This is the season to remember our blessings and share our thanks and gratitude with all who have helped to make that so. For me, that means you dear readers, followers, friends, collectors and curators. I'm truly abundantly blessed to receive all your love and support to share my passion for soul photography - nature, wildlife and people. 
 
This is also the height of the art season in South Florida, including ArtBasel-Art Miami, which I'm honored to be participating in again this year. I'm very thankful to be sought out and juried into so many special exhibits-eight in December. Below are details on this week's exhibit opening and receptions, including the prestigious ENDANGERED exhibit, where I will be speaking Friday, December 7. See flyer invite below.  ​

Gratitude & Joy Exhibit
Bailey Contemporary Arts - West Gallery
(at Blooming Bean Coffee Roasters)
Dec 7 - Jan 25

Juried by Sharon Lee Hart, head of photography and an assistant professor of art at Florida Atlantic University, this exhibition features images by 16 photographers who share their interpretations on joyful moments. Grateful to be included with this group of extraordinary photographers. Reception: Friday, Dec 7, 6 - 9 pm. Wish I could be in two places at once and I'll be speaking at ENDANGERED (see above) that night. If local, let me know if you'd like a personal tour during show exhibition run. Read more. ​

"Reciprocal Consciousness" Exhibit
Reception: Thursday, December 6, 6-8pm
Where: ArtServe, 1350 E. Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304  
 
Excited to have three works juried into this beautiful show. National League of American Pen Women - Coral Gables, Ft. Lauderdale & Boca Raton Branches - are together showing "Reciprocal Consciousness" an ArtBasel Collective Juried Exhibition curated by Caroline Parker and hosted by Mai Yap at ArtServe. Exhibition dates: December 3 - 28, 2018. Let me know if you'd like a personal tour. Read More:  

What a privilege. So many people from different parts of my life - friends, artists, photographers, neighbors - came out to the opening reception of "The Everglades: Spirit of the Land." Heartfelt  thanks to Curator Juliana Forero and Cultural Executive Director Jody Leshinsy of Bailey Contemporary Arts for believing in my work. It's located in the west gallery inside Blooming Bean Coffee Roasters where owner Sharon loves being surrounded by nature's beauty that matches her love of all things natural in her kitchen.

Exhibit runs through Sept 28. Located at 41 NE 1st Street, Pompano Beach, FL 33060, 954-2840141. Tuesday-Friday, 7:30am-5pm; Saturday, 8am-3pm.

Also feeling blessed for the fantastic media coverage, including The Pelican Newspaper, page 21, and The Rickie Report.

Looking forward to seeing you on the 15th or send me an email if you'd like a personal tour and a cup of delish cappuccino.

See pictures of all the fun from the opening on Facebook starting here.

Last fall I was challenged to take my photography skills to a new place. MAC Art Galleries' owner Mary Ann Cohen invited selected artists to create their versions of Dali original pieces she was exhibiting at her Fort Lauderdale and Jupiter galleries. This was extra special since she had never invited a photographer to participate in this exhibit in past years. I was simultaneously honored and puzzled. How was I, primarily an outdoor and nature photographer known for my painterly approach to realism, going to "tackle" surrealism photographically. 

From the available works I narrowed it down to two that spoke to me: Surrealist Flower Girl and Beatrice. At the time, I felt I had made my choices based on visualizing how I could reinterpret them through photography. Reflecting back as I write this post I realize that I was possibly also attracted to these pieces subliminally. I have a life-time of being called "a strong women" and I haven't always liked the connotations that come with it. Often wanting to be the "feminine" I was raised to be self-reliant, independent and, honestly, strong, not in the physical sense, but mentally, emotionally and consciously. Looking back, I have no regrets and, best that I know, it has served me well to handle the roller coaster rides of life. 

I share these two images with you since they have been accepted into the "Wild and Crazy" Red Eye Beyond Exhibit that opens this Saturday at ArtServe. They are also available through MAC Fine Art.

I hope you enjoy the images of the Dali original (on left) and my homage (on right) to it along with my interpretation -- photographically, color palette, symbolism and verbal notes.

Special thanks go to my longtime friend, graphic artist and yoga fashion designer Sushila for helping me turn my visions into reality; painter and sculptor Colleen Rochette, who granted me permission to use photographs of some of her eggs in "Surrealist Flower Girl/I Am Women" and my hair stylist extraordinaire Jasmine, who graciously sat as my model for both pieces.

​Surrealist Flower Girl ​

Inspired by Salvador Dali's Surrealist Flower Girl, "I Am Woman" reveals all that is within every women. I delighted in the nuance of each piece that created the whole art work – individual photographs, drips of color, colorful birds’ eggs, the scanned watercolor background, every color choice. Each individually and collectively tells the story of I Am Women. I am Mother Earth. I am spiritual. I am intuitive. I am all knowing. I am beauty. I am mystery. I am birth. I am rebirth, renewal, regeneration. I am air, sand, land, water. I am strong. I am vulnerable. I am Mind, Body and Soul. Dali’s symbolism speaks loudly so we may notice the powerful and complex being Woman.
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Beatrice

Beatrice, Dante’s real-life muse and literary angelic guide through Paradise, symbolizes beauty and grace. There is a dichotomy about her in Dali’s art. She seems to have an exaggerated strong or is it firm profile, yet she has a soft side too as she’s embraced by what appears to be small birds along with locks of curls. I saw her as one with nature – the world and herself – a living goddess wearing her crown of roses graced by a hummingbird, who too is simultaneously strong, demur and at peace.

As I spent time with each Dali piece, merging the metaphysical and physical symbolism, envisioning my homage photographs to his master pieces, I feel I discovered a new truth, that perhaps I always knew and chose to overlook. The nature or perhaps perceived idealized nature of the feminine is really a balance of many strengths; all worthy of embracing.

Now you've seen another side of my photography. For more "conventional" portraits, click to see more strong and beautiful women and beautiful life moments. 

And, next time you need a new, updated portrait (for work, social media, websites, magazine articles or gifts) or have special, intimate events you want to capture for life-time memories, I hope you'll call on me. info@photographsbyphoenix.com

l'd love to hear your feelings. Abundant Blessings!

Rain or Shine, we're looking forward to seeing you at 2017 DBA: Chysalis Art Exhibit opening reception this Thursday, 6 - 8 pm, at ArtServe.

Chrysalis: A Time of Change 
Like bringing new life into the world, I'm excited to share this major Broward County art exhibition that has been a year in the making. You’re invited to meet 13 of south Florida's top rising artists, all graduates of the Broward Cultural Division’s “Artist as Entrepreneur Institute”. Click here to learn more about the 2017 artists and their art.  
Come for the innovated art, hor'doevers, like-minded spirited people and live music by NMBR11. 

Looking forward to celebrating fine art in Broward County with you this Thursday.

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