Gallery Opening

Hello Fellow Explorers ~

I am excited to announce the very first gallery showing of my photography at Verve Gallery in Santa Fe. My work will be exhibited in a group show of five local artists. This body of work is a collection of 12 photographs from Iraq. I went to Iraq to be a witness to the depths of aggression, despair and love that humanity is capable of so that I could comeback and tell the stories. This body of work is just one story. In the depths of my own struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) I want to share this story of the million or more Marines and Soldiers who are silently living in the borderlands between war and home.

The opening is May 16th from 5-7pm. Here is a link to the gallery in case you are out of town or cannot make it to the exhibit. http://www.santafephotogallery.com/verve.php . Click on the link to Amici della Galleria to see all of my images and the images of the other exhibiting artists for this show.

The Tide is Turning

The tide is turning and I'm seeing the perfection in all that has transpired throughout my 42 years. I am making my way towards the light as I shed layers of memories and traumas that I have previously just stuffed away or disconnected from.

Today with spring just around the corner I can see all the abuse, the trauma, all the choices and experiences were perfect and all led me to this point in my life. Everyone played their role perfectly and molded my character and stretched my soul towards compassion for those who have experienced trauma. My entire life has been leading me to be able to reach out and speak up and bring awareness to those who are suffering but are afraid to admit to themselves or others for fear of being viewed as weak or broken.

I spent a week with the Marines out at Camp Pendleton talking to them about their experiences in Iraq and how they were dealing with being back in the "real" world. This photo I took of a vacant motel off of Interstate 40 depicts the feelings I heard - all pretty on the outside, but feeling a bit empty and distant on the inside.

I want them to know that this is a normal reaction to an extraordinary circumstance.