Dirty Show 12!

Am pleased to have work in the Detroit Dirty Show yet again this year... opening night actually started a few hours ago, but it's going on the rest of this weekend, Valentine's Day, then again next weekend, so if you can make it to Detroit, be sure to stop by. I'll be there this Saturday night, and probably again before it's all over! I don't want to tip my hand what I have in the show, so here's something I entered that I think SHOULD have been in the show. :) Thanks Nina for the intensity!

Dirty Show Touring Editions

The Detroit Dirty Show is taking it on the road this summer, with a stop in Chicago this Friday and Saturday night at the ViaDuct Theatre, 3111 N. Western Avenue. ("Why a duck?" indeed.)

Then Saturday July 10, it will be at the 78th Street Studio (1300 W 78th) in Cleveland, with a possible preview the night before. Visit the website for details on both shows.

I believe I'll have work up in both shows, as well as an assortment of "loose prints" in the store for your perusal and purchase. I'm hoping to make it up to the Cleveland as well, so any of you NE Ohio readers let me know if you plan to attend.

NOTE: Cleveland Show has been postponed until "Early Fall" -- stay tuned.

That's Reveille up a the top of the post... this shot isn't in the show, but maybe it should be. Hoping to work with her again, soon.

Two more Dirty Days

If you missed the Dirty Show's "Big Opening" weekend (to borrow a joke from Elvira), you can still make plans to attend either this Friday or Saturday evening. I'll probably be around some on Saturday evening, but my work will be hangin' around both nights. A framed print of this shot of Sophie King (as in "she's Sophie King cool"... clever, eh?) sold last weekend, so thanks to the mystery buyer. Two more framed prints remain, along with many affordable "loose prints" so be sure to stop by and check it all out. Last Saturday night the place was filled to capacity, so get there early!

Award Season

The nominees and winners for the "Black and White Spider Awards" were announced yesterday, and my shot of Katy was chosen as a nominee in the nude/amateur category. Thanks Katy, and congratulations to the other nominees and winners.

I entered the French PHOTO magazine "Concours" again this year... they posted the results of the first and second "cut" of the judging. I presume the first two cuts cull out the "not even close" stuff and determine what the actual judges choose from. Two of my images of Mina made the second cut, but the magazine was just published, and reports from Europe indicate that neither of those were printed in the issue. Well, maybe next year. If you're interested in seeing all my entries, go to the contest page and do a search for "Mitchell." This shot, and the one entitled "Menaced" made the second cut. I should see a copy of the magazine in a week or two to see what images actually made it in, but congratulations to those who were published, and of course, thanks to Mina.

I'm preparing three pieces to hang at this year's Dirty Show 11 in Detroit next month, and more images to be available in the "museum store." The show opens February 12-14, then is open again February 19-20, so if you're in the area, be sure to come join the party.

For those wondering about the lack of blog posts recently, I've been occupied with various other matters. Hopefully, I'll be back to posting at least somewhat more regularly soon. Thanks to those of you who have kept checking in and encouraging me to post more.

Corn Porn

Just read this report that 9 out of 20 samples of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) contained mercury. Mercury. Yet another reason the HFCS is a major health hazard and should probably be outlawed or extremely restricted. I paid a visit to my friend Steve who's originally from England, and he mentioned that HFCS is banned in England for food products... this was relevant because he offered me a bottle of Coca-Cola from Mexico, made with real sugar the way it used to be here, and the way it's made in most of the world. Hard to believe we've reached the point where a sugar-filled soda is considered the HEALTHY alternative.

But why do we use HFCS so much here in the US? Because way too much of the economy is tied up in corn, and the corn lobbyists seem to have a death grip on the government. Corn growers are subsidized and price supported and now for some reason we're using corn to make ethanol (instead of using something more efficient, like sugar beets). Is it just so Presidential aspirants have the favor of corn growers when the Iowa caucuses roll around every 4 years? Why corn? Are American farmers too stupid to grow something else? Our corn industry is even causing problems in other countries, like Mexico, where local farmers can't compete with the prices of imported subsidized US corn, spreading poverty and hunger there, too.

Corn has its place, but for some reason, it's everywhere. Most livestock are fed corn in massive quantities, rather than grass or other feeds that their digestive systems are designed for. So, corn is even messing with meat products, and by extension, humans who eat meat (or other products with HFCS). And humans aren't designed to digest so much corn either. HFCS is the cheapest sweetener, so it's now in everything from breads to snacks to sauces to ketchup. A huge percentage of processed or semi-prepared foods, especially inexpensive foods that more and more people are resorting to as the economy collapses.

On a brighter note, as Tia mentioned on her blog, I received the prints that I'll have for sale at Dirty Show, and I was quite pleased with how they turned out. Doubly pleased in that it means that my monitor appears to be properly calibrated to my lab, so I'll be able to relax a bit that I'm on the right track now at least as far as that's concerned.

So, if you're planning to be at Dirty Show, be sure to stop by the "museum store" and look for my prints (including the lovely Spilt Sugar here) to see how spiffy they turned out. Feel free to buy a few, too.

Dirty Finale

Saturday is the last night for this year's Dirty Show, so if you haven't made it out yet, you still have one last chance to see all the goodies. I'll be there by 9 or so if you care to stop out and say "hey" or maybe pick up a print or two.

Here's a sneak peek of Iris from a quick shoot we did last weekend... shh!

Dirty Countdown

Dirty Show 9 is upon us, opening tomorrow night in downtown Detroit to the usual flamboyant fanfare. I'll be there Saturday evening, and probably next Saturday evening as well, so I hope to see you there. (BTW, there's construction in the area so check for updated directions.) Two of my pieces will be hanging in the show, and I'll have about 50 unframed prints for sale in the "museum store." If you are planning to go during a peak time, I'd suggest ordering tickets online for will call...

Here's "Plain Jayne Jones" in a shot I call "Ascent of a Woman" -- someone suggested I should enter this in the show, but I didn't listen. Maybe next time.

Film at Eleven

Adam just sent me this promotional video for next month's Dirty Show... gives you a taste of what to expect if you attend.

Dirty Nine

Just got word today that a couple of my shots were accepted to hang in this year's Dirty Show. Still hearing from some other folks about their entries, including Andi who also got two pieces in the show after I twisted her arm to enter... congratulations Andi! Now February doesn't seem so far away... gotta get stuff ready!

Another good part about being in the show is the opportunity to participate in the "museum store" where I'll have a variety of "loose prints" and possibly a couple framed pieces, and maybe a few copies of the book, and who knows what else?

This shot is Sativa, an image I entered that wasn't chosen. I'll keep the selected ones under wraps until after the show, as usual. It's running over two weekends this time, From the "big opening" party on February 8th until the 16th, so make plans to attend. Detroit is so enchanting in mid-February...