:: ann-marie stillion | creative content ::

Eva's fashion statement

2009-10-10T18:10:00.000-07:00

This is Eva's Filipino outfit she calls it. It was in the front window of the dress shop when she first saw it. I have given up trying to find her a home and must trust that she is fine where she is. Every solution or offering is met with some kind of resistance. Thirty years on the street have molded her to a fierce defiance of everyone, and I respect that. I am trying now to document all of her outfits. She complains a bit now but so far shows up in one of fifty she says she has.

Never lonesome or without a place to go she forces me to stop worrying over her welfare as I sense that is what she wants. She intends to outlive all of us. When she resists my latest idea of photographing her fashion statements, I push back. What is her real life after all? Picking up the out of date dim sum in Chinatown or conjuring up new ways to wear her hair. I say it is both.

The video I shot of her last spring is set to open at 4Culture in downtown Seattle in February. I am looking for a place to hang a selection of stills that I have of her now.

Ann-Marie Stillion: New Paintings & Photographs at Dandelion Botanicals

2009-09-07T17:29:00.000-07:00

Slideshow preview of exhibit here
Join us on Sept. 12, 6-9:30 p.m.
Opening reception for
"Ann-Marie Stillion: New paintings and photographs"
Exhibit runs through Oct. 7.

at Dandelion Botanicals, 5424 Ballard Avenue, Seattle, Washington

Part of the Ballard Art Walk

"The shapes and colors in my mind often speak to me as clearly as words. This collection of photography and painting is meant to celebrate what we can see and go deeper into the conversation between color and content."--ams

Reception for opening of the 4culture electronic gallery 09-10 season

2009-08-27T16:47:00.000-07:00

Above: frames from Ann-Marie Stillion's "Eva Washington: sweet are the uses of adversity", about the life and times of Eva Washington, a 77-year-old woman who has lived on the street for almost 30 years. The video will screen for a year in downtown Seattle at the 4Culture Gallery.

Update: You are invited to the reception for the opening of the 4culture electronic gallery 09-10 season at 101 Prefontaine Place South, Seattle. The reception is Thursday, Sept. 3 from 6-8 p.m., part of the First Thursday Art Walk in downtown Seattle. Thirteen artists, including myself, representing a range of video and animation have been selected to screen in their cool street gallery.

Many thanks to all the people who have helped get Eva's video off the ground including Ali Hobbs, Joe Shapiro, the folks at Northwest Film Forum, and the Mt. Baker Senior Center.

Throughout the year, the works will rotate, including one from my ongoing project on Eva Washington. "Eva Washington: sweet are the uses of adversity" is a five minute piece which visually explores her clothes, hands, face and a night bus shelter where she sometimes sleeps.

In the video, Eva tells some of her story and life. She was born in Seattle, raised in the Central District and now at 77 years old has lived on its streets for almost 30 years. Despite the enormous obstacles and challenges that she faces everyday, Ms. Washington's story is hardly a tale of woe. She combats her circumstances with style and a rich connection to culture and others.

You see and learn more about Eva and my journey with her over the last year here.

I have continued to explore solutions to finding her housing. As always, if anyone reading this post can lend a hand, please contact me at annmarie@arttrek.com. Eva lives on a small social security payment from her many years of office work; she has no interest in public housing and does not take any form of public assistance. She is a proud woman who would most likely be honored in some societies. In ours, sadly, she cannot find a home. Her dream is to go to Africa.

Angry faces of resistance

2009-08-12T23:23:00.001-07:00

I went along today with Dave Hirning, one of the local leaders of MoveOn.org. MoveOn was supporting the 34th district's town hall on health care. Several hundred people turned out in support of health care while only 4 showed up to oppose. Are we really going to bow down to what appears to be crazy people or hired actors when it comes to our future with health care? More photos here

Eva's still out there

2009-08-08T13:26:00.000-07:00

Living on the street more than 30 years now, Eva Washington hates the word homeless and I have learned to use her preferred word "casual" instead. She has also taught me not to ask her how she is, it is a meaningless greeting to her. It's summer now but I dread the coming of another fall and winter, for her. She claims that she can make it fine. But I still cannot believe that. The system has no place for her and she has no place for the system which has turned away from her most basic needs. Any decision which is not hers is greeted with fury and so I often remain silent these days.

I have decided to catalogue her dozens of outfits, maybe 50 plus in all which each include a unique hair treatment. The outfits are housed in a storage unit which costs her exactly half of her social security check. She did the right things in life and always earned her way until she began to age and inflation, the cost of living began to skew heavily against her. Eva cannot seem to grasp that her labor hasn't earned enough for her to live and rages against the "rent equation" as she calls it. She describes this outfit as "the zebra." We met at Seattle Center last night and this was photographed in the square above Fisher Pavilion.

If anyone reading this post has a meaningful idea to help this 77-year-old woman find a place to live, please don't hesitate to contact me. After photographing Eva for almost a year, I have to admit that I am beginning to despair. Every suggestion is met with resistance either by her or the social workers I have talked with. Somehow I hope to find an answer which I know must go beyond merely a financial solution. It is not only funding she needs but compassion and understanding. Last night she told me she is thinking about the possibility of adding to her income by modeling for local art schools. I know she would be great at it.

Long Shot at PCNW--an exhibit and update

2009-07-06T10:50:00.001-07:00

As I posted a few weeks ago, PCNW did a 24 hour shoot, inviting photographers to shoot Seattle beginning June 16. Night Flight, my photo above shot in White Center, will be part of the exhibit and fundraiser on July 16.

Help this great photo institution grow and thrive. Join us.

Long Shot at PCNW--a Seattle photographic event

2009-07-01T15:17:00.000-07:00

More images from my Long Shot here

On June 16, Photo Center Northwest invited the community of photographers in Seattle to go out and shoot for 24 hours. Part fundraiser and part photo challenge, the event brought all kinds of folks out beginning on Friday at 6 p.m. and continuing until the next day. The first evening I met up with Lisa Ahlberg and Seth Thompson. We ended up at a rail yard, shooting into the lights while huddled underneath an overpass to get out of the falling rain. My friend Kate Bordwell was in from Arizona and acted as our trusty assistant and lookout.

The next day I shot at the beloved Fremont Parade for a most of the day. The event will be celebrated on July 16.

Today in Iran

2009-06-17T11:27:00.000-07:00

There are so many great images coming from Iran. I tell everyone I meet not to miss this chance. Jump on Twitter and listen, learn.

No more evil empire baloney. Just search on #iranelection and start finding people to follow in Iran. This is for the whole world, not just the people inside their borders.

An infinite tiger--photo collage, photography and music

2009-06-03T18:38:00.000-07:00

Join us for a spectacular evening of art, music and great fun! The Press Gallery really knows how to do an art reception. The address is 406 Occidental Ave. South, Seattle. Call 206-382-7775 for info.

Beautiful women

2009-04-28T18:24:00.001-07:00

sheen is a group of women over 50 who are pursuing, on their own, dreams of modeling. Mostly they intend to help non-profits raise money or raise awareness that women of any age can be glamorous. I photographed them, joined by my friend Lisa Ahlberg who functioned as an assistant and art director that day. It struck me as I refined the images from the shoot at The Ruins and made final selections how easily we dismiss each other, how we stop looking and feeling at some point, about one another. sheen is fighting stereotypes and being beautiful all at once.

Here's to you sheen. I hope you go one being marvelous, for yourselves and the whole world.

Encounters, photographs by Lisa Ahlberg

2009-04-01T09:48:00.000-07:00

What we started last month, lives on. The Press and I are now jointly showing the work of other artists as well as my photographs. Our reception is always on the First Thursdays art walk in Pioneer Square in Seattle. Lisa Ahlberg's wonderful street studio series will grace their wall through May 1.

Stop by!

outside/in--a photography installation

2009-03-16T19:03:00.000-07:00

Click here for a slideshow of the installation from creation to exhibition

On March 5, with help of Valerie Thayer and the suggestion of Neil Lukas, I mounted a photography installation at The Press Gallery in Seattle's Pioneer Square district. The exhibit runs from March 5-31 and includes the wall mounted installation of two images (and two 16x20 digital archival prints for sale) which were photographed at Green Lake, a beautiful natural oasis surrounded by the urban world. In my neighborhood park, I have seen eagles hunting ducklings and every shape of humanity doing all kinds of things in my walks and photo expeditions. One of the images "Walking Green Lake" celebrates the main human activity and the other, "Duck Island" is of the mystical land mass in the center of lake. The island takes on different shapes and forms as you traverse the watery world. On this day, it spoke to me in mystic terms. (In the photo above is the Lockwood Jazz Trio seen from the street, peering into the gallery.) Thanks to everyone who made that night a blast. The music was amazing and the crowd a delight.

Keep showing up

2009-02-11T11:04:00.000-08:00

This is very moving. Hey everybody. And note to all my friends. Before we have another conversation, you must watch this video. It's required viewing. I'm serious.

Ta Da! My new stock site at Photoshelter

2009-02-05T10:56:00.000-08:00

My new stock site at Photoshelter is getting filled up with great new images from moi. Check it out and check back as it grows.

Obama Inauguration

2009-01-21T16:48:00.001-08:00

Our new president is all about the future. This little girl attended the broadcast of his inauguration at the Seattle Center celebration on Jan. 20.

Happy Birthday Martin

2009-01-20T06:08:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Seattle celebrated Martin Luther King Day. Afterwards, they went inside to warm up. Sitting with his grandfather, this little boy held his tiny handmade sign covered with images of Obama and shiny with tin foil.

SoCal

2008-12-20T08:46:00.001-08:00

Last summer

2008-12-08T14:25:00.000-08:00

At White Center at dusk.

Obama, Obama, Obama, Obama, OOOOO

2008-11-05T16:33:00.000-08:00

I can't stop crying, with joy. It's a new day.

Obama's brilliant mind and deep love is shining on every street in America.

Eva's story

2008-10-26T23:57:00.000-07:00

I met up with Eva last week again, this time at the food bank in Wallingford in Seattle. She spent the afternoon talking with Derry from one of the agencies in the area, telling her stories of living on the street most of the last 30 years. Here are some images from that day.

At Dick's on Broadway in Seattle

2008-10-19T21:20:00.000-07:00

Where are we in time? Actually is is 6:15 p.m. in October, 2008 but this image feels like 1950--Ann-Marie

Kenge Kenge: Obama For Change

2008-10-11T11:53:00.001-07:00

"American people, citizens of the world. Here are songs and memories from Africa, drumming support for Barack Obama."

Artist and musicians around the world calling for change, singing for Obama.

Beautiful.

Something's happening here

2008-10-04T19:55:00.001-07:00

Wading through the first real puddles of the season in downtown Seattle rush hour I found these girls who were only too happy to play in the viewfinder for awhile. Inspired by Neil Lukas at PCNW, I was delirious with pixels and light magic.

Presidential debates at the Meridian Market

2008-09-29T14:30:00.000-07:00

Lucky for me I live in the heaven of Seattle: Green Lake. Check out the slide show above from our celebration of democracy on 55th St.

Last week, some of my neighbors including the great photographer Roseanne Olson and one of the latest MacArthur fellows, David Montgomery gathered to listen and watch.

Wally Wright, one of the proprietors at the Meridian Market, offered his place for the community to gather for the first presidential debates, and took a few pictures for posterity.

I haven't heard yet but I imagine we will be back together for the vice-presidential "I can see Russia from my house" debates this Thursday, Oct. 2.

Update: Game on! Wally just replied that "we couldn't pass up one of the most anticipated comedy events of the year." He'll be serving lasagna, caesar salad and other appetizers for debate night Oct. 2 at the Meridian Market again. Don't be late!

Peace is the way

2008-09-24T11:12:00.001-07:00

My friend Kate in Arizona is part of a small Quaker community in Flagstaff. They asked me to design a new sign for their meeting house based on the words of the peace activist A.J. Muste.