your golden sun will shine on me

     

All photographs shot by me © Ava Alamshah

(all right's reserved)

xx

your friend,

ava

It's Matty!

©Ava Alamshah

This portrait I took of my friend, Matt, makes me really happy. I think I managed to capture his personality in a nutshell. Sweetly sassy, and one of the funniest people on the planet. He made me laugh so much the two days I got to spend with him in Portland. Everything is so green there and I felt so lucky to capture our time together, in between rain spells. 

I miss my friend, but so happy for him that he gets to pursue his illustration dreams. If you get a moment, please check out his rad website! Beautiful work. I am so proud. 

More portraits of Matt, here.

Here we are on the left in 2004. Rio found this old cellphone image of us! I did some quick photoshop cut & paste & added our current (& better quality) cellphone image! Nerds. 

The image on the left reeks of early 20s angst.

The framed photo that Beth holds up here, is an image I took ten years ago. Matt & her are frightened by a dark, shadowy figure. Must be an alien. It was during my time studying studio lighting. I wanted to make B-movie era film stills. We've all known each other since high school. I don't know where the time has gone.  

your friend,

ava

Allan Sekula

Goodbye, Allan 

Rio and I use to joke about how much of an art star you were. We would wait and wait for you to show up to class. Sometimes we gave up, but most of the time, we'd stay knowing that it would be worth it. I was always intimidated by you, and in shock that you are not around to challenge me. Challenge the way I think about photography. I will always remember what you said before my thesis (the smallest detail would have made a difference). Back then, I was afraid, but I will do things differently now. 

allan, rio & the san pedro harbor (2003?)

source

More on Allan's passing here.

Old Friends/New Adventures

  This past weekend, I embarked on a short journey up north to see old friends, and shoot some portraits for my series.  It was a weekend filled with so much warmth, nostalgia, and RAIN....plenty of rain.  My dear friend, Rio snapped the polaroid above.  I couldn't get over that car sitting in between those hedges, with that house...unreal.  Straight out of a William Eggleston world, or David Lynch's Blue Velvet.  I could have taken hundreds of photos of the scene behind me (I ended up taking maybe five)....

  

polaroids © Ava Alamshah

 

  I'm looking forward to sorting out these memories to share with you.  I already miss my friends.

your friend,


ava

Ooga Booga

  One of my all time favorite stores, Ooga Booga, has a pop up shop in San Francisco that will be ending it's run in the next two weeks!  If you are in town, I suggest you head on over to grab some zines and some records.  November 30th is the last day.  The location is at the Kadist Art Foundation on the corner of 20th and Folsom.

  I first heard about Ooga Booga about six or seven years ago from an article in Nylon Magazine, about the owner, Wendy Yao.  HERE is an article from 2007, about Wendy, her amazing space, and what influenced her to start her business.  Some more recent articles from KCET here and here.  I am happy that I've gotten to meet Wendy and volunteer a couple of times at her shop.  Really glad that her store exists.

 R I O

Mike Kelley's Destroy All Monsters.  RIP

  The shop in San Francisco was great.  I loved the polka dots in the windows.  I happened to be wearing a polka dot dress that day, too.  It's such a happy design.  It felt nice to be the only ones in the store for a while.  We could just hang out and gaze at all the art and zines.  The plant, in the image below, gave me such fuzzy feelings.  Everything is a visual feast, from the potted plant, to the different colored books and zines laying on the wooden surface, to the beautifully woven rug underneath....M A G I C.

Underneath it reads:  Chris Johanson & Jo Jackson, Sic Alps/Awesome, Vistas print, $200

Fruits and Nuts by Laura Owens

your friend,

ava

Images © 2012 Ava Alamshah

SNEAK PEAK

  Just got back to LA last night from my beautiful bay area adventures!  Rio snapped this photo of me while getting my very own tin type portrait at Photobooth, San Francisco.   I was so nervous and thought I would have to sit there forever and not breath, but to my surprise, the process is much, much quicker.  

  C L I C K  and that was it!  

  San Francisco was so inspiring, and my stay using air bnb was just the BEST.  Jeaux and I did so much walking.  THE BEST.

  I cannot wait to tell you all about my trip, but until then, Happy Mondays!

your friend,

ava

  

My friend, Rio

2 0 0 3

2 0 1 2

I'll be turning 30 this Saturday, and that means my friend, Rio, has known me for 11 years.  He is an artist and has a solo show at UC Santa Barbara.  I was so pleased to get a sneak peak of his work.  Very bold, colorful images. The icing on the cake for me?  3D.  Yep, 3D.  You will have to see it to believe it.  Rad stuff.  If you happen to be in SB, the reception is tonight at 6pm. 

Holding up the classic Doggystyle

Seeing Snoop and Dre together at Coachella Valley this weekend.  It will be my g funk dream come true.  I remember those school dances when they would play the censored versions and teachers would tell kids to stop freaking.  I was never one of those girls, much too awkward and innocent (though secretly wanting to be "bad").  I have a fond memory with Rio, listening to this in my car, outside the CalArts Amonsen building,  and rapping along (badly) to every word.  We meant it, too. 

This is our loose (very loose) interpretation on "American Gothic".  Click on the the photo to enlarge.

Meeting Rio's girlfriend, Sarah, was such a treat.  She is a sweetheart.  

I don't know what this is.  Looks very conceptual.

I don't know what this is.  Looks very conceptual.

                                       
your friend,

ava


 

Hibernation

To all my friends,

I am alive (I promise) and recovering from a head cold that has plagued me on and off for about three weeks now. It has been quite the little tragedy because I missed out on a lot.  I've missed out on friend's concerts, parties, being outside, I didn't feel like blogging, I was really sad about it actually.  So many wonderful things were happening around me, for instance, my pal Clark plays drums for the band, Melotia, and he had a free show at The Roxy.  Now the sunset strip isn't my bag, baby, but I've gone to some pretty neat shows there.  I remember seeing an amazing live performance of Hedwig and the Angry Inch at said Roxy that blew my mind.  Remember Michael Pitt in the film version?!  So, so hot (check out those pants, and those pouty lips!)

Also, Clark is awesome and I've been wanting to check out his gigs, but coincidentally have been sick each time. There must be a God somewhere that refuses to let me see pop metal shows, but few of you know I can get down with my inner metal goddess.  It's true.

 

The lovely, Ema Tunermann, had a show that same night.  I would have gone to both, although her show was at the Silverlake Lounge, clear on the other side of Sunset.  She is very talented and I can't tell you how much I love to see her perform.  Actually....oh yes, I CAN, I've done that twice! 


I also missed this last night.  I'm fascinated with Lynch's style of filmmaking, and I am certain that his music will be just as haunting...and strange. I hope I can meet him one day so he can sign my Blue Velvet ring, made especially for me back in school by my friend, Rio. It contains this image below, and I really should wear it more often. 

On a good note, I've managed to obtain a lot of needed rest.  I wouldn't say it was all boring either.  I've caught up with my nail painting (glitter fabulous!),

watched some wonderfully disturbing episodes of Boardwalk Empire (SPOILER ALERT*SPOILER ALERT...everyone saw the incest thing coming, right?!), oh yeah...hello again Michael Pitt..

source via interview

...saw one of my favorite films I haven't seen in a long time Double Indemnity, while eating gluten free chocolate chip cookies that are actually delicious...it's been great. 


The best thing of all is that Jeaux came to visit me with Matzo Ball soup today.  Bits of chicken, matzo, noodles, carrots, celery, and all that wonderful broth.  Needless to say, I was a happy woman. Thanks honey!  I still feel a bit wonky, but well enough to have the energy to write again. There was one night I was able to go out, and that was last Saturday.  I had the pleasure of enjoying my friend, Daniel's, movie premiere!  Here's a sneak peak.  Promise to have more on that story very soon. 


your friend,


ava

Mari Naomi's Kiss & Tell

I was first introduced to Mari Naomi's art through my good friend, Rio, who was curating a show a few years back at SomArts Cultural Center in San Francisco.  Mari's art stood out immediately.  They were large water color images of sumo wrestling clowns, softly painted with bright colors and simple white backgrounds.  Beautiful paintings with such whimsy and humor, depicting the clowns throwing up (..and farting?) a rainbow assortment of balloons!  I remember wishing I had money to buy every single painting of hers on the wall that night.  I truly admired her vision so much and it stuck with me. 

Some time later, I got to connect with her on the social networking extravaganza known as Facebook.  I would check out a drawing of hers every now and then, and left a comment about this one here...

Copyright MariNaomi 2010

I think I told her that this was my favorite image of hers, and to make a long story shorter, we ended up making an old fashioned art trade (her watercolor, for one of my photos).  I was so excited when I got it in the mail, along with one of her zines!  I finally got to hang it in my former apartment.  Thanks Mari! 

See it on the wall, to my right?! :)

I recently ended up cruising her website and found out that she currently has a graphic novel published.  It's called "Kiss & Tell: A Romantic Resume Ages 0 to 22".  This is what inspired me to write this post about her and about the relationships (romantic or otherwise) we come across in our daily lives. Before I reconnected with my man, Jeaux, I had an assortment of tales to tell about my dating trials and tribulations. The good, the bad, and the oh, so ugly.  I always wanted to write about these experiences, but never knew how to start.  A year ago, I finally created a small zine about my last break up, which was both cathartic and liberating. In order to truly move on, I had to jot down my feelings, like the pages from my diaries. I felt exposed, but it was alright because these are experiences we all go through. I have yet to pick up Mari's memoir, but it details her dating history up until her early 20s.  From those first loves, to scandalous rendezvous, to heart breaks.....

I always admired artists who can laugh at themselves and add humor to their creations.  I also respect when life imitates art. I am a huge fan of non-fiction. When artist's tell stories from their own lives, whether its through writing, or visual art. Lately, I've been getting into Bukowski.  I know he was the cliche, alcoholic, & womanizing writer, but there is something so pure and refreshing about his honesty. Believe me, there were times when I would read something from his novel, "Women", and had to put the book down because it was so blunt and outright misogynistic.  Though I can respect that, and commend his late ability to put it all out there.  

I love this kind of honesty, good or bad, it's relatable. How people come in and out of our lives.  Losing and gaining connections.  It's so inspiring. 

Thanks Mari, for giving us a woman's point of view and for being so awesome! 

I can't wait to see your memoir! 

Check out her site at www.marinaomi.com 

your friend,

ava