Capture Music City Photo Contest

Confession: I am addicted to the Tennessean's Capture Music City Photo Contest.

How it works.

In essence, it is a contest designed to sell a coffee table book. Brilliant, eh?

I understand the publisher of the book is local, which is very cool.  The sponsors are also local. Also cool.

The Tennessean's own photographers are encouraged to contribute their work, but are ineligible for prizes.

I, however, am not ineligible for the prizes which is why I am shamelessly pandering for votes. In Capture Music City language, that translates to "promoting".

The fact is, there are many professional photographers who are contributing their work. There is some truly beautiful art on the site already.

I'd like to think that some of my shots are hangin' with the big dogs, but I know my amateur status. I don't want to get too big for my britches.

Please, if you've made it to this site by any other way than Capture Music City, check out my photos. You may search the site for "Artists Aloud" or "Brenda Sparks". Either will bring up my 91 photos, to date.

And hey, you're not going to hurt my feelings by casting your vote for 1 of my photos, or for all 91 for that matter.

There is a 30 photo a day submission limit. I believe they call that the "Brenda clause". 

To vote you must register with the site. "Dig it" means you liked it. "Nix it" means you'll pass. If you love the photo you must click on "Love it" before you click on "Dig It", or else your loving vote will not be counted.

The contest is just 3 months shy of completion, so there is a ways to go.

This is a marathon not a sprint, people. Pace yourselves.

Check back often for more photo additions. Or news that I've been banned from the site for serial posting. 

I told you I have addictive personality tendencies. 

Nashville: The Music City Musical

As part of Tennessee Women's Theater Project's Women's Work Showcase, I will be performing a staged reading of a new work by Carolyn German entitled, Nashville: The Music City Musical.

Isn't that a great title?

I haven't read the entire script, and I've only sung snippets of the score but I like what I know of the piece.

Carolyn is a multi-talented Actor/Director/Writer/Mama who is also the Music and Theatre Supervisor for Metro Parks.

The reading of Nashville: The Music City Musical with take place on May 25 at 2:30 p.m.

For more information check out the TWTP home page.

Full Disclosure

...I also knit now.

But it's not "real" knitting (I have a friend who will flog me for that). It's loom knitting.

The modern miracle that is The Knifty Knitter. You've seen them, I'm certain.

I learned to needle knit for a production of A Doll's House in 2000. The moment I left the stage, all knowledge of knitting emptied out of my brain.

One of the craftay-mamas of which I spoke in my "scrub rush" post taught me how to knit on a circle loom, and once again I became addicted. I may or may not struggle with addictive personality traits. I'm just saying.

There. I think I have divulged all of my craftiness. Photography, soap making, and knitting. That's enough to balance out the artiness of my career.

The Great Scrub Rush of '08

A couple of years ago I added another "slash" to my title.

Actor/Director/Writer/Amateur Digital Photographer/Soap Making Hobbyist. 

For an artist, I've never considered myself particularly crafty. It all goes back to my 7th grade home economics class. I was an excellent cook. Had that been the only skill required I would have aced the course. But there was a little matter of a sewing project. I, like a fool, chose a halter top and skort set. It was, after all, the 80's. That skort was my undoing. I had been an A student all throughout elementary school. My final sewing project was my first "D"...but it wouldn't be the last.

Consequently, I've spent my life running from all things crafty. There was a time when I couldn't spend more than 5 minutes in a fabric store without getting the vapors.

Since becoming a mother I've been inspired by some very craftay mamas to release my inner artisan.

A few years back a friend introduced me to soap making. She made the most delectable sugar scrubs and soaps, and I became addicted. I think she got me started making my own so I'd stop stalking her. She's since been absorbed into the witness protection program, but I don't think it's related to me. Actually, she works with Babybearshop. Check them out, they make excellent organic products for mamas and babies.

With the end of the school year fast approaching, I have been besieged with orders for teachers gifts. I call it The Great Scrub Rush of '08 because it makes me feel important. For the past week I have been booty-deep in sugar scrub, soaps, cellophane wrap, and ribbons.

I just made my last delivery of the day, so now I am free to focus on Artists Aloud in Tennessee.

Thanks to another friend, I have been in contact with a woman who provided me with some excellent podcasting resources. The research has begun. I hope to be up and gabbing soon.

By the way, if you are at all interested in soap making I highly recommend Brambleberry. Excellent products, great customer service. I order all of my supplies from them.

Back on The Bandshell Again!

I have been cast as Junius Brutus (traditionally a male role) in this summer's Nashville Shakespeare Festival production of Coriolanus. Having directed last summer's production of The Merry Wives of Windsor and having worked with NSF since 1996, I know all too well what long odds there are for the summer show. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity. I was last seen on stage at the Bandshell in Centennial Park the summer before my daughter was born, in the 2002 production of All's Well That Ends Well.

More to come...

Progress

"There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about." -Oscar Wilde

The Picture of Dorian Gray 1891

Artists Aloud in Tennessee is moving right along. To ensure a vibe that is irreverent, enlightening, and above all entertaining; I am creating a credo and solidifying an interview style that will guarantee a departure from your standard "How do you remember all those lines?" questions.

The new email address for Artists Aloud in Tennessee is: artistsaloudtn@gmail.com

Check back for the AATN credo, list of 11 questions, and our very first interview (transcript).

Professional Theatre Artist/Amateur Shutterbug

This site will also feature my amateur photography. Note iris below and flying heron header. I carry my beloved Canon Powershot S3 IS everywhere I go. I am a complete novice. I have no formal training, save for a recent 2-hour digital photography workshop. I do have the privilege of knowing several other area mamas and shutterbugs who share the same Canon camera and a passion for photography. They have inspired me to experiment and explore more (read: mocked me relentlessly to get out of 'sportsmode'). As an artist, I have found my camera to be an excellent outlet during these early years of motherhood. Although mothering in and of itself is an extremely creative and challenging enterprise, I have found photography has helped keep my artist aesthetic sharp (and my mind somewhat sane) between gigs.