Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Last Days for {LOVE} Contest

We have received some heart thumping, soul mated {LOVE} stories for our {LOVE} Contest. If you haven't had a chance to get it to us, you still have 'til tomorrow at midnight. Send us a short, short story, a love letter,  or a simple moment that frequents your thoughts.





Phenomenal Woman by Maya AngelouPretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Some more {LOVE} session photographs to share

Friday, March 19, 2010

Inspiration through the Ages

March 21st is the last day to see Raphael's La Velata in the Biggest Little City. She came to town during our discussion about the original in art, appropriation, and plagiarism.  Some reoccurring thoughts on the Facebook page were how artists continually reinvent and rework their style and how one learns and how others improved their own art form by trying to replicate another artist's work.  I believe this relationship of ideas is what makes us more thoughtful and challenged as artists; written, visual, and performing alike. Here is a visual Renaissance tour of our Facebook thoughts:


Everyone in Rome is seeing Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. Her pose, composition, and enigmatic expression delighted and inspired many other artists of the early 1500's. Raphael was one of them. He incorporated many of these elements into his famous La Velata (The Veil) and other portraits.  
 Leda and the Swan by da Vinci expressed a difficult twisted pose which Raphael borrowed in his painting of St. Catherine of Alexandria.

The following is a Raimondi engraving (1515) of a Raphael design. The three gods in the bottom right hand corner make a reappearance in a later piece, Le déjeuner sur l'herbe by Edouard Manet in 1862.

Manet's painting inspired Picasso to create a series that contained 170 art pieces based on Le déjeuner sur l'herbe. 

Additionally, in 1982, the New Wave band, Bow Wow Wow provided us with their rendition of Le déjeuner sur l'herbe on their LP cover. 

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

A {LOVE} Letter to You

Dearest,
You stir me. Through this half-inch square box, I have come to know you; each wrinkle, your scar, that chipped tooth from when you fell on the Radio Flyer Wagon. You are perfect. At this moment, I feel perfect too. I am going to put you around my neck in a little locket; a medal I made of you.
Love.


From GrassRoots© by Skye Snyder
Please do not copy text or photographs without proper citation back to Skye Snyder. A comment here would be nice too. Thanks.


A couple shots from the GrassRoots © by Skye Snyder Collection 2010:



Friday, March 12, 2010

Dear Lovebird

Dear Lovebird,

I am so sorry to hear the tragic news. I want to retell your story. I'm quite fascinated as to why you chose that perch in Malawi Alley to wait for your mate. You found your special Agapornis, Lilian. A beautiful name Lilian. Why are the poachers poisoning the lovebirds?

Signed,
Eilean a' Cheó

written by Skye Snyder from GrassRoots 2010

Monday, March 8, 2010

{LOVE} HER

{LOVE}
Today is International Women's Day- a global affair to celebrate the achievements and advancements of women everywhere.
Today is a day to {LOVE} her deeply.
Many of you know that I have been involved with body image projects for over a decade. Most currently, by offering 1500 girls a year the opportunity to see themselves as courageous, confident, and whole--for each and every girl to see herself as complete and beautiful.  Throughout this journey, it has become glaringly obvious that around age ten, many girls see themselves as defective or in need of improvement. Throughout this journey, I have photographed these girls as women at age 20, 40, 60 and still felt incomplete in their skin.  Sometimes a photograph of herself can change that perception. Sometimes, it's simply a kind word. This is why I do what I do.
To extend the {LOVE}, please share your stories here or in an email to skye@skyesnyder.com
One will be selected to receive a photography session of herself, of a girl, a woman in your life that is pure beauty to you.
You are art.
{Love}
Skye
Check out the following short film clip, "ONLSLAUGHT" by the amazing Dove Self Esteem Workshop
http://www.dove.us/?dl=/features/videos/default.aspx%7Ccp-documentid=7049560%7Cvideo-id=2&source=shareBlogger

Sunday, March 7, 2010

A Crush on {Love} Stories CONTEST

{LOVE} Session CONTEST
Send us your {LOVE} story and you could win a $500 couple's session for $50. Enter your story in the comments below or send to me at skye@skyesnyder.com.
the details
1. Original stories only
2. Must be willing to have your winning story published on our blog with author credit to you, of course
3. You can gift your session to someone living in the Reno/Carson/Tahoe areas, in case you don't.
4. March 31st, 2010 is the deadline
5. Winner will be announced April 1st, 2010. No it's no fool- really - $500 for $50 session!
6. Session must be completed by September 30, 2010. Your session appointment must be scheduled in advance.
7. You can enter as many times as you like---different story, please.


Here's to you, Lovebird...