The Childhood Gravity Games

This week I'll be participating in the Photo Lucida portfolio review event. An amazing opportunity to introduce myself to magazine editors, museum curators, gallery owners and photo bloggers. Here are some vignettes from my new work I'll be presenting there.

To see the complete series visit my show page.

On Thursday, April 18th I'll be unveiling a new body of work entitled 'The Childhood Gravity Games' as part of the Photo Lucida portfolio walk. This series revolves around the glamorization of violence in our culture and the ambiguity around exposing our children to violence, real or imagined.

The portfolio walk is scheduled between 6 - 9 pm at Castaway (1900 NW 18th) this Thursday with over 160 photographers - from around the globe - showing their work. To accommodate such a large group they've divided us into 3 groups.  My turn will be from 7 - 8 pm and I'll have a table set up to show my portfolios. In case you didn't know April is Portland photo month.  Be sure to check out the variety of photo shows on display.

The Making of 'The Childhood Gravity Games'

Literally fueled by a box of peppermint patties I got nine children through a topsy turvy few weeks of photo shoots.  Some longer than others as I worked out the story I wanted to tell.  This is what creativity looks like after about 15 minutes. I didn't mind living amongst this chaos until it was time to clean up the photo studio for actual clients.

This series is a culmination of a lot of head scratching, thinking, experimenting and playing. I wanted to address some socially relevant themes including children and danger, exploration of fantasy and the role of games (including video) in our children's upbringing and more. My resident technocrat Tamaio was a protagonist of imaginative proportions with truly fantastical attributes. The cast of characters who step into this weird and wonderful world made such a huge difference for telling this tale.  Special thanks to Finn, Ellora, Wiley, Olivia, Lucca, Callum, Henry and Charlie. And a shout out to our studio kitty 'Hazel' for getting in the way just enough to worm her way into the finished series.

The Launching of Foto Playground

So in case you didn't know...I love self portrait photography.  Have loved it for many years.  Here is one of my first ones taken in 1998.

In November I set free a concept I'd be harboring since my first self portrait explorations in 1998.  A DIY photo booth set up in my portrait studio.  I call it Foto Playground™.  Folks can rent out this space for 30 minute chunks and do all kinds of crazily delicious photos with the privacy of my studio walls. Feel inspired?  Here are some of my favorite self-portraits.

Dear CEO of JCPs

January 7, 2013

RE: Clackamas Town Center Shootings

Dear Ron Johnson - CEO of JCPs,

For the last year, your JCP brand overhaul has been on my radar. As an entrepreneur I noticed commercials and ads spilling over with an exuberant attitude; a simple, clean, fun aesthetic.  My interest was piqued. I watched your interview on CBS’s Sunday Morning and I appreciated your foresightedness to see this overhaul through. I sent my husband there for a sweater once and he came back with two.  Not bad I thought.  Then on December 11 I was close to the JCPs at Clackamas Town Center in Clackamas Oregon and I thought I’d check it out. I hadn’t been to a JC Penney’s since I was a child. I’m pretty sure I am in your demographic of consumers to target this time around.

When I walked into the store I strolled the avenues and appreciated the mini stores inside. I agree that if you know the brands you like stepping into a mini store can make your shopping so much simpler. I found things I liked right away so I began filling up my arms with a variety of holiday gifts. I found slippers and a scarf for my daughter, fuzzy socks for my son’s Christmas stocking and a sweater for myself. A sweet young woman handed me a button and told me to enter a JCP contest. It was a festive mood among the shoppers. I found so many things I planned to purchase that I soon needed a cart or basket. I looked by the cashier stations and by the door that lead to the parking lot…no luck, the cashier sent me to the front of the mall near the elevators. I remember wondering why are there so few baskets available for shoppers? I headed towards the entrance to the mall and when I was almost there I heard what sounded like fireworks going off inside the mall. Shoppers started running into JCPs yelling, “There’s a shooter – run”.

I dropped my armload of gifts and followed a crowd of people to the closest potential exit, which was the employee area. Employees who were back there were asking what was happening, we said ‘there’s a shooter.” The ones we told ran out into the store. A dozen of us, random holiday shoppers, started moving through the back hallways in search of a place to hide. One man pointed to an EXIT sign and said if anyone wanted to leave they should follow the exit sign. No one left the group. I remember thinking who knows where that exit sign will take you. In looking at the graphic of the event it’s possible that the exit may have lead out to the stairwell where the shooter ended up taking his life. I don’t know that for sure however it sure is eerie . Instead I opted to stay with the rest of the group as did everyone else. We ended up in the farthest room we could find with a solid door.  I suspected it was an IT room from the computer servers inside it.

One man said we had to throw something heavy in front of the door.  They were eyeing a floor to ceiling server rack and I said ‘that’s their computer’. Luckily there was a metal cabinet in the corner and that was used instead. The same man said that he would give his life to save everyone in the room.  His mother was perched on a box in the back next to me. He said he’d tackle anyone who tried to get in. There was not an employee amongst us. We turned off the lights and sat quietly in the dark. People were crying, people were praying and then there were those of us who were trying to communicate with the outside world to see what the hell was happening. I found a corner next to some boxes as far from the door as possible and sank to the floor.

I was dismayed to see that my cell phone didn’t have service. Texts simply weren’t going through. We didn’t know who or what might have followed us back and so we whispered what information we were getting. I remembered seeing a sign that complimentary wi-fi was offered to JCP shoppers and I signed onto that. Thank you for that. When I was able to reach my husband through email I switched him over to a Facebook private chat. He kept me posted with what he was learning on the news.

This is what I publicly posted for my online Facebook friends.

Kim Campbell via facebook
December 11 near Sunnyside via mobile
So don’t panic but I’m stuck in a back room at JCPs locked down.  Feels secure but WTF? That damn clever JCP advertising made me come to the mall…

What goes through your mind when you have the realization, ‘this might be the way I go.’ I can only imagine how many people had that same thought that day. I heard there were 10,000 people at the mall during the shooting; people hiding in stock rooms, under counters and bathrooms. I thought of all the amazing life events my children had to look forward to and tried not to freak out. The pragmatist in me thought ‘if this is my time than this it.’ I’m so grateful I had reached my spouse and could feel connected with someone who knew what I needed to hear.

People were whispering that they heard the police had arrived, we didn't dare make much noise. Eventually we learned that the shooter had been ‘neutralized’. What did that mean? My facebook friends were posting that they were searching for more shooters. Someone in the room said that that the shooter was in JCPs. Tension and fear were palpable strangers in the room.

Strangers in lockdown at JCPs talking through the door to the police.

About a minute before the SWAT team started pounding on our door a friend posted “they have not found the gunman. Stay safe!” I didn't repeat that to anyone.  A few minutes later there was pounding on the door. The chaos that ensued when the police began yelling through the door was seriously anxiety producing. We were on the phone with 911 asking how do we know this is the police, how do we know to open the door. A business card was slipped under the door and still some people didn’t want to open it and yet others did. There was arguing and trepidation as we heard, “if you don’t open this door now we are not coming back for another 3 hours.” The door was cracked open. We could see police in full gear outside the door. They lead us quickly out through a now empty JCPs. I sat in my car for a good 20 minutes before I was ready to drive home. The street that brings people to the mall was packed with cop cars two deep. I felt and still do feel immensely grateful for their preparedness. I recently read that the police were on the scene in a minute from the first 911 call.

I’ll forever have this strange association with JCPs; repulsion for being at the Mall that day and an appreciation for the safe harbor I found in a back room at JCPs. It’s a weird feeling. I know I should go back; retailers depend on consumers visiting their stores. But oh man the desire to live in a safer bubble consumes me.

Kim Campbell via facebook
December 11 near Sunnyside via mobile
I’m out of the Mall. Taking a breath. Sigh. Happy to be alive. Maybe now Francisco won’t tease me for all my Amazon purchase.

What do big box stores do to make their stores safer? I’m not sure the answer but I do know that corporations like JCPs have some sway in this country. If you can use that influence for making sure that public places are as safe as possible then I encourage you to do so. I heard Starbucks has been having their employees write “Come Together” on coffee cups to encourage Washington legislators to work across the aisles to prevent tax increases and spending cuts. Ron, you are clearly a visionary and I know you want Malls to be considered valuable community spaces. How can you use your pull as a corporation to that end? The needs are great. The anxiety is high.

I’m a photographer and an entrepreneur. I have my own retail location. I’ve changed my open door policy to a locked door one over the holidays. That’s not my preferred way to operate a business but right now that’s how it’s got to be. I wish for a day when assault rifles couldn’t fall into the hands of children and teenagers or be obtained by adults. I wish for the day when public places like movie theaters, malls and schools aren’t prime targets for enraged individuals. I wish for the day when the mentally ill received the appropriate treatment for their needs before their frustrations rather than jail time. This gun violence seems to be an ongoing wake up call for America. I hope you take a stand for Cindy Ann Yuille and Steven Matthew Forsyth two fatal victims of this tragic act.

Sincerely,

Kim Campbell

Día de los Muertos

In honor of the meaningful and wonder-filled Mexican tradition of the Day of the Dead. I've always been enchanted by the intricate sugar skull decorations and couldn't wait for an opportunity to present it self that required getting made up like one. This self portrait series is dedicated to my mother Nancy who I lost 15 years ago. She was a creative spirit with a zest for life.

Makeup by Claudine Ebel for Guardino Gallery Day of the Dead Gallery Opening.

Dia de Los Muertos Show @ Guardino Gallery

This Summer I met with Donna at the Guardino Gallery and showed her my portfolio. A few weeks later I was invited to participate in their annual Day of the Dead Show on Alberta. First Thursday, opening night festivities are October 25th from 6 - 9pm with the show extending it's macabre celebrations through November 18th. Hope you can join me to experience NW artists interpretations of one of my favorite Mexican traditions.

Guardino Gallery - Day of the Dead Show - October 25, 2012 - Artists.

Serving up Style

Sue Augustyn of said interior design overseeing installation at the Home & Garden - Serving up Style.

This weekend I have two photos from my El Corazón series featured in Sue Augustyn's Designer Showcase at the Home & Garden - Serving Up Style event. Her room is inspired by the stories of Hans Christian Anderson and features a gorgeous vintage window pane and curiously eclectic design elements that are right up my alley.

Here are some installation photos because I simply love the transformative process from a bare room to a completed one. See the finished room here and vote for your favorite (my pics are in the "Once upon a time..." by said interior design .

More details about the Home & Garden Show can be found here including a $2 off coupon for the event.

Installation at Serving up Style - Home & Garden show at Expo Center for said interior design.

Ainsley is A-Musing

I've encountered this lovely girl many times and have always been taken by her sweet and thoughtful nature, as well as her stunning ginger look. When I approached her about being a model for me she shyly agreed. With her long red hair and freckles she is a stunning little muse. Her willingness to collaborate and be creative is what makes these images so special. The one image she wanted to do more than any other was in her ballet togs laying on top of sheet music - her two passions linked together...divine.

The Rat and I

So before my dear child cut his hair I convinced him to do one quick shoot for me. I'd been thinking of this image for a couple years now...a rusty bird cage with a person inside and the animal on the outside. I'd originally envisioned a bird on top but in a pinch a rat will do and might possibly look even more bizarre - a hallmark of my photos. Good thing we have a pair of rats on hand...the 2 year old white rat named Spirit really stepped up to her moment in the spotlight.

Wondering about his modeling fee? I had to clean out his rats cage after we were done. Though now that I'm about to post this on Facebook he said I'd need to clean out his cage for one more week. ;-) Deal!

Mini Moustaches & More

Moustaches are all the rage in Portland and clearly they've trickled down to the younger set. When Harry and Fergus spied my pack of stick on moustaches they quickly each had a favorite to slap on. 

This terrific twosome came with lots of fabulous props and costumery. Having scientists for parents meant there was plenty of cool bones, taxidermy and tools to choose from. Fergus and I crafted these curious epaulets with two crocodile heads.

This is the first set of brothers I've done in my El Corazón photography line and it was a TREAT. Curious about seeing more photos from their studio session visit my blog on campbellsalgado.com and catch a glimpse at the gorgeous plate of vanilla cupcakes with cherries on top that mom baked just for this photo shoot.