johnmichaelflynnphoto.com » Family life

Southern California Wildfire Victims Save Family Portraits…

admin — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 23:52:51 +0000

My heart and prayers go out to all of you who are affected by these devastating fires. I sincerely hope you are out of harm’s way, that you & your family and loved ones are safe and secure, and that your lives are not directly affected by these catastrophic fires.

I don’t think people can comprehend the force of a fire that can move 20 miles in an hour, in the face of winds gusting to 60 mph. It’s impossible to understand unless you are there living in it and experiencing it, and that experience is not something I wish upon anyone… For those in the front lines in Santa Clarita, Malibu, Topanga, north San Diego county, Irvine, Foothill Ranch, Arrowhead… and especially for the incredibly tireless and couragoues firefighters… I wish you the very best.

I watched one interview after another of people frantically packing their most prized possessions in their vehicles during mandatory evacuations. And what are among the things that matter most? The family portraits. The memories we carry with us are really all that matters sometimes, and the time we have together is what is cherished and valued above all else.

MOCA

admin — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 03:52:51 +0000

The girls and I had some time today so we headed over to MOCA in Los Angeles. I hadn’t been there in way too long, and had forgotten what an awesome place this is. We crawled into one exhibit and hung out on the floor and talked, with q-tips and blue super balls hovering around us in various sculpted shapes. The carved lipstick exhibit was another awesome find in the Poetics of the Handmade, as was the exhibit crafted out of Mexican paper money. The skateboards and surfboard were very cool, and the reliefs made out of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil were awesome.

We all respond to exhibits in various ways. As might be expected, I look at the lighting and speculate about different choices the artist and museum might have made and what emotional resonance that would have had on a given exhibit… One part of the exhibit was particularly under-lit, and initially I questioned the wisdom of that choice, but considered that perhaps the artist was asking us to respond to the collection of works as opposed to the merits of any singular piece. No doubt, you’ll see what I’m referring to when you visit.

Also there right now is the art of Richard Tuttle — “Six” is one of my favorite Tuttle pieces.

The cool thing about MOCA is that it’s not overpowering like a lot of museums; if you’re really pressed for time, you really could jam through in about 90 minutes. In my opinion, that would do the work injustice and you a disservice, and it’s fun to interact and dwell in the various exhibits. The interaction and reflection is what makes going to a museum so tremendously enriching. Highly recommended — check it out.

Just dessert

admin — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 19:23:14 +0000

“What a difference a day makes…” It’s a cliche, but true. I think about my own children and how astonishing it was to see them grow as babies. Even now, they’re 13 and 8, and not a day passes when they do something that just blows my mind. That generally is a wonderful thing. Sometimes it just makes me laugh and shake my head. My younger daughter has this habit lately of wiping her hands on her shirt. So there we were yesterday at a restaurant, she finishes her cupcake, and before I could say anything, wipes her frosting-covered fingers across the front of her shirt… For the rest of the afternoon until we could get home, she had finger tracks…

I don’t mean to embarrass her. She already has shown me in eight years that she’s going to grow into a confident, beautiful, sophisticated young woman. But right now she makes me laugh every time she does that, and yes, shake my head a little… She is definitely my kid. LOL

On the road again…

admin — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 02:30:09 +0000

Today I’m in Denver, Colorado, an absolutely beautiful part of the country. I love how big the sky is here, and the clouds. I’m a huge fan of clouds, as many of you probably already know or guessed. You have seen a cloud theme in a lot of my work, especially the wide-angle variety…

Sorry, I disappeared for a moment to Waimea Canyon on the island of Kauai, where I remembered one of the most insane cloud photos I had ever created. Not bragging — it just gave me such a rush to do it. I have to find that photo and upload it for you. It is one of my favorite photos that I’ve created.

So here I am in Colorado. I’ll be here till Monday. Try the veal. :-p

John

Independence

admin — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 16:49:55 +0000

Happy 4th of July!

This day is filled with fun, barbecues, water balloon fights, kids laughing, families coming together, and of course, fireworks!

What I think about on Independence day is FREEDOM. Freedom of speech, freedom to assemble, freedom to have a critical mind and a voice of expression. A vote. Freedom to be heard. In the spirit of our forefathers and the overall American tradition, question authority. Speak out for what’s right. Use their example of courage, don’t be apathetic or take for granted the founding principles of this great nation. Let’s make sure America remains free from tyranny of all forms, including the tyranny of ignorance or burying our heads in the sand. Be independent. Think. Educate yourself so you have an informed opinion. Take your news from multiple sources. Dream of a better time and do the work to make it so.

Happy Father’s Day!

admin — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 15:15:17 +0000

My dad was one of the biggest influencers in my life. I think we dads sometimes forget the tremendous impact we have on our children’s lives… Each moment we interact with our kids is a chance to pick them up or knock them down. If you wonder how big an impact you have on your child’s life, consider the finding that most young children associate their view of their father with their view of God… No pressure! lol

My dad passed in 2000, WAY before his time. That’s a story for another time. To this day, I remember countless times when we’d go random places and people would run up to him and say hello, introduce their children and tell them, “This is Mr. Flynn. This is the guy I’ve told you about.” That probably sounds like some kinda weird to most people, and it was sometimes. My dad was larger than life at that time in my life. He worked a room like a politician, made people laugh like an entertainer, built stuff, talked about God and philosophy over pizza & beer, and played b-ball with me when he got home from work. He was some kind of amazing.

Years later, he no longer was a giant to me. I saw him for the man he truly was, and it was then that he became my hero. l

Here’s to you, Dad. I miss you. I hope I honour you with the way I raise my kids. You’re the best.

John