The Half Century Mark Hotel at Sixty North

An Imaginary Space about Becoming Real

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  • Selfies: Documenting Life

    Selfies: Documenting Life

    “The camera makes everyone a tourist in other people’s reality and eventually in one’s own.” ~ Susan Sontag

    day four

    I have more time in my life for photography now, thank goodness. It’s a prescription for healthy living for me and other guests of the Half Century Mark: part therapy, part brain gymnastics, and a huge dose of joy. We encourage our guests to take lots and lots of photos, of themselves. Delete most and share a few with those you love, as well as those that love you, or complete strangers. Sharing with those that you only kinda like can get tricky. Should you hear snickers, find another playground. There’s a big world out there waiting for you to twirl.

    Twirling

    My adventure into ‘selfies” began in the spring of 2011 with an on-line class taught by the amazing Vivienne McMaster. My first Viv class, You Are Your Own Muse (YAYOM) was a life changer for me, truly. A self portrait by a classmate triggered something so powerful within me that I began to truly examine myself, my life, addictions and afflictions. But that dear reader is a story, with photos, for another day.

    Fast forward to late December 2012 when another YAYOM tribe-mate invited me to join a year-long, portrait a day group on Flickr, an on-line photo sharing site; it was an offer I couldn’t refuse.

    My first two photos illustrate what I love about portraiture. You can tell the truth (day one, on left) or disguise it (day two, right).

    day one and two

    It’s your story, your truth and you are the writer, cinematographer, makeup artist and lighting crew. Make filters and Photoshop your friend one day and the next, go straight out of the camera, showing the real you. There are no right or wrong portraits.

    Personally I enjoy dressing up my truth. Mrs. Crow (day four, below) is one of my favorites:

    Mrs. Crow

    The fourth person

    I  also like the concept of a self portrait as ‘fourth person.’Jenny, writing for the photography blog Mortal Muses, attributes this concept to the artist May Ray: “Like other painters, I’ve made self-portraits, even photographic ones, but I’ve always been tempted to deform or alter the image in such a way as to erase any intention of seeking a resemblance. You might say – in the fourth person.”

    Not I, You, Him or Her but someone else with a story to tell. Sometimes the person that shows up in my portraits surprises me. I’m not always sure where they she comes from or what she may need to tell me. I realize that shots of my body are harder for me. They come to me veiled in cloth or light.

    new me

    But no matter their origin, or their messages, all are made to feel welcome in my heart and imaginary hotel lobby. Sometimes they even sing.

    Sing

     So what makes you and your heart sing?

    Happy twirling.

  • More Color Me Boca

    More Color Me Boca

    color me boca orange and black

    Loving playing with my Color Me Boca series. I really recommend using a brain focus exercise while traveling. Not sure how old Mary Oliver was when she presented her instructions for living a life: “pay attention, be astonished, tell about it” but she is so on to something for all us creative but scattered photo bugs like me.

    Although the natural beauty of Boca is worthy of the creation of epic poetry pronounced from the Range Light, on a personal note, it’s really quite astonishing that I could focus my brain on something and then actually share my findings with the world.  More soon.

    “I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it.”
    ― Alice Walker, The Color Purple

  • Color Me Boca

    Color Me Boca

    boca colorsFor the last few weeks, I’ve been on a color hunt. It’s like a treasure hunt but more creative. I recommend it highly. I will admit that my task was a complete delight as I was hunting in one of the prettiest islands ever: Boca Grande, Florida.

    Boca is such a unique, old world Florida, sort of place. I will be sharing more of my technicolor wanderings with my Hotel guests soon.  And yes, in full disclosure I do have a real (not imaginary) cottage to rent there: http://www.bocagrandecottage.com

  • Delighting in the Adventures of Others

    Delighting in the Adventures of Others

    photograph by M. Christakos, 2012
    photograph by mec, 2012
    photograph by M. Christakos, 2012
    photograph by mec, 2012
    Photograph by M. Christakos, 2012
    photograph by mec, 2012

    “We must risk delight. We can do without pleasure, but not delight. Not enjoyment. We must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world.”  –Jack Gilbert

    Our daughter traveled to India in November. Mr. Function (see *note below) and I reveled in every detail of her adventure. Being the daughter of an imaginary hotel concierge may have contributed to her sturdy set of travel wings, but she has been an explorer all her life, and we are very proud of her. She is an inspiration to all our guests, graciously allowing us to display her luscious photography throughout the hotel. There will be many more adventures in this chickie’s future. Sorry I can’t share more of her journey. Those are her tales to tell, not mine.  Actually I would love to tell you more about the above photo of the ribbons, they symbolize prayers, I think, but I can’t really remember their story, a symptom of Hotel residence, I’m afraid.

    That is precisely why I created this blog, this space: to record delightful details that I want to remember. Details I know and those I have forgotten. To remind me to listen to the dreams of others while sharing my own.

    This I remember: Someone asked me if I was afraid for our daughter going to India alone.” They don’t like us there,” she said with a concerned smile.

    This I want to remember, something our daughter already knows, that concern, that sentiment of there, and they needs to be named and known, maybe even photographed.

    *Note Below 

    Introducing Mr. Function: I realized that there was an important voice missing from my tales of Half Century-ness. My other half, the form to my function, the apple of my eye, the core to my being, had not yet been properly introduced. More than a quarter of a century ago, my dear friend and original hotel investor referred to our alliance as ‘form and function’. I imagine the form, he makes it work. Mr. Function needs to be represented in these halls. He is a  maker of things, a fellow traveler of an earthly dimension, and responsible for the production of half of those adventurer’s wings. BTW, Mr. Function was very concerned about our solo chick, that’s why we are such a good team.

    photograph by M. Christakos, 2012

    What about you? Have you ever spread your solo travel wings? Travel to places far and wide and beautiful?  How do you keep your heart open to the adventures and dreams of others and yourself?