Zoe Strauss

working on the book.

America by Zoe Strauss

Trailer from "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?"

South Philly represents.

I haven't really any emails since before I-95 and am looking at about a month of past emails. I've given up wanting to know why I have such a hard time responding and am just accepting that I am not super equipped to use this kind of communication; I'm not really suited for this kind of immediacy in writing, and the crushing feeling of being perpetually behind is something I'll have to deal with.

I have a feeling that as we move onward with this kind of instantaneous communication, we'll have to figure out how to balance it in our lives. I know I'm not the only one with a hard time. My lady is very equipped to do several things at once and can handle having a blackberry. Yes, I did say earlier today that I'd like to throw it in the sewer and have a rat eat it, but she's still able to navigate using it while doing other things, unlike I would be. My sister said the other day that it takes me about 30 minutes to write a 3 sentence email and I think she was only exaggerating a little.

A case in point is my spelling, which is atrocious. I just had to look up the word "instantaneous" because I had misspelled it so bad that it didn't come up in spell check. But I'm not about sending out misspellings. It's one of the few places I look for a little decorum.

Everyone knows I love Charday Laverty... she's fully going to make it even if it takes a while. She's going through a rough time right now and I'm thinking about her a lot. I encouraged her to start writing a journal and I was going to sporadically check in on how much she was writing, but she one upped me and started a blog. One thing is for sure, although her personal style of writing is very "myspace" she is a great writer.


Charday Laverty, Self Portrait.

Click the title to check out her blog.

Meme is doing ok, starting CCP and I saw Phylicia yesterday and she's dropped out of school and no job so I'm going to get on her ass about the no job.

Despite gun violence and a slew of other issues, Philadelphia, PA is still the greatest city in the world.

So, my sister-in-law and nieces nominated me for "What Not to Wear" because of my lack of interest in any kind of fashion... and because it would be super fun to have a giant party where everyone was on TV. A party on TV would be super, super fun!

The producers got back to them and told them that I was a candidate for the show and that they should send in photos and they'd move forward with production, but my lady and my sister thought I might not be too into it. "Why?" you ask. Well, I've got some problems with that show.

First, who the hell are these people to tell anyone what they should wear? While a makeover should be fun, this is about humiliating regular women and their sense of personal style and then remaking them into a standard mold of what women "should" look like. And god knows I am not about that. I think that the idea that this show perpetrates is a terrible example for girls. Who cares if someone wants to wear a Christmas themed sweater or too tight pants or purple eyeshadow? Personally, I am often disgusted by men in sandals, but who am I to say that someone I don't know has to cover his foot?

I've had a makeover before, on the Isaac Mizrahi show, and it was awesome. It was about fun and dressing up, not about remaking me into someone that I wasn't.

I'm not against fashion. I'm for it. I'm for style and for presenting yourself as you want to... for some people that's Prada, for others it's Village Thrift. For my lady it's Ben Sherman and Adidas. For me it's a uniform of a green tshirt and jeans. I'm for suggestions about clothing, but not about fashion presented as a mandate.

Second, I definitely don't need 5000 dollars worth of clothes. I would be super into 5000 dollars worth of photo equipment or a 5000 dollar trip or 5000 dollars worth of work on our house or on my studio or 5000 dollars worth of living before I have to get a job other than producing my work.


Coming out of the discussion of why I didn't want to be on "What Not to Wear," I decided to create "The Wherewithal to Wear Whatever" project. This is a full blown celebration of personal style. Get ready, friends.



--------------



Wherewithal to Wear Whatever Project


Using a 25 dollar budget, buy an outfit, supplement or accessorize a favorite outfit, or blow the 25 bucks on something else and wear stuff you already have. You can use the 25 dollars on anything; a whole outfit, sequins for something, flour sacks, a hat, whatever. Submit a photo of yourself wearing the outfit and your answers to the questions below. All submissions will be posted on the Wherewithal to Wear Whatever website. Send all submissions to
wherewithaltowearwhatever@yahoo.com



Please send a approximate 4"x5" image of yourself in the outfit and the answers to these questions.


What did you spend the 25 dollars on?

Where would you wear this outfit?

Why do you love this outfit?


Posting on this site will begin in mid June. Feel free to send in your submissions as soon as possible. Every entry we get will be posted. Stone butch? OK. Like to wear shirts with a giant profile of a wolf? OK. Burka? OK. Issey Miyake? OK. Made it yourself? OK. Bought it under the El? OK.
OK.

by John Callahan

You know who I'm a big fan of? James Bidgood. While there's much to think about in terms of "queerness" in his photos, I have to say that the color and use of light in his photos is so sublime that I take great pleasure in just looking at them. My "must over-think this image," which is so often in high gear, melts away with the use of colored lighting.


James Bidgood, Pan

--------










These guys were a celebration of pansexuality in Pottsville, PA. It was pretty amazing. Justyn is bisexual and Dorthia is gay and both have fairly fluid sexual identities. It was a pretty intense conversation we had considering that I'd only met them yesterday and had spent like 20 minutes with them, after stopping to make a photo of Dorthia on her front steps.

The nude shots and the more sexually suggestive photos from yesterday are interesting, particularly because these people are strangers... but I'm really feeling the top 2 photos. I'm planning to go back for another photo shoot. Thanks, friends.

Remember the biggest scare of the last century? No, not the "war of the worlds" radio broadcast. No, not the cold war or the hot WWI and WWII. The metric scare!

I'm going to guess it was 1979 when it happened. "Metrics" suddenly appeared in the school curriculum out of thin air because we were all going to start using metrics within the next few months. Oh my GOD, how were we going to measure? It was terrifying. It was like "you have to learn Esperanto today because starting next week that's the only language that will be spoken IN THE WORLD."

I'm just bringing this up because I'm so happy about the online English System to Metric conversion sites.

OK, I have written before about how dissapointed I am in the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program... here and here. But I will never be done talking about it because I want Philadelphia to have quality art, not half-assed art.


I've painted murals before I-95 and I am not a painter by any stretch. Here's one I painted a while ago. It's been down for more than 10 years, but I wish it would go back up.

Woody Guthrie Mural

And here's an rough outline for a mural that I wish would go up.


Heroin Flow Chart Mural

And here's an rough outline for one that should go up.


Utilities Flow Chart Mural

I am a big proponent of murals that explain our household utilities.

And here's a new one...


After all, we are at war.

What about the idea of having murals that inform, as opposed to interepretations of what's considered "inspirational"? How about a mural of an accurate world map?




-------


This mural at Broad and Spring Garden is fucking ridiculous. This is a response to youth violence in Philadelphia? I seriously hate this piece so much I can barely look at it. Mural Arts, I BEG you, please stop producing work like this.



There are some murals that I think are fine and I absolutely don't have to love, or even like, the majority of them. But I can't believe that so many of them look like the one above.

-------

Now, can't we get some of these people to produce murals here?


Steve Powers is an amazing muralist


Image by Steve Powers. His new work in Ireland is killing me. He's from Philadelphia, so why don't we have several THOUSAND of his murals?

What about a mural by Kehinde Wiley?


Kehinde Wiley, Portrait of Andries Stilte II

That mural of the kid reading a Jiffy Lube text book on South Philly High isn't cutting it.

or something by Angela Dufresne?




Look at how great these paintings by Angela Dufresne are! Why can't we have these instead of the majority of crap murals we have?

or something by Mark Bradford?


Mark Bradford, Kryptonite

or Astrid Bowlby?


Astrid Bowlby, Installation view

or one of the hundreds of tremendous Philadelphia artists who would produce work that's more challenging and responsive than what we have going on right now? You know, mural wise.

The above artists produce beautiful and evocative work; and you'll note that none produce images of a "kid graduating" run through a photoshop filter.


Also, David Kessler once told me that he'd paint a mural of a giant rat battling a giant robot rat and I would love to see that.

-------

Look at these 2 paintings that Philadelphia Museum of Art has inside the main building....



Marc Chagall, A Wheatfield on a Summer's Afternoon

and



Diego Rivera, Zapata

Why can't we demand the same kind of quality art for the public view? Come on!

I-95.08 photo by Stephen Millner



Photo by C. H. Paquette (thanks Chris!)



Photo by Okaypro



Photo by jaw0


Photo by Albert Yee... I love this one, Yee.

Well, thanks to everyone who came.


The show was a tremendous success. One special part of the show was that Charday kept calling my new intern, Laura, "intern" as in "Hey, intern, could you get that?" and Laura had to keep saying, "My name is Laura." Oh, the trial by fire that's the Philadelphia Public Art Project!

I'm pretty close to the completion of the show... I felt that there were only a few weak links in this show and that I'll be able to successfully complete the installation by 2010. Thank GOD, because how much would it blow if I was like, "well I tried my hardest but just didn't quite get there." That would really bite a high hard one.

I am looking forward to a productive summer, with editing the book and producing photos and going to France for a show and a lot of stuff. Jesus Christ, a lot of stuff.

-----
Here's photos of the show.

Stephen Millner's Photos of I-95.08

I-95.08 flickr group photos

-----
Thanks to my family who came, and a special shout out to Buddy and Rita Baker who brought a lawn chair to sit in.

Thanks to all the Philadelphia press who let folks know about the show... I am very appreciative for your support.

Thanks to Citizens Alliance.

And thanks to the City Projects crew who came from LA to make a short video.

http://www.cityprojects.net/

Director/Producer Phillip Rodriguez (Also a USA Broad Fellow, 2007)
Cinematographer: Claudio Rocha
Audio: Jon Oh
PA: Jeremy Defalco

I'll be putting it up as soon as it's done.

-------

Here's the new photo I'm sending out anytime someone needs a bio photo of me.



Photo by Brad Maule

Thanks, Brad!

Philadelphia Style on Lombard St.

Here's a product that needs to be invented, underwear that's MADE for your period and has a pad BUILT IN! I was doing a little research on cloth pads and I have yet to find someone making what I really want... not a cloth pad, but underwear with a cloth pad SEWN IN and then you just drop the whole thing in the washer. I'm bringing back the literal use of "on the rag." This product makes the most sense for overnight bleeding, you really shouldn't sleep in a tampon and no matter what pads don't really stay fully in place.

Here's some diagrams from a place that makes cloth pads, Party in My Pants.


Diagram 1

Diagram 2

While I enjoy these above, I would like the pad to be a part of the underwear. I don't trust that the snap won't slide. Combine the two diagrams above and there's a great product! Also, I'm really about a dark fabric, cotton fabric. I don't need fancy patterns because I'm just going to bleed on it.

I have been taking a hiatus from posting because I've been sick and because my computer was in the shop, but now I'm on the mend and my computer is mended, so back to revealing the minutia of my daily life!

I do need to take a break, with the strongest case in point that I turned my computer on in my sleep last night. I woke up in bed with my computer on my stomach and the whole desktop appearing on the monitor.

Unrelated to the computer sleeping issue, I also dreamed that someone had written "Ozzy and Randy '95" in cement at 22nd and Chestnut.

The link above is to the very first post I put up... I still have no idea why I have this blog.

I am super sick right now... I think I was just super tired out and my immune system was dragging, because I haven't been this sick in a long time.

Also, I'm having problems with my BRAND NEW COMPUTER and have to bring it into the shop tomorrow. This leads me to a question that has arisen after the huge number of computer problems I've had this last year; are macs actually pieces of shit? I am most comfortable with a Mac, and can't imagine using a pc operating system, but the number of problems I've had is ridiculous.

1PM
I-95.08
Photo by the great Albert Yee

----

Albert Yee's Flickr set on I-95.08

----

and his blog post on the show.

-----

I am so grateful for Yee's support and his thoughtful documentation of my events. Thanks, Albert Yee! I think you're super!

----
...also Flickr group of I-95.08

Thanks for your help over the course of this year

Lynn Bloom

Savannah Roberts
Ilene Baker
Charday Laverty
Christine Settino
Manny Dominguez

And Thanks to a Superb New Crew

Laura Raynor
Masha Badinter
Ashley
Matt "One Hitter at a Led Zeppelin Cover Band Concert" Maraldo

And thanks to Stephen Millner for last minute cleanup help
and thanks to Bob for his continued graciousness in allowing me to exhibit in his personal space- 73. Philadelphia, PA (Yellow Flea Market Curtain)

Thanks to all who attended the show yesterday. I regarded it as a tremendous success.

I will be putting up more later, including a long list of thanks. I have slept most of today except for meeting Charday at Greyhound and getting chicken soup at the Reading Terminal.

I would love to know what folks thought of the show. Please comment or send me pictures if you took them. I would especially like to know what photos people took at 4.

With Love,
ZS

New for 2008 Aisle VI


196. Las Vegas, NV (Ken and Don)*


202. Ocean Springs, MS (We Love Having You Here)*


211. Philadelphia, PA (I Love You Billy)*



216. Denver, CO (Home Pride)*


217. Auburn, WA (Drive In)*


225. Philadelphia, PA (New Years Blazer)*

New for 2008 Aisle V


146. Muckleshoot Reservation (Johnny Moses)


147. Philadelphia, PA (South Philly Fireworks Reed and Juniper)*


151. Biloxi, MS (Vincent)*


156. Chicago, IL (Bobby Brown Record Store)*



162. Philadelphia, PA (Merry Christmas House)*


163. Scranton, PA (Hillary Supporter)*


167. New Orleans, LA (Judy Family Photo)*


169. Las Vegas, NV (Casino Walkby)*


171. Las Vegas, NV (Satisfaction Guaranteed)*


181. Philadelphia, PA (Party’s Over)*


182. Las Vegas, NV (Bed With Pillows)*


184. Gulfport, MS (Refrigerators)*


186. Philadelphia, PA (Shark Bite)*


187. Philadelphia, PA (Swastika Tattoos)*


191. Camden County, NJ (Stay Alive)*

New for 2008 Aisle IV


116. Las Vegas, NV (Father and Son Greyhound)*


120. New Orleans, LA (Red, White and Blue Gas Station)*



121. El Paso, TX (Woman at US/Mexico Border)*


122. Camden County, NJ (This Is Your Warning)*


126. Philadelphia, PA (Car Lot Tinsel at Night)*


127. New Orleans, LA (Vacancy New Orleans)*



131. Denver, CO (Judy Padilla)*


132. Las Vegas, NV (Circus Circus from Parking Lot)*


136. Philadelphia, PA (Keep the Fuck Out)*


138. Limerick, PA (Virginia)*


141. El Paso, TX (Carlos Dress Blues on Bed)*


142. Las Vegas, NV (No Trespassing with Man Walking)*


144. El Paso, TX (Power/Ower)*

New for 2008 Aisle III


75. Philadelphia, PA (Crutches)*


79. Philadelphia, PA (Rosemarie’s Bed)*


81. Terre Haute, IN (Trampoline)*


82. Camden, NJ (Thin Woman with Cherry Water Ice)*


84. Truth or Consequences, NM (Truth or Consequences Couple)*


93. Las Vegas, NV (Kelley)*


97. Camden, NJ (Salt Pile)*


100. Philadelphia, PA (Prada Bag)*


101. Tacoma, WA (Drugs)*


104. Philadelphia, PA (Gunshot in Leg on Gurney)*


107. Philadelphia, PA (Showing Sternum Scar)*

New for 2008 Aisle II


29. Las Vegas, NV (Stardust 2007)*

33. Hazelton, PA ( Stage at Leah’s Recital)*

36. Philadelphia, PA (Mummer in Front of Gas Station Convenience Store)*


48. Scranton, PA (Woman Behind Balloon)*

51. Seattle, WA (Bear on TV)*

60. El Paso, TX (Woman in Front of Hair Color)*

62. Chicago, IL (Mexican Football Fans with Man Sitting)*

63. Philadelphia, PA (Tattooed Penises)*

64. Greencastle, IN (Scratches)*

69. Las Vegas, NV (Hotel Room Mirror)*

70. Chicago, IL (Cinderblocks)*

72. Philadelphia, PA (How Do I Look?)*

New for 2008 Aisle I

2. Camden. NJ (Woman in Salmon Shirt)*

7. Philadelphia, PA (2 Pregnant Women)*

10. Muckleshoot Reservation, WA (Sage Jumping)*

12. Chicago, IL (Tanya)*

13. Philadelphia, PA (Don’t Drink or Sit Deleted)*

14. Atlantic City, NJ (Blue and Red Motel)*

15. Muckleshoot Reservation, WA (Kaia)*

21. PA Turnpike (Econolodge)*

22. Biloxi. MS (MLK Parade)*

24. Terre Haute, IN (Together We Make Dreams Come True)*

Of all the photos coming in this year, I think this one is the most important in the body of my 2007/2008 work.

OK, working at the table tomorrow are

Savannah Roberts
Charday Laverty
Laura Raynor

and they have requested these rules of ordering be followed...


1. Please ask for your photo by number. At the base of each photo is a number chalked on the ground, that's the number of the photo. There are maps with a brief description of the photo available at the table along with golf pencils... and someone will be passing them out during the show. Pick up a map and pencil if you think you might want to buy a photo (or if you're interested in where the photo was made, which is also on the sheet)

2. There are 3 of each photo for sale, so some might sell out. If you want one that's sold out, please write your email down at the table and I'll get back to you when new photos are made. Just a heads up... it could be up to 6 months.

3. Do NOT aggravate the ladies sitting at the table. Holy shit, JUST DO AS THEY SAY! I was told that I was banned from being behind the table today and I know that the wrath of Khan awaits me if I don't obey. Savannah and Charday are very frightening. Please, please order by number.

Dear Friends,

Here are directions to the show... Front and Mifflin

Here is the list of photos in the show... Photos for I-95.08

The show begins at 1 and ends at 4.

Please don't take any of the photos down until 4.

Lynn Bloom
Savannah Roberts
Charday Laverty
Christine Settino
Manny Dominguez
Laura Raynor
Masha Badinter
Ashley
Matt "One Hitter at a Led Zeppelin Cover Band Concert" Maraldo
and sick but she still gets thanks, Ilene Baker

The amount of work put in by my friends and family today was unparalleled. Thank you is not sufficient.

In finally finishing the cutting of the photos that will go up on the pillars, it seems like 67 new photos isn't really that many. But I was noticing that in the new ones I do have a good mix of the sublime and the ridiculous, both beautiful.






Now is the point where I am reaching exhaustion, I am waiting for my pizza the studio and it's taking everything to not fall asleep on the chairs downstairs.

Thanks to

Daniel McQuade at the Weekly

Aly Semigran at City Paper

for the writeups!

Yesterday there was a fight on the street behind my studio. It culminated in an arrest and threats of shootings and murder, which as far as I could tell was based around nothing to even warrant a punch in the face. I have thought long and hard about why there’s an escalation from argument to murder in about 5 minutes here and don’t have a good answer. Although I have to say that looking at the instigator of the fight yesterday, I thought that he seemed like he was 50% idiot and 50% asshole, so where do you start with that? And I have to be honest, I don't know if the person who I perceived as the instigator didn't come into this melee after it began.



Hang tight, Ivy. You’ll be ok.

Many places I've photographed have changed dramatically in last 7 years, and while I like to include some landscapes that have been razed, I am vigilant in trying to keep nostalgia out of the equation. Memory, recognition and connection, yes… but I ain’t about maudlin. Although I do have to say I included two tender photos this year, neither of which were my favorite in the series of photos that were made at those moments.

This is always one of the more difficult, and painful, parts of putting the edit together; including work that I know isn’t my strongest in order to tell the story best.