The ‘Secret’ Project

GET IT OFF YOUR CHEST!

For some time now, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about these two topics. Why, as human beings, do we need to do this? There are some people that cling to their secrets like it a scarf in a cold wind – protecting them for the elements. Some people turn to lies to keep themselves out of trouble or not to hurt others feelings. Some do it for personal gain.

What would people do if given the opportunity to tell their secret or lie? What would be revealed?

This project gives you that very opportunity. Just write your secret or lie and drop the card in the mail. Since most of the participants are in New York City, it would be impossible to tell whom the card is from. And think about this – would you be able to recognize anyone’s handwriting? I hardly ever see the handwriting of my friends. We always communicate though email or text messaging.

If I don’t run into you and you want to participate, send me your address – Maryanne.ventrice@gmail.com and I’ll mail a postcard to you.

I’ll photograph the cards and post them to http://www.flickr.com/photos/maryanne67/sets/72157601460107583/

The ‘Secret’ Project

GET IT OFF YOUR CHEST!

For some time now, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about these two topics. Why, as human beings, do we need to do this? There are some people that cling to their secrets like it a scarf in a cold wind – protecting them for the elements. Some people turn to lies to keep themselves out of trouble or not to hurt others feelings. Some do it for personal gain.

What would people do if given the opportunity to tell their secret or lie? What would be revealed?

This project gives you that very opportunity. Just write your secret or lie and drop the card in the mail. Since most of the participants are in New York City, it would be impossible to tell whom the card is from. And think about this – would you be able to recognize anyone’s handwriting? I hardly ever see the handwriting of my friends. We always communicate though email or text messaging.

If I don’t run into you and you want to participate, send me your address – Maryanne.ventrice@gmail.com and I’ll mail a postcard to you.

I’ll photograph the cards and post them to http://www.flickr.com/photos/maryanne67/sets/72157601460107583/

Tattoo!

Here’s the newest addition to The Tatoo Project.

This is Brendon (see below).
I shot this surreptitiously while he was standing next to me at Bowery.

PELA Sell Out Bowery Ballroom 8/25/07

Saturday night was pretty phenomenal. I arrived at Bowery a bit late due to some train issues. I still caught 3 out of 4 bands. Check out
Bob Sanderson’s photos of Balthrop, Alabama.

After saying a few quick hellos, I went up to the performance space. I was able to see the last half of The Jealous Girlfriends set.

And, all of Elk City’s.
During Elk City’s set, I spied my friend Billy peeking out to check out the audience – and I took his photo. Hope you don’t mind….

Right before Pela
was to hit the stage, the entire crowd moved up to the edge of the stage – that made me happy! I spent most of the time right up front, but ran up to the balcony toward the end to take a few shots from there.

If you want to see some shots taken from the stage,
check out Brendon Stuart’s photos

Here are some more of mine:

Nate

Tom

Eric

Billy

Brendon and Bob, fellow photographers.

One of the Scariest Places on Earth

I went for my mammogram yesterday. Being 40, this should be a routine appointment, but for me – there is nothing ordinary about it. There is a history of breast cancer in my family, my mother, aunt and 4 or 5 of their cousins. The odds aren’t good for me. I went for my first mammogram 2 years ago. First off, it is painful. Who came up with such a torture machine? Ouch! If that were not bad enough, there was a ‘shadow’ in the film of my right breast. After many phone calls and hullabaloo I was accepted into a cancer surveillance group at Sloan Kettering. I went to have yet another mammo, this one resulted in more tests…and finally a biopsy. That was the second scariest moment of my life – the first, being told that my daughter had a heart murmur and needed to see a cardiologist. She was fine.

Having a biopsy is some pretty heavy stuff – I had mine on a Wednesday and had to wait through the weekend and most of the next week for the results. Longest week of my life. The results came back fine. For awhile I had a small scar to show for it, now all I have is the knowledge that there is a small metal clip in my right breast – that – I’ve been assured will not set off the metal detectors at the airport (It’s true, it doesn’t).
Now each year, I return to get squashed again and hold my breath that the radiologist will return a ‘normal’ reading. So far, so good.

Since my previous experience stays in my thoughts, I’m nervous when I go back. Yesterday, in an effort to gain some control over the situation, I decided to sneak some photos with my cell phone. It did the trick. I felt more in control of the process than ever before. I could not get a shot of the torture device though; they never leave you alone in that room…..

There Are Moments That Make You See So Clearly

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to share these. It was more of a private gathering and then I thought, no, this needs to be shared. One of the kids from my street, I say kid – he’s 29 – was severely injured in Iraq last week. Last night, his friends showed up and shot a video to send to him while he recovers. I haven’t seen all of those people together in that place in years. As I moved around them to these photos, what struck me most was the loyalty of these young people. They showed up without question or hesitation. It is the loyalty that I grew up with – you back your friends – because you know who your friends are. The pride I felt in all of them last night threatened to overwhelm me but I held it together. Here are the photos:
For Michael

Sometimes……

I’ve been shooting bands for a little over a year now, and there are times that the photos find their way to other’s websites, blogs etc. It’s always a surprise for me. I’m never quite sure that they are any good, and then…I found two today.

Read the review:
Muzzle of Bees
Doveman

Read the review:
New York Public Radio
Hopewell

Need To Get Something Off Your Chest?

I’ll give you an opportunity….soon….

On The Street Where I Live

I have always lived where I live now. Most people think it’s odd, this lack of movement. I’ve always felt that it has grounded me in some way – this connection to place. It has allowed me a different sort of transcendence. I live inside of my own head most of the time and I think it often makes me seen distant and judgemental to others. The simple truth is quite the opposite. I’ve always photographed the street where I live. The concept of home fascinates me. How the connection to a place shapes you. I’ve watched and documented many changes on my street over the course of my life. This week, the actual street has changed and is being readied to become ‘new’.

Fight Club – Not For The Faint Of Heart

Women’s Boxing at Gleason’s Gym
A while back, I went to Gleason’s to watch some boxing. I don’t know if any of you have ever been to a boxing match, but, being close to such violence and power has a tremendous effect. When a body has been knocked to the mat just inches away from you – it’s quite disturbing. When it’s two women and one of them is a family member – it’s terrifying. And, yet somehow….thrilling

Midway

Last night at Club Midway

The Party Faithful

Abigail Warchild

What a Dollar will get you in New York

The other day, my friend, Toni and me were outside our office building having a smoke after lunch.

A woman walked up and asked to buy a cigarette. I didn’t have any and Toni told her she just have one, she didn’t have to pay for it. The woman smiled and
said, “No, its part of my quitting strategy. You have to take the money.” She preceded to hand Toni four quarters.

Toni said to me, “That just paid for my lunch.” And I thought to myself for $1.00 what’s better; a baked potato or a cigarette? You choose.


special thanks to Patricia Lemieux for being my hand model