Outside my Comfort Zone
January first in Philadelphia means the Mummers Parade. What is the Mummer’s parade you ask? I don’t really know. I also don’t really believe anyone who says they know. It’s heralded as the nation’s oldest folk parade. It’s a melting pot of traditions, and it’s mostly working class men donning sparkly costumes and performing music and dances in a day long parade. We usually avoid the Mummer’s parade, but I have been wanting some colorful and strange inspiration so I ventured out with my friend Tsipora to take some pictures.
I love the street photography of Vivian Maier and Bill Cunningham. I would love to be one of those people who quietly documents city life, but photographing strangers is pretty intimidating to me. I’m afraid of making people uncomfortable. Fortunately Tsipora is brave and she reminded me that everyone is expecting their pictures to be taken at the mummer’s parade, or they’re too drunk to care. So I walked around all morning snapping pictures, capturing the day and it was so much fun. Tsipora had the idea to go where they were setting up to get candid shots of them drinking Wawa coffee, chatting, and waiting in their elaborate costumes. She lent me her little sneaky little Ricoh GRiii camera which was way more fun than my iPhone. It’s heralded as the best street photography camera because it’s silent, small and therefore very discreet. I got more than enough inspiration to start a series of paintings. These are paintings of people, which is also outside my comfort zone. Strange characters strutting around in golden shoes. I’m excited to see where these little paintings go. Here’s the first one.
Yay for playing around. Yay for friends who get you to try the things you’ve always wanted to do.
Things worth sharing:
Another Philly adjacent thing: Elliott found this great Dietz & Watson hot dog hat at the thrift store which sent me down a deli meat rabbit hole where I discovered Dietz and Watson has a pretty great gift shop.
One of my favorite artists Moira Frith is doing a $20 live online watercolor class about marine life. You know I love drawing crabs, so I could not pass this up. You should come too.
Peggy Kroll Roberts classes are also on my must do list for the year.
I’ve been comfort rewatching Freaks and Geeks because it makes me laugh.
Listening to The Telepathy Tapes podcast. It’s so bananas. Feel free to listen and e-mail me all your thoughts. Or send me them telepathically lol.
I’m feeling super drawn to plaid pants these days. Adding to my thrift list.
And this duck diffuser for my car.
Wanting to make this dilly bean stew.
I haven’t read anything too great lately. Our local library has been closed because the city is inept. All my holds have been redirected to a library in Kensington which is blocks away from Philly’s open air drug market. I went there last week, but a group of homeless men who were on the steps kindly let me know that it was also closed. This stuff is only a minor inconvenience for me, but it’s a reminder that lots of things are broken and it makes me sad. So many kids and families rely on libraries for books, after school programs, or just a free place to be. You can sign this petition if you’d like to offer your support.
Sending you all a bunch of love. Hoping you find some time to make some stuff with your hands.
Take care,
Haley
My Shop: phillycornerstore.bigcartel.com
E-mail: halestormenator@gmail.com