#BarkPorn

Sooooo... I'm kind of into tree bark... 

There is so much texture, shape, depth, and character. Every time I walk around my neighborhood, I always end up stopping to stare at the tree trunks, and their ever changing, growing, developing bark. Since the trees can't move from place to place, their complex history pushes its way out through the bark, bit by bit, slowly shifting its external landscape... or at least that's how it goes in my imagination...

Dia de los Muertos at Hollywood Forever Cemetery

I spotted a few sugar skulls lining the entrance to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery the other day, and of course I had to wander in, and check it out! Every year they have a huge festival in the cemetery for Dia de los Muertos. I was a few days early for the festival, but I had a chance to walk around while they were setting up, and take some shots of the fun decor...

Scenes From Sunday

Looking back on a few moments from Sunday... Flowers, fresh food, s'mores, passion fruit margaritas, and good friends!

An Idyllic Easter ... Continued ...

Flashback Friday! Just had to share a few more shots from my idyllic Easter...

A Delicious And Idyllic Easter

Scenes from Easter Sunday...

Valentine's Day Love 2016

This Valentine's Day, a couple friends of mine threw a sweet and simple backyard gathering. It was good friends, good food, and lots of love. The decor was so lovely that I couldn't resist taking a few snapshots and sharing them...

I hope everyone had an amazing Valentine's Day filled with love!

GTBB, 

Bad Joan

The Evolution of Professor Zucchini

Soooo... I went to my friends' house the other day to water their garden while they were out of town, and steal a few tomatoes, when I came across this ginormous zucchini!!!

To give you some size reference, my hands are as large, if not larger than most men's hands. Basically, this thing was so huge that I gasped audibly when I saw it! When my friends returned from their trip they were equally as surprised as I was! They ended up weighing it... Almost 4 lbs!!

And then of course I had to come back over and do a special photo shoot with what we named "Professor Zucchini" ... You can see him here giving a lecture about "not eating your vegetables" to his students R2-D2 and Yoda...

Of course, what photo shoot would be complete without a little behind-the-scenes video...

Original Video - More videos at TinyPic (For those interested, I used a new app called VIBBIDI to make the video. The app is really cool, but sadly Blogger is a bit annoying about video upload so the quality doesn't look great here... BUT the quality is good on any other device/blog  platform.)
The moral of the story? ALWAYS play with your food! ;)
GTBB, Bad Joan

Cheerful Farmer's Market Visit

I had the most colorful and delicious farmer's market adventure yesterday! I tried a different farmer's market than my usual, and I'm definitely going back (it's the Hollywood Farmer's Market for all you LA locals out there). I found a ton of great stuff but my favorites were these "homegrown" looking cucumbers and tomatoes from a tiny little stand that had just a few items. The cucumber was so crisp and sweet and unbelievably tasty, and the tomatoes were like candy! I just ate everything raw, no dressing, no salt... nothing but the real thing...

Then I came across a stand that was selling bright and colorful gerber daisies for a ridiculously low price, so I grabbed a ton of them! I also added in a few sunflowers, which you can't see here, but basically it's the brightest/happiest bouquet ever...

All of the vibrant colors and mouthwatering flavors have definitely helped get my week off to a cheerful start! It's amazing how the simplest things can turn a mood around!

Hope you are having a wonderful week... and if not, then I hope these images at least brightened your day a bit! :)

GTBB,
Bad Joan

Trinket by William Pope.L

I finally got a chance to go to the William Pope.L "Trinket" exhibit at The Geffen the other day, and it was definitely worth it! The main focus of the exhibit is a giant flag (approximately 54 x 16 feet) that is being blown by industrial fans, and is lit from both sides, as well as from underneath. It is a powerful piece to stand next to. There is a lot for the senses to take in... the large scale of the flag, the constant movement, the loud noise from the fans, and the change and flow of the lighting....

In addition to the flag, there are other rooms that display different works that tie into the central theme. Like thousands of onions painted in red, white, & blue (see below), painted canvases, and videos.

There was one piece, besides the flag, that really moved me titled "Blind." It is a large, open room and at the far end there is a black hole in the wall that has a black border painted around it, like a frame. I walked up to the hole, stared in, and all I saw was darkness. It felt both scary and full of possibility. Then on my way out of the room I saw the plaque explaining the piece (see below). I loved the concept so much that I had to go back and experience it for a second time.

To see the flag in motion click here...  And if you are in L.A. you still have a couple more days to see this amazing exhibit! Visit the MOCA website here for details.


GTBB,
Bad Joan

PROJECTION by Vincent Lamouroux

"Projection" by artist Vincent Lamouroux, produced by Please Do Not Enter, is an amazing art installation project that is happening just a few blocks from where I live on the eastside of Los Angeles. The project consisted of covering the notorious "Bates Motel" in Silver Lake, and its surrounding palm trees and billboard, with an opaque white lime wash. I happen to pass by it as they were still in the process of painting. It was a gray/gloomy day in LA, which, in my opinion, made for a perfect, almost eerie setting to take a few images! Check it out...

GTBB,

Bad Joan