Vein of Gold

Our next workshop is set to begin Monday, July 12 @ 7PM Central... do you have your book? Here's a link to get it if not:

Angels & Pancakes?

Couldn't make it to the opening? LOVED my Angels and wanted to tell someone you know to come see them??? Thought so. Hee hee hee!

If you think you've seen my work already... think again... you haven't seen anything like this before... an artistically different way to present photography...

Well then... here's your chance to make it to the CLOSING Reception... and YES, my dear friend Susan Shanklin with ChefStack will be serving the MOST yummy "Dessert Pancakes" you've ever tasted!

Think Chocolate - Whip Cream - Bananas - Pineapple - Coconut - Syrups - Butter, and more!!!

Oh yeah, and enjoy the beautiful angelic mixed media photographic artwork by me!

Monday, June 28th
6PM to 9PM
Gordon Jewish Community Center
801 Percy Warner Blvd.
Nashville, TN

Peace y'all!

Eight Angels Emerge Through Flood Waters

Trapped by the historically high flood waters of 2010… I had to act fast. The deadline to deliver my artwork was May 28, and that date was quickly approaching. One might ask why did you wait so long to start this show in the first place? Well [deep breath], as John Lennon once wrote, “Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.”

The idea of the show had been “brewing” inside my brain for literally months – I had been anxious to begin – but first, the house had to be refinanced, my parents 50th Anniversary Party in California had to be planned and executed… and everything else you can think of took a front row seat to my own personal artistic priority list.

So on May 1, myself and my assistant Jenn embarked on the beginning of what would be a wild ride to start and finish the most unique show of angelic works of my career as an artistic fine art photographer. Later that afternoon we discovered ragging waters at the bottom of my long and steep driveway, and, little did we know that down at the end of my road were neighbors preparing to lose everything.

We lost power early in the evening on May 1, and decided to call it a night… what we would see after the rains stopped on May 2 would leave us stupefied and in a shocked bewilderment.

We ventured down to the end of the road on Sunday afternoon to see what was what. We found a good portion of the neighborhood down at the end of our road in shock of the high waters that had overtaken the road and our way out.

All of a sudden – we started to ask each other, “Where do you live, where do you live, where do you live?” You see, we each own several acres, so we don’t necessarily know one another – in fact, my house is half a mile up Green Valley Drive’s dead end road. Not knowing my neighbors quickly changed, feeling an immediate connection, standing before the newly formed lakeside, we began to collect the floating belongings of one of our beloved neighbors whose home had been overtaken by the flood.

On Sunday, early evening, when electricity surprisingly returned, my neighbor Beth invited us to share a delicious meal with her family. Little did I know that the answer to my prayers (from the day before) would be sitting right next to me eating chicken tenders and salad. After dinner we were invited to tour the Davenport home and all it’s wonderful structural additions. Our final stop on the tour was Danny’s workshop – a place where he creates [the additions and] beautiful stained glass works of art.

I knew and was familiar with all the equipment in Danny’s workshop. I asked if there was any way he could help me with preparation of the frames and backdrops for my upcoming show “Angels Among Us.” Without hesitation, the answer was a resounding “yes!” My prayers had been answered!

Though we had no running water, no cable television, no internet, no land line, and sometimes no cell phone service, the neighborhood was bristling with energy and compassion. Our hearts reached out to those who had lost it all on the flooded frontage road. Young men were kayaking fourteen miles round trip to pick-up and deliver items such as: medications, pet food, water, milk, and different food items. There was a group of church members from nearby who sent us the most delicious fried chicken I think I’ve ever tasted. We, thirty families altogether, who were trapped here on Green Valley Drive, were making the best of an unprecedented situation.

While all this was happening, Danny (aka Moose) and I were diligently working at cutting up my framing supplies so I could get the show on the road. Occasionally a neighbor would stop in to see what we were doing, our little community of strangers had quickly become a makeshift family of characters.

After seven days of isolation, the floodwaters receded enough to get out through an easement between Green Valley Drive and Rustic Hills Road. Seeing the devastation in Kingston Springs was mind numbing. Later, I would get to view the aftermath at the Chapmansboro Road area on the other side of the river from us in Ashland City where all was lost.

As our frontage road opened up covered in a slick stinky mud, the restoration began. I felt so selfish having to continue working on my show every waking moment… but I had committed to this exhibit almost a year ago. And as they say in another one of my businesses, “the Show Must Go On!”

I had originally planned for fifteen angels in the “Angels Among Us” exhibit, however, only eight were able to appear complete. I guess the rest of my angels are for another time.

I hope you enjoy this labor of LOVE from me to you and yours, and if you were one of those affected by the great flood of 2010, I hope you have had as loving an experience with those around you as I have.

In love and light to all those affected,


Carla Christina Contreras
Survivor
“Green Valley Island”
Ashland City, Tennessee

Angels Among Us - An Exhibition

SURVIVORS: Green Valley Island

If you look closely behind us to the right, there's water... that is Green Valley Drive... nuf said?

The Flood of 2010, Ashland City, TN

Notice the point of the speed limit sign peeking out of the water... this photo was taken by Jenn Duncan - my friend who ended up stuck at my house due to the rains.I borrowed Jenn's camera and took this shot of the two lions that greet you as you drive by the second house... I just keep shaking my head in dismay.This is also a Jenn Duncan shot of the boys in the neighborhood Kiaking to the neighbors house that is now somewhat under water... this is serious.

Cousins - Beauties

A quick trip to New York City garnered a visit from two of my gorgeous cousins... Michelle came in from Boston, MA - she and I had a blast together... French Cuisine... AAaaaahhhh... Lisa took us down into the subway and over to Soho to see her clothing design studio... Wow! The line is called Vina Cava! Fantastic designs utilizing unique hardware. Wish she designed for the Zoftig woman... oh well...

Room with a View

There really is no place like New York City is there? Here's the view from my room at the Sofitel @ NYC.The larger than life ads around the city are works of art in themselves.Time Square was so crowded - I nearly lost my eye getting poked by umbrellas... geese...
M&M's Rule! Looks like this street is Chocolate Lane... yummmmmm...Lady Liberty is plentiful - she's one sexy babe!I'm CRAZY for "Project Runway" - here's a view of the Empire State Building through the trees at Bryant Park!So, if you need a cop - there's one right there on the corner of Time Square and... everywhere...

A "SENIOR" Photo Shoot

They don't make seniors like they used to... today's shoot was fun, a lot of work, exhausting, but mostly - a wonderful success!

Change of Command

I was invited to attend a "Change of Command" ceremony for my childhood friend Major Alfred Navarro at Fort Campbell, KY. I also was the Official Photographer for the event - with clearance and all - an interesting experience in a military atmosphere.

As a side note, this was my first time on the Fort Campbell Army Post - it is HUGE! It's like a world within a world - they even have their own Burger King!

My husband and I stayed to visit the museum on base... it was amazing! We saw artifacts from Hitler's private home. Wow!

I Believe

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born
A Death Certificate shows that we died
Pictures show that we lived!
Have a seat . Relax . . .
And read this slowly.

I Believe...
That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe...
That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I Believe....
That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...
That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I Believe...
That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I Believe...
That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe....
That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe....
That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe...
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe...
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe....
That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I Believe....
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...
That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe....
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe....
That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others. Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe...
That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe....
That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but, we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I Believe....
Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.


I Believe...
That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I Believe...
That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...
That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe...
That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I Believe...
That you should send this to all of the people that you believe in, I just did.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything they have.

A Letter from an Independent to the CONGRESS

I was asked to send a letter to the CONGRESS today - so here's what I wrote succinctly -

"Please stop the bickering among the parties - we here in the middle class are hurting... we need your help! You are our last hope. It is ROUGH out here trying to make a living. I am a freelance Artist that has LOST 95% (there is NO UNEMPLOYMENT for me) of my income, please stop the insanity and begin the real work. Let this President lead our country into a successful new day!"

My First Flowers of 2010

My sweet husband brought these home to me. He loves it when he gets credit for bringing me the beauty to capture.

HANDBOOK 2010

HANDBOOK 2010

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants..
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes? walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't overdo. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything..
28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come..
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:
40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about, I just did.

The Artist's Way