Laureen Griffin

mad as hell…

Martina and I set up a test shot. I wanted to check the lighting, etc. I am using these fabulous strobe lights donated to the project by a good friend in combination with tungsten fill lights set up to create a low level ambiance. When we began, Martina stood still, so I could make sure the camera was in focus. With the ambient lighting at such a low level, I was afraid the camera could not auto focus. Then I suggested moving, punching, boxing - put the camera in auto focus and YES - the shots were mostly in focus. I bought an Olympus E500 and I love it for the most part - except I am used to the hairline in my Canon AE-1 so focusing always seems to be a concern. I am told that upgrading to a better lens helps… so far I make do.

I have my studio set up at 4013 Chestnut Street - 40th St AIR - and am ready for folks to sign up for conversation and picture taking. If you are interested please send me an email or if you are in the neighborhood stop by - knock on the door or drop a note in the mailbox. Although I have said, open studio hours are Tuesdays & Thursdays 1-5PM, I am still setting up and may not actually be in the building - for now email is the best contact.

To see live samples of my work you can visit Green Line Cafe , 4239 Baltimore Ave, across from Clark Park. I am also showing a Recent Retrospective of my works on paper at 40th St AIR Gallery - opening reception Friday, October 12, 5-8PM and Philadelphia Open Studio Tours (POST) October 27 & 28, noon-6PM.

Hope to see you there…

Gender Portraiture Project is not only being endorsed by 40th Street AIR and Green Line Cafe, I have received funding!! “Congratulations! That is fantastic and such a morale booster.” writes Laura Rugarber from 40th St AIR in an email I opened this morning. I feel like my ideas, work, and most of all my identity are being validated - what a long time coming….and more to come….

The Gender Portraiture Project is supported by a grant from the Five County Arts Fund,
a Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts program of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!

In Project Basics I talk about being gender queer. I am thinking this may limit my project as I am also looking to make intercultural connections amoungst women. To discover how societal expectations rule our gender. My goal is to have a critical mass of stories and portraits reflecting gender variations and to show how birth, class, family, country of origin and ancestry, personal taste, body type, age and whatever other qualifiers are placed on us affect us. “Gender variations” does not necessarily mean trans, but can also be one’s interpretation of what is feminine or masculine. To think about times when we were awarded or punished in relation to our “appropriate” gender-like behaviors or looks.