The Huntington Library

Earlier today, my mother and I spent some time wandering the Huntington gardens.  The last time we were there was for my belated birthday.  The Los Angeles heat got the best of us, so we didn't stay long.  Next time I'm there, I want to lay in the grass, underneath a shady willow tree. 

All images ©Ava Alamshah

your friend,

ava

With You, Today

C  O  M  I  N  G      S  O  O  N

Hi friends!  I apologize for my short absence.  I finally caught the bug that's been going around, and I am impressed with how long it has taken for my body to finally give out. Taking vitamin C every morning truly does help!  There is one good thing about this cold... that I've had lots of free time to work on my upcoming site, With You, Today. 

I am very proud of how it's coming together, and I cannot wait till it is ready to launch!  I will definitely make an announcement when that time comes. Until then, here is another work in progress that coincides with With You, Today. An extension of my future site, it will turn into a platform for subject interviews, favorite things, image outtakes, and inspirations. Feel free to follow me for updates on projects. xo

your friend,

ava

T.G.I.F

Happy Friday, everyone!

Enjoy this portrait of Ava Gardner, whom I was named after. I don't know if it a blessing or a curse to be named after such an incredible woman.  I don't remember the source of this photo, so I apologize.  If you google young Ava Gardner, you'll be sure to find it and many other amazing shots. 

your friend,

ava

This Month

Y E A R  of  the  S N A K E

I am honored to be part of this rad group exhibition going on at Musee!  Before that, I will be in Chinatown in hopes to catch the parade and photograph all the colorful details!  It should be magical.

your friend,

ava

Ema Extras

These are some photographs of Ema that I have been meaning to show you all, dear readers and friends.  This was Ema's costume change for her portrait session that she took the time to select before I arrived at her cozy Echo Park apartment.  I love these images so much, but I felt that they didn't flow with the others.  I think they stand on their own, as their own series of images.  A narrative for that beautifully cloudy day. 

{click on the images for a larger view}

© Ava Alamshah  

your friend,


ava

Annie Hall

In my last entry, I wrote a bit about relationships.  One of my favorite films about relationships..... truly, one of my favorite films, period, is Woody Allen's Annie Hall.  I was happy to be introduced to Allen's comedic brilliance my senior year of high school.  It was in Mr. Zameroski's "film as literature" class.  It was the best class ever.  We watched films, and wrote a page about them.  I was exposed to some of the great classics:  East of Eden, On the Waterfront, Badlands, Run Lola Run, Raging Bull, Annie Hall, Cinema Paradiso, and many others.  We weren't aloud to watch Taxi Driver in class, but Mr. Z recommended that we watch it on our own time!  He was the coolest!!

After Annie Hall, I fell in love with Woody Allen and had to see all his films.  My mother is a New Yorker, and so I think his films spoke naturally to me because of this.  For my mother, his films ring true in a lot of ways. The style, the neurosis, and the mannerisms/expressions.... Manhattan, Hannah & Her Sisters, Love & Death, Sleeper....they are all wonderful, but I always go back to Annie Hall.  I strongly believe that it is his masterpiece.  Diane Keaton was perfect, and he wasn't tainted yet, by that scandal.  Pshhhh..... yeah, you know, it's pretty unforgettable...wikipedia it, if you dare!   

Annie Hall was him at his best.  His golden moment in time.  I am happy to announce that I finally get to see it on the big screen!  Tomorrow, the 11th, it's playing at the silent movie theater on Fairfax.  You can purchase tickets here.

Was She Pretty?

This is the cover of Leanne Shapton's Was She Pretty?  A book about current loves and curiosities about their ex lovers.  I could not stop turning the pages.  Each one spoke about the insecurities, jealousy, and the wonder that enters a new relationship and those thoughts about your partner's exes.  Why didn't it work out? Comparing oneself to the former lover, and in a way, admiring them at the same time.  Would we be friends?  We clearly have the same taste in men/women.

It also touches upon connections and that cycle that happens when you find love, lose love, and then find love all over again.  Sometimes it lasts for a long time, and sometimes it doesn't.  Sometimes it's all about timing.

I stumbled upon Leanne's book through my new favorite site, BOOK STAND.  If you love books, especially artist made with a personal touch, handmade zines, beautiful/dreamy picture books to fill your shelves....then this is the perfect little site to fulfill your internet library fantasy come true!  The lovely Claire Cottrell founded BOOK STAND and she'll be at the LA ART BOOK FAIR tomorrow evening!  Here is an interview with Claire that I found on the Madewell blog. 

All work above © Leanne Shapton

It's very cathartic to skim the pages now on the eve of my breakup.  Life is full of bittersweet experiences, and I have to thank my former boyfriend for introducing me to the blog world.  Without him, I wouldn't be writing about my dreams and interests.  The funny thing about relationships is that they stay with you.  All the amazing times, the bad, the awkward, the disappointments/sorrows, and all the love and loss.  It is part of our every day lives and sometimes we grow and sometimes we don't, but it's all about the experience. 

your friend,

ava

The Last Sitting

A little while ago I wrote about the exciting Stanley Kubrick exhibit at LACMA (still showing until June!).  I am planning on going again.  There is just so much to see and I get so involved with every detail (obsessively so), that I really need to take at least three, maybe four hours of my day to enjoy the show.  Honestly, I could spend all day there!  Another exhibit I am dying to see is Robert Mapplethorpe's.  That is going on until March 24th!

I loved those Bert Stern images for Lolita, and I cannot wait to see them up close again.  One thing I touched upon are his photographs of Marilyn Monroe entitled, The Last Sitting.  It saddens me that Stern would then recreate these beautiful and timeless images for another "troubled" actress (she will remain nameless).  To me, Marilyn had much more depth to her character.  She was found dead six weeks after these images were taken.  As a child, I remember seeing some of these photographs in my mom's copy of Norman Mailer's biography entitled Marilyn. Now it sits on my shelf along with the Andre De Dienes book about her as well. Some of the most beautiful images of her that I've ever seen.  She has always fascinated me, since early on.  All this portrait work is really inspiring me to continue my series and take it to new and exciting territories.  More on that later.

your friend,

ava

Ari

C  O  M  I  N  G      S  O  O  N

© Ava Alamshah

Gina

C  O  M  I  N  G      S  O  O  N

© Ava Alamshah

Lolita

My favorite thing at the Kubrick exhibit (at LACMA until June!), were these sun kissed, Bert Stern images from Lolita.  I still haven't seen Lolita, and I've never read the novel, but I know that it is about a man's obsession and love for a young girl (controversy).  Kubrick is one of my all time favorite directors and a visual master.  Love that he started out as a photographer.  It makes so much sense now.  Bert Stern shot these photographs of young Sue Lyon for Look Magazine. The original slide film is so vibrant and rich with warm color.  These images I found online, so you will just have to pretend they are brighter.

As for Bert Stern, while searching online I found this.  I guess they made a documentary about him which I would be really interested in seeing.  His Last Sitting with Marilyn Monroe are some of my most favorite photographs of her, ever. 

your friend,

ava

Van Gogh, Remastered

  Can you imagine Van Gogh sitting for a portrait session in modern times?!  An artist by the name of Tadao Cern was able to bring Van Gogh to life. The details are amazing, from the texture of his suit (blue velvet), to the shine in his hair...his crazy, tortured eyes, and that crinkly paper back drop. Click here to see some of the process. I am in awe & also kind of enamored with Van Gogh himself. Not creepy at all.  

your friend,

ava

L O O K

at these dreamy photographs 

Found while browsing through Miss Moss.  I can definitely get lost in these images.  Inspiration overload on the net.  Sometimes I get caught up for hours on end, searching and looking at beautiful things.  It's fun to discover new blogs and other artists just doing what they do best.  Motivation! 

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