Julie Michelle's "I Live Here, S.F." show at SOMArts

click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

This most wonderful person (above) is Julie Michelle, the creator of the fabulously successful "I Live Here, S.F." project.   It's a blend of Julie's penetrating photography and the often incredible stories her subjects write about themselves and their City.   Get ready -- no holds are barred.

Since February 2009 Julie has published approximately 186 of these stories and sets of photographs on the "I Live Here, S.F." site.   For me it's like receiving a gift every time a new story and set of photos appears.

Admittedly, I have a BIG crush on Julie; but alas, I am not alone.   It's often been said that after a few minutes of meeting Julie it feels like one has known her for years -- that is probably why she has been able to capture such insightful photos.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

This gorgeous lady is DeAnne, a sixth generation San Franciscan -- and believe me there's not too many sixth generation San Franciscans around.   Her wonderful "I Live Here, S.F." story and photos are here.

DeAnne was posing next to the photo of her -- as you can see, a seventh generation San Franciscan was in the pizza-oven when Julie took the photo back in March.   Julie and DeAnne were having great fun with the sign.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

This is Bhautik Joshi -- that's him at Julie's show on the left, and on the right is a fragment of the image Julie chose for the show.   A nicer guy you won't find, and he's also a very accomplished photographer.   Smart as a whip too. Check out Bhautik's "I Live Here, S.F." story (and Julie's photos) here.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Now, Wardell here is a trip -- and so is his highly decorated Cadillac which will be on display all month at the "I Live Here, S.F." show.   Click for Wardell's "I Live Here, S.F." story and photos.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Many of the 186 people who have been featured on "I Live Here, S.F." attended the opening reception on Friday evening at SOMArts.   The gallery is a wonderful space and his huge -- but it was completely filled with people admiring Julie's photography and enjoying reading the stories.   If you'd like to read about Mohammed (that's his story hanging there), click here.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Collaborating with Julie in the show are two other artists; Rick Prellinger who was showing interesting old films and ephemera of the City, and Chris Rusak who's work you see here.

Julie Michelle recently wrote this about Chris Rusak's collaboration in the show:   "Chris has brought a very conceptual angle to the story portion of I Live Here:SF. I wanted to have an aspect of the show that had nothing to do with photos—because the project is really about the photos and the stories. Chris, with his natural affinity for text, fonts and typefaces, was able to distill portions of the contributed stories from the site into fascinating word collages and combinations that jump out at you from elegantly laquered panels."

Chris Rusak's "I Live Here, S.F." story and photo-shoot can be seen here, and his website is here.

Rick Prellinger's website, with links to ephemera and films is here.



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