“Be patient toward all that is unresolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves. Do not now seek the answers which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them now. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps, you will then gradually without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.” — Rainer Maria Rilke

Over the 4th of July weekend I took a drive through small towns. I wanted to spend the 4th outside the city, immersed in open space and away from the clusters.  On the way down, I listened to NPRs reading of the Declaration of Independence which they do every year around this time.  After rereading (relistening?) to the document, I noticed that so much of what was written was illustrating the politics of the time -namely, a long list of tyrannical offenses and injuries executed by the King of England. It’s worth a relisten (reread?) if you haven’t in some time. You may be surprised at how pertinent these offenses are these days.

Suffice to say, I felt a gratitude and overwhelming sense of pride about this country.  I think all too often I immerse myself in stories that focus on the corruption of the government, the media and the wolves clothed as sheep.  There is enough to drown oneself, if one chooses to do so.  But there is a second story that runs continuously alongside, and it is anchored not in words, but in the fluid movement of a people, of a nation.  It’s a dialogue that has been shared for more than 200 years. Like a long conversation over dinner, with friends and strangers and family.

_almost independence day_ from jd brick maynardCowboy on Vimeo.

I put this piece together from stuff I shot with an old camera and some old B&W footage I found on archives.org

The piece just isn’t the same without the interviews and “voices” from the towns, despite how good JFK’s reading may be.  But I do like this first draft and I think it gave me a lot of ideas and tools to learn with/from.  I look forward to posting a Second draft with more localization, more Voice.

Song: Extended Slide by Damiak

My friend Emily has fallen in love with Airsteam trailers.  I can’t say that I blame her. They are beautiful.  This is one that is parked a few blocks from my apartment in the avenues.  Every time I walk by, I’m reminded not just of Emily, but of her dream to own one, travel around and do what she loves -photograph.
We have to have our dreams… and then make them happen.

I’ve been entering short 5sec contests to keep my “creative” hands moving along.  They can only be 5 Seconds long and there is a theme.  This one was Kick the Bucket.

It’s been good to work on these given parameters and see where they go. I made this one last Friday.

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