ABC News & 20/20 just announced to the world that Asheville is the Happiest place to live in America!

Aren't we lucky??

In fact, we are.

But for how long?

- See the Blog -

Read some thoughts -

share your own -

-Peace -

Jenny

So I hadn't officially announced this yet as I want to secure a few things first,
Last week I received a letter from the Arts Council informing me that I had been awarded a partial grant for $800.

I had asked for $1200 and that is kind of what I was budgeting on - it will be hard to get through the shoot process on $800.
I have to:
-get advertising out there to announce the revival,
-redesign the website (I am going to make it so folks can sign up for photo shoot times online - MUCH easier than me trying to do it on my broken cell phone)
-secure a studio space
-get lights, gels, diffusers
-set up a studio space

Here's the second part of major info that I have not yet officially announced -
Eaties Cereal Bar is closing, or rather it is closed thru December and may reopen in January under new ownership.

My friend and owner Becky has decided that Eaties just isn't meant to be her lot in life and so she is trying to sell the business.
She has closed it for the remainder of her lease and if it reopens it will be in January.
She made this decision on Tuesday - so it has all been quite sudden.
However she has offered me the opportunity to set up a makeshift studio there during the month of December.
This will require some "hauling ass" and magic on my part to make this happen.
And then after December I will have to find another *cheap* studio space (with hopefully heat) for at least another month thereafter.

I am trying to get the nerve to ask my boss if I can work 10 hour days M/W/TR/F and take Tuesdays off to dedicate a full two days a week to the project and taking photos. I need to leave one day a week open for personal life needs.

So that is how I am planning it -
Right now I am trying to gear up a new website.

I've managed to edit a few more of the remaining photos from the first attempt at the project and will use them as publicity for the 2nd shot.

I'm thinking about putting up something like this as the main image you see on the website when you first arrive at FacesofAsheville.com





To be honest it is a good thing so many of these portraits, to me, are remarkable.  If I couldn't see that I have done good work in the past, knowing my experience is only going to empower my photographic eye so that the second time, despite being much harder and more difficult, the process will hopefully yield some fantastic results.

And back to my reference of hauling ass:

Here are 8 portrait examples of what I do have left...
Keep an eye out for some of these coming up soon in the Asheville Citizen-Times.

Faces of Asheville Participants:
 
First of all, I just want to thank each and every one of you for taking the time to participate in the project.  During the month of July I met with over 111 of some of the most intelligent and interesting good-willed people I have ever had the pleasure to acquaint myself.  I already suspected this of our greater municipal, but you all taught me that we as a community are generous and kind, full of hope and creativity but not afraid of asking hard questions.  You secured my hope that truly, what makes our city shine as a beacon of beauty - is each other. 

I feel blessed to have met each individual who was able to come to my quaint downtown home studio and enjoy a conversation and then experience the joy of capturing your personalities on camera.  I thank every one of you for being a part of the project.  No matter what has happened, the memories of talking with all of you can never be stolen - and therein lays a truly priceless process.
 
This brings me to a sad update of the project.  As many of you may know by now thanks to media coverage by the Mountain Xpress and local TV stations WLOS and URTV, the FOA project suffered a devastating and potentially lethal blow this past weekend. 
 
This past Sunday evening my roommate came home to find our house burglarized. Some hoodlum(s) broke into the studio, physically destroyed nearly all of my equipment, ruffled through the private belongings of our rooms stealing bobbles and trinkets, spare change, and most importantly and devastatingly – my digital camera and my external hard drive that contained all the photos for the Faces of Asheville project. Almost 3 months of planning, hard work, time, effort, sacrifice and creativity – gone with little to show except the wisdom gained from the process.
 
I have fewer than 30 of the 108 portraits I had taken to date.  The rest are lost to the incompetent thieves.  For the immediate 48 hours after the burglary I was a definitely devastated, figuring how many man hours had been lost and realizing it may all have been for nothing.  I was convinced there would be no possibly feasible way to recreate the project since I am now working again full-time and my studio has been completely dismantled and destroyed.  However after contemplating what I have learned from all of you - I realized that an exhibit of some sort must still continue.  Too often in this modern world we allow misfortunate events to run our lives.  We allow ourselves to be scared of strangers and the slight potential that they may bring us harm.  However we have the ability to control and decide our fears, and my goal was to bring the community together in a positive light; not to cause fear from a senseless burglary. 
 
The community's outpouring support in this time has been amazing.  Many of you who have participated in the project, and many more who did not, have called, emailed and even stopped by my house to offer support and condolences.  Because of this I have come to the conclusion that it is my goal to continue the project.  Even though I may be climbing up the proverbial mountain again, this time currently without the supplies of a camera, studio, or equipment - I am carrying with me the knowledge of how amazing and supportive of a community I am surrounded by.  The first go-around of the project was completely grass-roots and self-motivated.  This time however, if I am to re-create the project with the strong potential of making it bigger and better than ever originally imagined; I am going to have to count on the community to help support itself.  I am going to start seeking out grants, sponsorships and philanthropic gifts on all levels. 
 
Though a major set-back, the burglary can be an opportunity to create a far richer story and the community's support only increases my reasoning for needing to complete this project.  To show ourselves as we wished to be seen, to teach ourselves that we are surrounded by incredibly unique and beautiful friends and neighbors, and to realize ourselves as one amazing community. 
 
As I secure that which I need to continue the project I will be in touch with all of you, hoping you will be willing and able to partake in Faces of Asheville - Part 2.
Thank you all so much for allowing me to share my gift, and for sharing yours with me.  Never forget that our truest beauty comes from within -
Till next we meet again -
 
Blessings to you all,
 
Jenny G. Bowen

------------------------

If you would like to make a donation or contribution to the Faces of Asheville Project please sent it to:

Faces of Asheville Project (Part 2)
c/o Jen Bowen
PO Box 18571
Asheville, NC 28814

Thank you!  <3

Wow - I feel totally blessed that the local media cares so much as to cover my artistic woes... the community as a whole has been totally heartfelt with concern and condolences. Thank you all so much. Truely - I am blessed.

To read about the burglary and see updates please check the Mountain Xpress website article.

If you care to hear the story and see the effects of the burglary - plus hear me talk a whole bunch - feel free to watch news channel 13 - WLOS - ABC affiliate tonight at 6pm. Or just check out their website WLOS later on.

Love -n- Light

Jen

Dear Friends, Family, and Faces of Asheville;

It is with the deepest of heart-felt loss that I write this requiem to you all –
Faces of Asheville – the photo documentary portrait project– has been brought to an abrupt and terrible halt.

Last night my roommate came home to find our house burglarized. Some hoodlum(s) broke into the studio, physically destroyed it, ruffled threw the private belongings of our rooms stealing bobbles and trinkets, spare change, and most importantly and devastatingly – my digital camera and my external hard drive that contained all the photos for the Faces of Asheville project. Almost 3 months of planning, work, time, effort and creativity – gone with little to show.

We did file a police report and most importantly everyone in the house is fine; though we must surely talk to our landlord about applying some proper locks to our doors. This morning we spent hopping pawn-shops of greater and central Asheville hoping and praying that something may just yet turn up. Though doubtful, one must always try.

Am I upset? – Yes –
Am I furious even – Yes –
Am I accepting in the fact that sometimes chaos occurs and one must roll with the punches? – Yes –
But no matter what I am not going to let this get me down.

I still have the experiences of talking to well over 100 very distinct and very different types of residents in Asheville. I heard their stories, their observations, their dreams (and nightmares) of and for the city & themselves. I spoke to people who had been born and raised in the area for upwards of 3 generations or more and I conversed with folks who moved here as little as two weeks ago in hopes of finding a creative and fresh future for themselves and their family in our bless-ed mountain-valley.

I learned so much from every person who came into my home and my studio, and I do feel more than fortunate to have met so many wonderful people and feel the heart so strong within our community. The southern charm is strong within our city. We love our Asheville, we love being residents of this amazing bubble of creative energy, and we are a special and beautiful people. Reminding myself of this was a task worth far more than my recent material losses, and it was my goal to remind the rest of Asheville of its beautiful shining citizens.

Asheville is coming to a cusp in it's boom history where we must grow and we will change, however we must be cautious and wise enough to learn from some of our sister-cities who have gone through similar development periods. I would surely hate to see comparable race and class gentrification occur in Asheville as to that of Aspen or Boulder Colorado. There are enchanting pockets across the US filled with remarkably creative and conscious souls such as Portland, Eugene, Sante Fe, Madison WI; and Asheville is definitely a truly magical source for the entire South-East. We are blessed with some of the oldest and richest mountains in the world and a very special type of person is drawn to this area. We as citizens who care about this community of Asheville and the surrounding areas have a duty to remind developers and realtors that WE own the mountains – WE own the views – and WE together are the energy that makes Asheville great. No gated mountain top developments or over-priced downtown condos should prevent us from having our say in our own community. We as citizens must stand up for each other and ourselves by protecting our community's values, needs and resources. Not only for the sake of the present but more specifically to secure it for our future. We must allow everyone who wants to come here equal passage and a fair chance, but we also must keep in check our over-zealous developers and real-estate market. We must make sure that an economical-infrastructure is put into place so that everyone in Asheville has the opportunity to contribute on a positive level and secure a living wage. We must protect ourselves from price gouging and elitism in local real estate. For if we fail at these tasks we will see Asheville become a heartless money driven city and much of the magic that brought people here will be destroyed.

These are just a few of things I learned about Asheville by talking to the 108 amazing souls who sat before my camera. Out of the 108 stunning portraits that were documented only about 30 remain. So I lost my camera and so I lost my hard-drive with the other 78 portraits, I still have the amazing experience of taking the photos and talking to people. My only true regret is that I will not be able to share my experiences with the rest of the city, so that everyone may see just how beautiful our friends and neighbors truly are in our community.

You never know – the camera or the hard-drive may show up and the data may be recovered. Nothing is impossible and I am not one to give up hope. However, my realistic side tells me to exhibit the approximate 30 portraits I do still have and move on to the next phase of creative inspiration. I'll save up to get another camera so that I may continue my creative life's passion, which hopefully through good fortune and blessings will take only a few months of diligent hard work, and I'll continue documenting and taking photos of our beautiful people and landscapes. I will also apply what I have learned from the community by putting my knowledge back into the community. Who knows, perhaps our city council may one day have a seat fitted for the likes of me.

In the meantime while the devastation of loss slowly fades I urge you beautiful Faces of Asheville to take this to heart – no matter what punches get thrown at you accept the blows you must and use your creative strength to get back up and keep going. Never give up on your community or yourself – never lose hope that a small group of well-minded people can change the course – never forget that our truest beauty comes from within.

Thank you all so much for allowing me to share my gift, and for sharing yours with me.
I am blessed to have had this project even if the fruits of its labors are never meant to blossom. If there is anything I can ever do for any of you – you know how to reach me – 828-ICE-LORD or docjen@gmail.com.

Love and Light –

Jenny Bowen (.com)

First of all I want to send a BIG Thank You! out to everyone who came last Sunday to the kick-off party. It was a huge success & highly enjoyable.
I was able to get 36 portraits taken and appiontments for many more!

Thank you to everyone for your patience in waiting to get your portraits taken and for sitting under those hot lights! After 7 hours of taking photos that studio was really cooking!

Another thanks goes out to all the musicians who played and provided an awesome atmosphere, as well as to all the wonderful cooks who brought so many delicious treats!

All in all it was a great time I think for everyone, and one of the most satifying aspects of the day was the sense of community I felt at the end of the night. While wrapping down the day sitting on the front porch under the stars with a miss-match of folks who were still hanging around, I felt like we had done something really positive. We had brought together Ashevillians from so many different walks of life, got people talking to each other who would normally probably never approach each other, and were able to feel a sense of Asheville community. If nothing else, I've reached already a small goal in accomplishing that brief feeling for a few minutes.

I've looked at the portraits and though I have not yet had time to edit many of them - Wow!-! Everyone is so beautiful! It is amazing how a camera can capture the inner beauty of people that often if we are not looking properly can missed by the eye. I do declare there so some good magick happening in that studio. :-)

So far I have appointments lined up over the next few weeks and total number of people is about 50. I need to get at LEAST 100 folks if I am going to be able to do this project to the minimum of my expectations.
So if you have suggestions of people you know who should be a 'Face of Asheville' - send 'em my way!
Either by email - (facesofasheville@gmail.com) or by phone 828-423-5673 (828-ICE-LORD!)

Thanks to all you beautiful people out there!

Blessings to you all on this summer weekend-
Jenny

For those of you are unsure if you are coming or not to the Faces of Asheville Portrait Documentary Project Kick Off Pot Luck Party TOMORROW (hah! what a mouthful!) ...
Let me entice you with some deliciousness:

Fresh homemade straw-berry lemonade
Fresh homemade orange rooibos mint tea
Lots of *good* beers & some hard ciders
(no PBR! no Milwaukee Beast! no Bud or Miller Light! no! no! no!)
Pasta salad with steamed organic veggies & herbs from our garden
Fresh green salad
Rum cakes directly from Jamaica (thanks to my mother)
Nachos with awesome salsa and cheese
Jenny Bowen's Famous Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
Jenny Bowen's Famous Apple Granola Cranberry Cookies
Jenny Bowen's Famous Peanut Butter with Carmel Suprise Cookies
Jenny Bowen's Famous Toffee Pecan Cookies
...and Fortune Cookies too!

And soooo much more!

unofficial set up of how things will go down:

3-6pm are the early birds who want to eat, schmooze, and have their portrait taken
6-9 are the mid-comers who want to eat, drink, schmooze, and have their portraits taken
9-11pm are the late-comers who want to eat, drink, sit around the fire, play music, and have their portraits taken.

So ya'll better come, because I tell ya - this is gonna be a party for the ages.

Love n Light to you all on this 07/07/07
-Miz Jenny G Bo.