Music: Oz

Back in December 2010, before Christmas, I went to a house concert where this guy Oz Davidson was opening for the evening's main act. Oz is half of a band called Lands Bejeweled, but he certainly sounded great all on his own this evening. I haven't yet been to a concert for the band itself, so I can't judge entirely, but have a go at some videos I recorded from the house concert and see for yourself. Talented guy.

Click here for a playlist of 5 videos or just watch the one linked here:

11 January 2011: Gloaming

11JAN2011, originally uploaded by blueathena7.

I have taken many, many variations of this same scene because one could probably say there are no two sunsets just alike, but I could stand at the same exact spot and click the shutter at exactly the same moment in the sunset passing... None of those photos would ever be the exact same. Clouds and light play.

6 January 2011: Coffee

6JAN2011, originally uploaded by blueathena7.

Coffy's Cafe
1739 Northwest 16th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73106-2067

Pretty cool place to hang out, go to open mic night, enjoy coffee and gluten-free snacks, etc. I stopped by for a moment and snapped this picture from the inside. Yep, I flipped it horizontally so we can actually read the sign, but I kinda like it this way. :)

5 January 2011: In the Land of the Water People

5JAN2011, originally uploaded by blueathena7.

In the Land of the Water People
Richard Greeves, sculptor
Sculpture, bronze, 62 x 34 x 27 in.
1977 Prix de West Purchase Award.

I like reflections and I am constantly aware of trying to figure out how to take a picture of a reflection without being in it and making the image as sharp as possible to appear as if it is not a reflection. Is it possible? Surely, but I've yet to accomplish it. I like this photo, though. The sky was nearly a royal blue, the kind you love because it makes water appear blue and pure. The sculpture was reflecting nicely in the garden pool, so I had to snap-snap-snap until I thought I captured it. I never was satisfied with the pictures that included both sculpture and its reflection. This one, flipped, will have to do.

4 January 2011: Acoustic Oklahoma

4JAN2011, originally uploaded by blueathena7.

So, there's this cool guy named Casey who's documenting Oklahoma musicians and helping them meet, play, jam, share talents, and show them to the rest of the public. Acoustic Oklahoma just took flight like a red hawk on a summer day.

This young lady, KeriLe Blossom, was playing in the Acoustic Oklahoma Tuesday night lineup at the Prohibition Room in Oklahoma City. I really liked her powerful voice and energetic style. She had a diversity of vocal range. I really enjoyed her set, so I look forward to hearing her again soon. Oh, and she did play her song "Lucky" which she recorded with Casey for the Acoustic Oklahoma video clips. Give it a listen.

3 January 2011: Seagull

3JAN2011, originally uploaded by blueathena7.

I took a quick drive over to Lake Hefner to shoot some pictures by the lake. I didn't want to meet another evening of trying to find something to take a picture of at home after dark. I had the treat of seeing the seagulls huddled in small tight groups bracing the wind and retaining their own warmth. It is truly fascinating to watch nature and see how it copes with change. How often do people bare down within themselves and retain inner strength when the world around them changes and becomes cold and harsh? Not many because now it is more popular to whine and complain.

In any case, I wasn't entirely ready to drive back to work but I had tasks to complete!

Samantha

It seems that as each new year strolls by I become more and more interested and absorbed by the musical culture around me. I have gone from listening to country and classic rock on the radio, Dolly Parton eight-track tapes, Michael Jackson vinyl records, U2 cassette tapes, and endless CDs of artists like REM, Gillian Welch, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan... Now I listen more locally to musicians who perform live concerts at bars and in homes, more intimate instances of songwriting joy and performance sincerity. I love the house concert concept and this is now where I learn first about new songwriters from singers I know and appreciate already.

Here are two videos I recorded and edited of Samantha Crain at a house concert. She is accompanied by Daniel Foulks who is an exceptional fiddler and a pleasure to listen to how he complimented Samantha's well-loved songs. The second video includes clips from the 2010 winter solstice lunar eclipse and Christmas lit-trees along Western Avenue in Oklahoma City. Enjoy!





Samantha Crain with Daniel Foulks performs "Devils in Boston" and "Songs in the Night" at a Blue Moon House Concert on December 17, 2010, in Oklahoma City. Video recorded and edited by Laura Anne Heller of Blue Athena Productions.
Visit Blue Moon House Concerts on the web:
http://bluemoonhouseconcerts.moonfruit.com
Visit Samantha Crain on the web:
http://www.samanthacrain.com

Athena's Arthouse

People may or may not know that I opened my own little shop on Etsy.com, Athena's Arthouse.  I have been crafting designs inspired by my surroundings, long drives through the countryside, memories, and ideas from novels and poetry.  I am using fabric cut from old t-shirts, jeans, pants, skirts, dresses, blouses, sheets, pillowcases, etc... Anything that can't seem to serve it's intended purpose and can be recycled into a new piece of art.  Some clothing I have bought from places like Goodwill or thrift shops when I noticed most of the fabric was fine except for an unsightly stain somewhere, which is why it hadn't been bought yet.  No problem, I can cut that away and use the rest of the shirt or skirt for several fiber art pieces.  I also am recycling wooden plaques that once proudly displayed brass plate awards.  I have over a hundred of these things and I am working to create each one into proud display of one of my fabric collages.

I'm new to this Etsy shop selling and to sewing in general. I am hopeful that people will like my little artworks.  Here's a link to the store:

Sailing Sunset

This video uses photos taken nearly every ten seconds of a sunset on Lake Hefner while sailboats criss-cross the frame. I like this one better than my first attempt. :)

Time lapse photography by Laura Anne Heller at Lake Hefner, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on June 9, 2010. Music, titled "Corncob", from incompetech.com.

Lakeside

This is my first time lapse photography video. I stood for about 2 hours snapping pictures nearly every ten seconds of sunset on Lake Hefner and kite surfers in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on June 8, 2010. I'll post the second one, of sailboats, in a few minutes.

Photography and video by Laura Anne Heller. Music from freeplaymusic.com ("From Little Rock to Glasgow" and "One Horse Town").

house concert

I went to my first house concert of the year down at a friend's in Oklahoma City.  A lovely house with open doors, beautiful art, an inviting backyard, and an intimate setting to sit and listen to some good music sung right there to you and fellow music lovers.  Last night's concert was Brine Webb and Samantha Crain.

I'd heard Samantha play at the Conservatory just a week ago for Ali Harter's CD Release Party.  I hadn't heard Brine Webb before, and I sure was glad to get a peek at some of his songs last night!  His style has a little melancholy lilt that meanders through a meadow, a forest path, a city street at dusk.  I managed to get there in time to hear about 5 or 6 of his songs, including a lullaby.  I became entranced at his finger-picking style for "The Ghost Family" song, one had said he's written a long time ago.  Check out an interview with him by Sophie Zine and don't miss this video and this video, both from his song "Cigarette Tree."

Brine Webb, House Concert, OKC, OK, March 26, 2010

Samantha Crain played some of her well-known tunes and also some new songs, opening up her last set with "Lions" and closing with "Scissor Tales."  She has an openness to the audience, joking about brown and pink-red koozies and how they were ordered with a real customer service rep named Gregg.  Her song lyrics are full of emotion and no matter how many times she has sung the song, it still sounds poignant with fresh feelings and stories.  I think of sunny days with big fluffy clouds drifting along and midnight walks under constellations and meteor showers when I hear Sam's songs.  Check out some videos on youtube.

Samantha Crain, House Concert, OKC, OK, March 26, 2010

Having seen Samantha with a backing band and now flying solo for a small audience, I'm appreciative of the house concert venue.  I missed the first hour because I got lost (as usual) in downtown Oklahoma City looking for the main mail sorting post office to drop off some bills; By the way, that post office doesn't have a mail drop after hours.  So I was finally relieved to get to the Feuerborn house for the concert of the night.  Such a warm setting, potluck, a little wine and beer, and of course, plenty of other people who appreciate good music.  What a wonderful way to spend a Friday evening.

spontaneous music

I ran around town a little bit last night after work. Edgar Cruz was playing at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum as part of their Concert at the Cowboy music series. I'd never heard him before. I wasn't disappointed. I had intended to stay for an hour, but I stayed two hours instead. Talented musician, and he had such great charisma with the audience. I've seen and heard a harp guitar before, but many people had not heard of it before and were all awed by his talent on that lovely instrument. He also played a C.F. Martin guitar, which I adore their sound. I tried taking a few pictures without my flash because I don't like paparazzi-ing musicians with my non-stop photography. Here's one of my favorites, plus a few more in my Flickr album.

Afterwards, I headed down to Coffy's Cafe in the Plaza District to hear my friend Justin Witte play for a little while.  Once I got down 16th, I heard some music that sounded very familiar and it wasn't coming from the coffee shop.  It was outside No Regrets Tattoo; A couple of guys on guitar and fiddle, Tom VandenAvond and Seabass were playing a Leonard Cohen song, and then soon after played "Wagon Wheel."  So I stuck around for a few songs and a few more pictures.

I finally made it over to Coffy's Cafe and got a little mocha, two peanut butter cookies, and a little Justin Witte music for the evening.  My camera began to not cooperate, so this is the only decent photo that I shot that I like, though I fooled around with it in a picture editor; Originally the flash tried to wash him out.  So hearing his song "Babylon" (listen to it on his MySpace music page) wrapped up my evening and I went home.  It is Saturday morning and I am going to drive out to one of the city's hiking trails and explore.  Pictures later.