Amazon Solitaire

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending "Amazon Solitaire".  An exhibit curated by the lovely, Akina Cox.  It's currently on display at The Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock until March 27th.

Work by Stef & Gilda

I plan on hanging this negative against my window - where the morning light shines through

Lady Gummies by Esther Pearl Watson

By Jen Bruce

P U R E   J O Y   ! 

Work by Gilda

I have my work to distract me.

Angie, Gilda, & I.  These ladies inspire me constantly.

your friend,

ava

L.A. Zine Fest

S N E A K   P E A K 

Here is a sneak peak of what I'll be selling at this year's L.A. Zine Fest! It is my first year participating and I couldn't be happier. I have nervous knots…the anticipation, along with my tendency to be a complete perfectionist. I am kind of freaking out, friends! Oh, man…..Freaking Out!!! 

For more info / my interview

I cannot wait to meet other artists/zine makers. On Sunday, February 16th, after checking out my booth (wink wink), I really recommend this panel discussion on turning your zine practice into full on publishing ventures. I wish I could go, but I'll be manning my booth. So many cool people will be discussing this topic-Esther Pearl Watson, & Kevin Staniec to name a couple. 

I had the pleasure of submitting some polaroids to Kevin for this book. It's beautiful. Stefani's work is also featured. There was also a huge one night only polaroid exhibit at Bergamot Station about four years ago, that Kevin organized. Great guy.

So many cool things in the works. Can't wait to tell you all about them. It's all very humbling. 

your friend,

ava

Seattle Bound

So, I embark on a journey through the pacific northwest come Tuesday. I've never thought about visiting Seattle, until Ari moved there and has since talked about how wonderful it is. I wish I had more plaid in my wardrobe. I'd like to channel Bridget Fonda in Singles. I loved her style, and I just saw that that film came out in 1992 (I was ten). Now it seems like a 90s parody, with it's capitalization of the grunge music scene, Mtv era...casting Pearl Jam, and Matt Dylan's hair...GAH...90s!  People tell me that I am going there at a really sweet time (80 degrees, slim chance of rain), so I won't need plaid, but I am bringing a fuzzy sweater.  

I'll be taking the Coastal Starlight all the way up. I believe it's about 32 hours on the train. I won't have wifi, but plenty of time to explore. I cannot wait to photograph the epic scenery. Bringing my twin lens in the photo below.

I've been packing here and there. I am the worst packer and always take way too much. I need to really scale it down and don't know how. I only want to bring two bags. One containing all my toiletries & clothes, and another containing my wardrobe. 

I already got rid of the white button down, maybe I should lose the shorts, too. Not leaving behind the fuzzy sweater, though! 

I still need to fit two novels. Hollywood Babylon / The Invention of Everything Else (given to me by Gilda). Speaking of Gilda...

©Joanna Williams

P O W E R /// T W I N S

I swear we didn't plan this, guys! It was great to see you, G! 

This was earlier in the afternoon at Casbah Cafe. Had the pleasure of meeting up with G, Joanna, & Stef for a girl's date. It was lovely to finally meet Joanna in person. Stef & Gilda did a great interview with her on A Collection Of, and ever since I've had a girl crush. Her company is inspiring & I've been following her blog off & on, but it wasn't until Claire Cottrell's BOOK CLUB (more on that magic later), where we finally met face to face. Thank you for the photo, Joanna! x 

+ That list of things to do in Portland! 

Check out Joanna's shop <3

Before I finish packing, I wanted to leave you with some things that inspire me here, at home, in Los Angeles. I'm really going to miss my plants. 

...and the details that make my apartment feel like home

all images ©Ava Alamshah (image of Gilda & I, ©Joanna Williams)

Also, that book from Gilda, I had no idea what it was about until I just read the synopsis on Wikipedia. 

"a fictionalized account of the last days in the life of Nikola Tesla, the Serbian-American electrical engineer."

Um...I CANNOT WAIT TO READ THIS

Speaking of Tesla, I leave you with Drunk History. Watch it, it's hilarious AND infuriating. You'll see. 

Also, you're welcome. 

When I write next, I'll be in Seattle! Until then...

your friend,

ava

Like Home {continued}

 Here are some more photographs that I wrote a bit about in my last entry...

Stefani, I'm so close to touching the light this time!

all images above © Ava Alamshah

Today I submitted some of these images to two beautiful online magazines. Very anxious and hopeful. It feels nice to be a bit productive again. Last night I went to yoga for the first time after having missed classes for a few weeks. Yoga really clears my head and challenges me. Such a wonderful life motivator. My friend, Marie, has been going A LOT, and she's been kicking ass (also, she has been cutting my hair for years and she is amazing). Another lovely thing to look forward to is T H I S ! I'm very much looking forward to My Bloody Valentine, as I'm sure many people are. I bought my tickets this afternoon, and I feel like I needed this. May has been such a difficult month, but I am very lucky, and I know that if I remain positive, life will get better. What is it that Jeff Goldblum says in Jurassic Park? "Life Finds a Way". I know he meant that for dinosaurs, but I'm going to use that as my personal mantra. Thanks, Jeff!  

  I have a sexy memory of listening to Loveless in it's entirety, while making out in the backseat of this guy's car, parked on Reservoir, on the steepest part of that hill (San Francisco style). Not cheesy at all, totally hot (I was in my 20s and they were EPIC times...EPIC HEAVY times).

I have an even fonder memory of listening to earlier stuff with Jeaux, while cruising around the valley. These are times I will always cherish, and now I get to see them perform. Bittersweet. 

your friend,

ava

Like Home

All images above ©Ava Alamshah

To all my friends, I just wanted to take the time to apologize for my hiatus from the land of blogging. Since my birthday, I've gone through a lot of personal ups and downs. There are some wonderful prospects in the works, and these are all positive things. Finding a new place to live, more friend portraits, and an ambitious project about childhood memories and longing. Looking forward to all these beautiful things. 

The photographs above are from my small series titled, "Like Home". All shot while house sitting at Alex and Britt's former home in Highland Park. I brought along my old 35mm point and shoot that I used a lot while attending CalArts.  It was nice to shoot film again. I absolutely love the fuzzy, dreamy quality. I could never get that with my dslr. This roll has some candid/casual shots while hanging out with Stefani one afternoon. I'll have them up here very soon! Promise.

I use to live in a tiny apartment, very close to my friends. We were neighbors! I had some of the best times of my life, and some of the worst times, but I learned a lot. Housesitting so close to my old place brought back so many memories, and I thought about how life can change in such a short amount of time. It's unreal. Looking forward to what the future may bring. 

your friend,

ava

It's Here!

  Happy to announce the launch of my project site, With You, Today.  I had this vision of how it would look and I'm so happy with the way it turned out.  Everything I have dreamed of and more.  Thank you, Stefani Greenwood, for your constant support and your fancy graphic design for my title!  xx

A quick way to enter the site from my blog, is to click on With You, Today, just fyi. So excited! Hope you enjoy! x

your friend,

ava

2 0 ! 3

H A P P Y   N E W   Y E A R

  

  Felt so loved and happy, ringing in the new year with my friends. For a few years now, we've all been together and I hope we can keep that tradition alive.  Last year, I had polaroids.  This year, my cool cam checked out early (crossing my fingers that it was a bad batch of film and not my beloved camera).  Gilda was kind enough to let me use her glamorous photos from the evening. Thanks, G!  Check out that fancy back drop (shhhhh....red towel) !

  Also, I want to give a shout out to my friend Tamika!  Before this evening, it had been about four years since I've seen her.  I cherish these moments.  x

© 2013 Gilda Davidian

your friend,

ava