The CD cover for the first mix features a photograph of a friend and music therapist.

During the month of April, 2008, ArtClash organized their third annual Mail Art project. For each week in April, one was to create and mail a piece of artwork to another participant as arranged by the collective.

Artist's Statement

My project took the form of a four part CD collection: How to Become a Ninja. Respectively, the parts were sub-titled Love, Loss, Solitude and Recovery. Each of the CD covers was made from a photograph I'd taken, selected to go with the music. The music in turn was selected to describe, in broad strokes, the series of events that most shaped my life from 2005 - 2007. I also included a hand-written letter explaining the context for each CD.

The influences I'm conscious of include the few people who have given me mixed tapes for romantic reasons, Sharon who constructed an autobiography for her Fun-a-Day project, Julia Cameron's writings in The Artist's Way, and my friend Kim (who's image is used on the first CD cover), a music therapist who uses art and creativity as a means of healing for troubled teens.

Results

It took me longer to complete than I'd have liked (usually the case) and I wish I'd thought to include U2's cover of When Love Comes to Town on the first mix before I'd sent it.

An unexpected bonus was that I ran into an old friend on a trolley while carrying the third part, Solitude to be mailed later that day. As a result we eventually had dinner and I sold a print of the original image from that album.

I like the idea of doing these on a regular basis so that the next time someone teases that they wish their life had a sound-track, I can say "Well, mine does." I have no idea whether any of the recipients actually liked the project.

You will be able to view the public results of whatever I happen to be shooting at my smugmug gallery. Smugmug allows for the ordering of prints. At the moment I don't profit by this. That may change, though I am happier at the thought that my work might be experienced as a gift.

Regardless, I hope you like them.

My backpack bears the icon I daydreamed up for Photo-Jitsu.

Photo-Jitsu is a photo-blog I've periodically kept. It has had two versions, and is either dying by neglect or on the verge of revival.

History

Originally, I planned it as a means to keep someone I cared about informed of my goings on and affection during a period of prolonged absence. It turned out that none of these things was wanted, and for a while I set aside my camera.

Eventually I restored many of the images but altered their captions to be more accessible. I had a hope of gathering feedback and perhaps using it as a platform to share my work and fun with other photographers, but aside from keeping me on the lookout for worthwhile subjects it didn't go anywhere.

Status

I suppose I'll need to use it for something useful or get rid of it.

My fun-a-day project was to photograph strangers.

During the month of January, 2008, I participated in the ArtClash Fun-a-Day project. The project called for a new work to be created each day, the results of which were then displayed in a group show.

Artist's Statement

My project was initially to simply take a portrait each day. Shortly after getting started it evolved into taking portraits of strangers encountered on the streets of Philadelphia.

I was surprised to find that often people are friendly and comfortable being asked for a portrait. It tended to be that black men were less likely to respond positively, and women with artistic or unique fashion accessories were most likely to do so.

Results

The exhibit was brief, only lasting for a few hours in February. There were a lot of cool projects and artists at the opening, and I was encouraged to find that people liked my work as well. I'm planning to participate in further ArtClash projects.