Phosphene Photoshoot!

I'm so excited to share these photos with you. Our dear friend and extremely talented photographer Brittany helped us conceptualize and create this shoot for Phosphene, which is a music project I've been involved in for the past two years. Last month, we released our first EP, which we recorded up in Redding, CA in October 2012. We're embarking on the next stage of the process (which will eventually involve playing shows!) and creating an image for ourselves, which is a particularly interesting and intimidating thing to do if you're camera-shy.

A lot of our songs tackle natural imagery and darker subject matter, so we thought the Piedmont cemetery would be a great setting to start with. It might sound morbid, but cemeteries have always fascinated me. This one has so many beautiful sculptures and mausoleums, and there's something so creepy but exciting about walking around these resting places.

All photos by Brittany Luby.

Tommy Gabel/Laura Jane Grace.

These legs belong to one of my newest guitar heroes, Mr. Tom Gabel from Against Me!. Last week, Rolling Stone revealed that Tom has dealt with gender dysmorphia since he was a kid, and is now beginning to transition to life as Laura Jane Grace. I found her story so incredibly inspiring, especially coming from the frontman of a masculine, aggro-heavy punk rock band.

"However fierce our band was in the past," she says, "imagine me, six foot two, in heels, fucking screaming in someone's face."

The article is accompanied by this striking image of Laura sitting on a couch in his recording studio, which is where I got the imagery from. I love the way her legs are posed--she looks so incredibly vulnerable, but so confident at the same time. I kind of liked the idea of leaving it unfinished--I think at this point, her body's a work in progress, and I liked playing with the ambiguity of that.

Carolyn "Cubby" Berk.

I just finished this piece today. It's going to be included in the LGBTQ YAFA (Youth and Family Advocacy)/Show & Tell Concept Shop's art show for Pride Month, which I'm really excited about. It's nice to retain ties to this community--especially in an artistic way.

The person in the portrait is Carolyn "Cubby" Berk, who is the singer of a Portland-based band called Lovers. My friend Elise introduced them to me a few months ago, and since then, they've become one of my absolute favorite bands. Their sound is totally unique, and varies from album to album. Their songs are full of imagery involving magic, nature, relationships, sisterhood, and gay issues. Some of my current favorites: "Peppermint (that's where the peppermint leaves came from)," "From A Highway," "I Have Been The Moon," "Stay Another Night," "Saint Jude," and "Figure 8." Check them out here.

Anyway, if you'd like to come to the opening, here are the details:

Queer The Art @ Show & Tell Concept Shop
Friday, June 1st
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
500 12th Street #139
Oakland, CA 94607

It's literally right next to the 12th Street BART station, which makes it pretty easy to find. You can also RSVP to the event here.

xx