Last year I bought a cute little wool blazer at my favorite Value Village...I put it on last week and was pleasantly reminded of the little square photograph of a young woman from Dec. 1968.

I always keep her in that pocket and as many of my friends know my personality....I like to think about who she was....was it her jacket or someone who loved her? Is she still around...is it fate that I have it. What was her life like? Did she have a family? did her daughter where the blazer too?

Inspiration and pure joy.

Ever since I was a little girl...my mom, my aunt and I have been going on weekend "adventures" together. A great day would be a flea market or two...a few antique shops...swimming at some small Wisconsin lake...ice cream...a spin at our favorite Value Village Thrift Shop and dinner at a little diner somewhere we've never been before. We would always come home sun kissed and full of stories.

On one "adventure" we were out "junking", which is what they called it when I was a child, it was extremely hot. We found this little lake that looked cool and inviting...we quickly ran into the water and swam around...even now I can remember how happy we were to find a place to cool off. As we were swimming about we suddenly realized that this little lake had something we were unaware of....leaches! Just as a man came running over to tell us about it, we were discovering it ! Screaming and running out of the water and past the man we ran to the car and rushed home to make sure we got all of them off our bodies. Afterwards we still went to a little diner for dinner. I remember sitting in the backseat looking out the open window looking at the sunset and breathing in the smell grass, hay and earth.

This weekend we went on an adventure like that and thankfully we laughed a lot and did not find any leaches. 

This photo  from my cell phone reminds me of those summer days many years ago.

I am going to post some photos from my phone that I take on our "adventures". The photos are not that good but they bring me much pleasure and inspiration and remind me of the times I spend with my mom and aunt. I thought the blog would be an appropriate way to share images that probably will never be bigger than snapshot size. Something about the lack of quality makes them feel like memories more than reality. 

    

Paris: Maison La Roche & The Artist Studio

Maison La Roche 

Maison La Roche  was built between 1923-1925 built by Le Corbusier

Paris: Maison Le Roche

Looking out of the window at Maison Le Roche, Paris, France      photo by tara bogart

My trip to Paris has really got me thinking about decoration, landscaping, personal style & design.
It seemed so effortless...the beauty of Paris. The way trees, bushes and flowers are arranged...let's say in front of somene's home. Lace curtains and painted shutters all seem like they just "are" in Paris.
I started looking around here in Milwaukee and I see some really curious ways that people show their "personal style" to the public...I am noticing how things are placed in space...even trees at at a gas station...someone decided how the trees would be placed and what colors they would use to accent the trees....

PB on KK & Beecher     mobile capture by tara bogart

Paris: Maison Le Roche

Looking out of the window at Maison Le Roche, Paris, France      photo by tara bogart

My trip to Paris has really got me thinking about decoration, landscaping, personal style & design.
It seemed so effortless...the beauty of Paris. The way trees, bushes and flowers are arranged...let's say in front of somene's home. Lace curtains and painted shutters all seem like they just "are" in Paris.

I started looking around here in Milwaukee and I see some really curious ways that people show their "personal style" to the public...I am noticing how things are placed in space...even trees at at a gas station...someone decided how the trees would be placed and what colors they would use to accent the trees....

Paris...I love this photo...

CK's head     Photo by tara bogart

Paris: Voltaire

Someone vandalized Voltaire! How Avant-Garde     Photo by tara bogart

Our wretched species is so made that those who walk on the well-trodden path always throw stones at those who are showing a new road.

VOLTAIRE

Paris

Cobblestone sidewalk, Paris, France     photo by tara bogart

Last Night

As I was doing the dishes last night I noticed the light on these silly "shrinky Dinks" that Mark and I made 5 or 6 years ago as a fun activity while visiting his mom in Tennessee.

Shrinky Dinks     Photo by tara bogart

Paris

Parisian scooter, Paris, France     Photo by tara bogart

Paris

On the steps of Maison De Verre, Paris, France photo by tara bogart

Three muses, Paris, France      Photo by tara bogart

Paris

Two-fer...
Since I missed a few days here...I thought I would post a couple...

Venetian blinds in Marie Antoinette's bedroom, Grande Palais, Versailles, France    
Photo by tarabogart

Fresco restoration, Grande Palais, Versailles, France    Photo by tara bogart

Paris

Inside the gates of Versailles looking out, Versailles, France     Photo by tara bogart

View from a flea market...

Ski lift next to flea market, Wilmot, WI    Photo by tara bogart

Paris, actually Versailles

Marie Antoinette's formal gardens, Petite Trianon, Versailles, France      Photo by tara bogart

Paris, actually Versailles

Marie Antoinette's Salon in Le Petite Trianon, Versailles, France      Photo by tara bogart

strange reflections

On the street behind my studio     Photo by tara bogart

Portal

I was struck by this scene, it didn't look like Milwaukee let alone Water Street!

Portal, Water Street, Milwaukee, WI     Photo by tara bogart

Paris

French Rats, Paris     Photo by tara bogart

A slice of apple pie...

This weekend...as a pre-curser to EAA we drove up to Broadhead, WI to see some homebuilt Pietnpol airplanes. I love this time spend in Broadhead because it is one of the only times when we are able to slow down. The environment feels so wholesome and idilic and almost like a forgotten time.
Here are a few things I saw...

Paris

Rotisserie, Paris     Photo by tara bogart

EAA is next week!

Every year for the past 9 years or so I have had the pleasure of hanging out at EAA Airventure. Sometimes it is only for a day but a few times we were able to spend a couple of days. I always see something amazing and it is also a time to just look at pretty planes, take a nap under a wing, or talk to people who are doing really cool things....like making their own planes!

I found this photo today as I was cleaning out a full portable hard drive that I took with my Holga a few years back.

Mark in Aeroshell Square @ EAA     Photo by tara bogart

Sea Planes EAA 2010 Oshkosh, WI      Photo by tara bogart

Paris

French Poodle, Paris     Photo by tara bogart

a little gem to start my day with...

A little surprise from Mandie Louiser. Photo by tara bogart

Thank you, Mandie.

Paris

Young ladies at French Bookstore, Paris

Paris

In May/June I went to Paris with a group of students from MIAD. My intention was to put photos up on a blog that I created for Paris but after Day 1 of the class it became clear that I would not be able to keep up with it because of the demands and pace of the trip. So instead of lamenting about how I "wanted to put photos up" I have decided to just start putting some up. I am going to put a new one up everyday for awhile.

Hat Shop, Paris

A New Photogravure...

More tattoo Photos

Alec Soth Tonight at The Haggerty!!!

Alec Soth

This is one of my favorites from his Series Called Dog Days, Bogata.

The Truth is Not in the Mirror
Photography and a Constructed Identity

Jan. 19 - May 22, 2011

This is a really great show! You must check out the work. I have been waiting in anticipation for several months.

The Haggerty Museum

Tattoo Project

This is the beginning of a series I am working on.
These are people who started getting tattoos when they were not the norm. I have more to post. This is just a start. Turning out to be quite a large project.
Will post a few more new ones in the coming weeks.