In April 2018, I embarked on a multi-state art tour to connect with artists and communities on one end of the continent and the other. It took me to Portland, Oregon, Richmond, Virginia, Whitesburg, Kentucky, and Hillsborough and Durham, North Carolina.
The trip itself was a way for me to develop ideas, concepts, and material for a fully immersive and participatory installation titled Be Jason that premiered at Black & White Projects in San Francisco in October 2018. All of the pictures in this collection were printed and used in various aspects of the installation. The gorilla also made it into the installation and people were invited to try it on.
Beyond the installation, the photos of Be Jason: The Tour are a map of relationships, love, practice, perspective, joy, contemplation, and movement. They document how, where, and with whom I show up. They reveal that which catches my eye, which often is the same thing that captures my heart.
This is my life. This is my art. My life is my art.
My hubby sending me off on my tour.
Me + Jennyb.
Me + Jennyb off to the hot springs.
Out the front window.
The green of this forest.
Over the bridge and to the hot spring.
Post soak.
Jennyb for sense of scale.
Needles in and out of focus.
Good fortunes.
Working on an older project.
Porch life thanks to Jennyb.
Look up!
Did I mention? Look up!
The bridge at night.
Donuts are delicious, especially with Cap'n Crunch on em.
Blowing smoke.
Hi stamen.
You can never get too much looking up.
Pink delights.
This blue.
Looking up at red.
The edges of a fern.
What's happening to this gorilla?
Ok....why?
The light is good. The lipstick is better.
This gorilla is my monster at the Monster Ball for the Portland Zine Fest.
The gorilla meets monsters.
This gorilla will let no one speak evil.
A gorilla and a lizard go to a ball...
Come here and let me smell you.
The gorilla is really afraid of this monster's teeth.
A ghoul and this gorilla.
A slice of light.
Red. Red. Red.
The rule of thirds.
Hmmm....
Look up and find some flora.
What is focus?
Just beyond the foreground.
Open Signal is near and dear to me.
I might have a wee obsession with pink.
See what I mean?
Pink? Or lavendar?
Peek-a-boo.
Waiting for a slight breeze.
Sometimes I look up at the same thing.
Cut in half, diagonally.
Sexitude is Jennyb.
Sometimes I stare out windows.
Dirty nail.
Thoughts in 2018 still relevant in 2020.
The Alliance at Open Signal: Connecting + Creating.
If you could create a living thing.
Possibly Elisa.
Creeping in outer space.
A reflection and some layers.
This stare feels familiar.
Looking up at Portland airport.
On my way to the next leg of my trip.
Twin peaks.
Mount Hood.
Clouds? Smoke? Clouds.
A frame and a reflection.
Little fluffy clouds.
Half and half with a mountain view.
A river runs through it.
Tilted perspective.
The sun at dusk upon water.
River or lake?
Look down.
Window details.
Such a small wing.
Venus is your name.
Richmond flowers.
A slow decay.
Kate + Me :)
A much needed break.
Too many hours later.
Miss him terribly.
The land of my birth greets me in Kentucky.
How much food?
Springtime work.
What the window sees.
Listening as practice.
Under the bridge.
Bathroom reflections.
Practice makes practice. (Thanks Kirthi for this mantra.)
An evolution.
History helps envision futures.
All mood.
Where we're staying.
I have a thing for pink.
Clouds or fog?
OMG. Another look up.
I wouldn't have seen this had I not looked up.
Love on a swing.
Today is the day!
The assumptions that guide us in this space and time.
Open Signal at Appalshop.
Thinking of time in epochs.
There isn't just one.
Big Bang Storytelling is a methodology I crafted to help bridge pasts towards futures.
Gaining another kind of perspective.
I love Kate.
Appalshop in Kentucky is the reason I know all these people. Thank you Appalshop.
After a day of work.
Looking up to find contrast.
We went to a flea market and all we got was this adorable pup.
The gorilla in Virginia.
Staring at the sky and watching the leaves sway by looking up.
Shenandoah Gorilla.
Perspective by distance.
Bill has a new sibling.
Finding details.
It wasn't exactly like this.
Lines in nature.
Perfect timing.
My dear friends Kate + Robert.
Bill + Tammy's new sibling.
This title needs no explanation.
Looking up and finding pink.
Look up at the gorilla.
Looking up at gingko in Richmond reminds me of what outside my front door in San Francisco.
Details in trees.
Sapphic love.
Patterns underneath revealed by looking up.
YELLO!
The gorilla @ ICA with GWAR.
Tammy also has a new sibling.
Kate's making us pancakes. Robert + I are hungry.
It wasn't too quiet at this particular moment.
North Carolina green.
A very abandoned and discarded playground. Perfect for the gorilla.
This light had me in tears.
Hillsborough here I am!
I love libraries.
I met Kafi in person! Highlight of this tour.
The gorilla doesn't like admin work.
Connecting a dear Bay Area friend who now lives in Durhanm, Zena, to my new dear friend Kafi.
Deep appreciation for the femmes / women in my life.
We grew up together. Alex now lives in Durham. He's an incredible photographer. Glad to reconnect.
This gorilla is no pet.
Love this gorilla.
A much needed break laying on my back. (Oh and look up!)
I mean really this light.
This part of my spring tour is almost up.
How did the gorilla get into this tiny bathroom?
Anticipating home.
Grids.
Over Appalachia.
Very midwestern.
A sense of the infinite.
