January 5, 2010

“What will you do with your one wild and precious life?” ~ Mary Oliver

New this month, Portland choreographer and dancer Minh Tran leaps the erotic here at Velvet Sofa Salon. While you still can, get tickets to his KISS, January 20-24, 2010, at www.whitebird.org.

Famed photographers Sally Mann looks and loves, and Debbie Fleming Caffery visits the sex trade and the sacred.

And I tell you about the big love in my life.

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WELCOME TO VELVET SOFA SALON! I’m so happy you’re here.

Come on in, plop down and curl up with a cup of coffee and a cat.

Enjoy the company of energetic and engaging creators, thinkers and doers from here in Portland, Oregon and beyond—in Q&A interviews (Conversations), book summaries (Pages), photographers’ images and essays (Views) and other offerings (Fresh Fare).

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CONVERSATIONS

Right now, dancer and choreographer Minh Tran of Portland talks about his latest work, KISS, about sexual orientation, based on his own experience with coming out. He takes the stage for the last time, in a cameo appearance, in this piece commissioned by White Bird Dance, with performances January 20-24, 2010 (go to www.whitebird.com).

Next month, Velvet Sofa Salon enjoys conversation with Louisiana-native photographer Debbie Fleming Caffery, now living in New Mexico. My in-depth profile on her will appear in the Spring 2010 issue of Photographer’s Forum magazine. Meanwhile, see my take on her latest book, The Spirit & The Flesh.

Gabriela, 1999 (Photo and copyright by Debbie Fleming Caffery)

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PAGES

You’ll see books lying around Velvet Sofa Salon, so turn some pages while you’re here. The two newest are ones of black-and-white photography—Sally Mann’s Proud Flesh (also see her essay in Views) and Debbie Fleming Caffery’s The Spirit & The Flesh.

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VIEWS

Also, let your mind wander out the window. Every month you’ll take in views from the observant and insightful eyes of experts in the art of the camera. Right now, I’m so happy to have Sally Mann, and her essay about her newest collection of photographs, Sally Mann: Proud Flesh.

This beautifully produced edition, with its powerful, tangible images, does not hold back, as it seemingly defies the confines of its bound pages.

Meanwhile, here’s what these wintery days look like to Paul Loney.

"Almost Winter" (Photo and copyright by Paul Loney)

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FRESH FARE

Help yourself to whatever you like in the fridge. It’s an ever-changing hodge-podge of fresh fare—outings and doings, essays and images, and who knows what else—just like your own refrigerator (minus the mold). Dig in, often.

My newest offering has me hopelessly in love with the book.

Other fresh fare right now?

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So. Are you enjoying yourself with everyone on the Velvet Sofa? Need to adjust the pillows a little? How about a blanket? We all want to know what you think, as you lounge and linger here. When you finally pull yourself loose from these deep, downy cushions, you’ll leave an impression—and a very contented cat.

© Claire Sykes. All rights reserved.