kind of wedding that when we left we just kept saying, “Man….I love this job!”.

Thanks, Erica & Anthony!  Many congrats and best wishes to you both!

]]> http://melissahassey.com/2011/12/wedding-at-the-ballroom-at-the-ben/feed/ 4 http://melissahassey.com/2011/01/4707/ http://melissahassey.com/2011/01/4707/#comments Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:35:10 +0000 melissa http://melissahassey.com/?p=4707 The fabulous Julie & Patrick (wedding blog featured here: http://melissahassey.com/2010/12/philadelphias-magic-gardens-world-cafe-live-wedding/) were recently interviewed for the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper.  They discussed how they met, fell in love and celebrated their unique and fun wedding day.  It is a great article about a romantic love story!

Check out the website version here:

http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/kellie_patrick_gates/20110126_Love__JULIE_HOWARD___PATRICK_TAYLOR.html?ref=facebook.com

Lastly, I received so many wonderful emails and comments about the photograph(s) which I truly appreciate.  I suppose this sounds boastful… but one of the main reasons that I photograph is for other people to feel something when they look at an image.  I get a great sense of satisfaction when people unrelated to the subject are touched by a photograph.  There was one comment in particular that came from a complete stranger.  It was especially heart warming and descriptive.  Here is the comment:

“I just wanted to let you know how much I was taken by your photograph of Julie Howard and Patrick Taylor.  It is so beautiful and seems to tell its own story.  The darkness of the left side leading your eye to the light of the couple…the diffused light of the streetlamps…even the sparkling mini lights guiding your eye to the couple…the perfect way you offset their position…her elegant, open hand on his heart expressing how she was opening her life to him….her profile looking into his face…the beautiful draping of the stole material and the vintage look of the netting above her eyes…his strong posture with his face looking off to the future, his leg and hand position looking firm and confident…the sophistication of the city scene.   Wow!”

Well the camera in the mirror shot is certainly cliche’ and a bit silly…. but for tonight, let’s just call it “classic”.    Stay warm, friends!

Oh, and here are a couple of previous snow blogs….. just because!

http://melissahassey.com/2010/02/this-snow-broke-records/

http://melissahassey.com/2010/02/the-other-4-of-philly/

http://melissahassey.com/2010/02/diy-beer-sled/

It had been a year since I saw these kids and they all have grown so much!  They were, as expected, full of energy and smiles.    I had a great time with them all!

Just for fun, here are links to view their portraits from last year at Valley Forge National Park:

http://melissahassey.com/2009/11/valley-forge/

http://melissahassey.com/2009/11/valley-forge-again-this-time-with-deer/

We did separate siblings portraits as well as all 4 cousins together… Here they all are four running to me:

SOFIA & JACK:

TYLER & CHASE:

ANYWAY!  I had such a wonderful time wondering around Northern Liberties with these two.  They were so fun and adorable together.  Congrats Rosario & Javier!!  Thanks for making my job so simple and such a pleasure. 

It was a beautiful evening which made for dramatic shadows….

I can’t take full credit for this next image.  I was inspired by another photographer that did this idea of the shadows dancing…though I am not sure who that photographer was.  Also, I can’t help but think of Duane Michals’ (a photographic hero of mine!) “Chance Meeting” series too.  Anyway, I couldn’t resist my interpretation when I saw their shadows on the wall.  A little goofy, I know…  but kinda fun, right? 

Both Rosario & Javier are Puerto Rican.  Rosario is also Mexican.  I love that they brought their flags as props.  Oh, and they had these cute iphone messages too!

We stopped for some ice cream!

Did I mention that they also like Spanish dancing?  Well, they do.  They played some music on Rosario’s phone and then worked their moves.  It was quite a show!  I really enjoyed it!

We also got to play around with my Grandpop’s vintage camera.  Javier & Rosario were the perfect mix of fun, romantic and authentic!  An absolute pleasure.

It was one of those recent days where it was somehow storming and sunny all at the same time.  Beautiful, really.  My friend Jenn called and asked if I had any city photos she could have.  I then suggested we wonder through the neighborhood on this gorgeously dreary day.  It was fun to get on the streets again and photograph.  The streets of Philly are where this entire photo adventure of mine started many years ago…..  I was much bolder then… See “Don’t Talk to Strangers” series.

My most frequented corner store:

Check out this awesome door made of, I assume, bench ends.  Very cool!!

From the Spring Garden El stop.  Many years ago I was kicked off the El at this very station for taking photographs.  A friend and I were “written up” by a cop and told never to photograph on the El again. Haha!!  I will say that, at that time, I was using a giant 4″x5″ camera with a hood over it.  And, I was attempting to photograph the people on the train.  Wow, I really was bold back then!

Cool PBR advertisements at Spring Garden (designed by various different artists).

You can see the El steps and, I believe, some of the new art school that they are building on Front Street.  Oh, and a bit of the city line on the left….  This shot really shows the dark cloud, bright sun contrast that was happening that day.

Water from a fire hydrant…

Gamer…

Kensington.  Does it look like I am jailed in or jailed out? 

If I have seen you recently, you may already know that Carl & I are finally participating in the Greensgrow Farm CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) for the first time this year.  An explanation (taken from the super cool and free, Grid Magazine) is as follows:  “a mutually beneficial arrangement between community members and a local farmer(s).  In exchange for payment, a CSA farm provides a “share” of produce and other farm products during the growing season.”

We are doing a half share (full shares available).  So, basically, every other week, we pick up a portion of local crop shares.  All of the food is seasonal, fresh, & absolutely delicious.  Also, it feels good to support local farmers and other local businesses.  Besides veggies, the share often includes items like cheese, butter, tofu, seitan, yogurt, eggs (from the chickens on the farm), bread, and, apparently sometimes local beer (I assume PBC or possibly Yards – both are great!)

I highly recommend that everyone that loves fresh food participate in a local CSA.  I have been labeled a bit of a “veggie/ csa pusher” recently and am proud of it.  I get excited for each pickup!  You never know what you will get and it is fun to be creative with cooking and try new recipes.

For some great information on Philadelphia locally grown food, check out:  http://www.fairfoodphilly.org/

Or these sites seem to be good for finding local CSAs in your area: http://www.localharvest.org/ and  http://www.farmtocity.org/

Oh, and, of course, if you haven’t already, watch this movie!  FOOD, INC.

I warned you, I am a pusher!! 

Anyway, before eating our yummy food, I took some photos.  Enjoy!

Here is a glimpse at what we got with share 1 & 2

lonely mushroom….

Put ‘em all together and you got a delicious salad! 

If you are unfamiliar with Alchemy/  Alkaline diets, my understanding is that “Alkaline foods reduce inflammation that may oxidize healthy cells and start the deterioration of your body”.  Here is a website with some information that I found very useful:

http://www.ehow.com/way_5242533_alkaline-body-diet-foods.html

or even better, “let me google that for you”.  Okay, admittedly, I have been wanting to do that kind of link for some time now….  haha…

ANYWAY, as a vegetarian that loves healthy foods and believes strongly that a person’s diet heavily influences mood, energy and overall health, I was interested right away.  We met in the beautiful Merion Botanical Garden in Merion, PA.  We were lucky to have a gorgeous day and it was such a pleasure to meet Elaine and her 3 beautiful daughters.  I am so happy that we were finally able to set this up.  As Elaine’s business progresses and I have more information/ the new website I will be sure to share it with all of you.

From the short time that I have spent corresponding with Elaine, I can confidently say that she is extraordinary kind, strong and full of gratitude.  Very refreshing.  : )

Some yoga….  and, yes, I did indeed climb a (surprisingly challenging) tree for this portrait.  Clearly, I can’t help myself.

Seriously, what a magnificent location… so serene and calm and such an authentic moment.

Elaine and her daughters. I know, beautiful, right?

One of my favorites:

Our location was Delaware Avenue & Berks Street.  As you can imagine, there was A LOT of trash ranging from bottles filled with urine,   plastic toys, pants, jackets and cigarette butts.

Overall, we had a good time with our friends and even got spotted by Action News.  Afterward there was free beer and food at PBC (Philadelphia Brewing Company) in Kensington.  Nice!!

So, yes, indeed, we worked for beer.  I do hope that the cleanup actually motivates people to minimize the litter and cleanup more often.  It is a tough and seemingly endless task around here…. but I think small actions do help.

Anyway, here is a link to Carl’s blog about this (it is better, it has photos and has the action news bit)…. I am in  the video but I have a hat on and my hair pulled up.  My own mom didn’t recognize me so you probably won’t either.  Carl is carrying a big sign and our friend Ryann got some voice time.  Here you go:

http://www.philadesigns.com/2010/04/11/philly-spring-cleanup/

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