Place II: Cathy Breslaw

Place Part II: The place that we chose to make our home speaks to who we are. The items we surround ourselves with and the manner in which we choose to arrange our living and work spaces-especially when the two overlap-can reveal insights into our everyday personas as well as the people we aspire to be. Here the place where artist Cathy Brelaw creates...






Q: What do you love about your home?
Cathy: My home is what I call my 'sacred space'--my safe place--my studio is also adjacent so it's important to me to create a space where I can also work--as well as just be.





Q: Tell me about the sign in your space, "If not now, when?"
Cathy: "If not now, when" means this is it--life in the present moment is all we have--we are not guaranteed anything more than the moment we are in. So, all my goals, dreams, art pieces need to be created now.



Q: Describe your physical working environment:
Cathy: My working environment is a space of about 400-500 sqare feet and well lit with specialized ful spectrum lights.



Photographs: 2010 Melissa Au, Dandelion Dreams Photography

Interviews: Part One

List a few things about yourself that may be previously unknown to many around you?
Stacie:
1. I once met the legendary Clint Eastwood as his waitress in a restaurant in Savannah, Georgia.
2. I always wanted to be a figure skater.
3. I was a ballet dancer for 11 years.
4. I love listening to cheesy 70's soft rock.
5. I've visited 38 out of the 50 states.

Nora: I don't know how to swim (I sooo want to learn but I'm scared)


Day or Night?
Cathy: Day

Stacie: Night

Nora: Day
Melissa: Night

Awake or Asleep?

Cathy: Awake
Stacie: Asleep

Nora: Awake
Melissa: Asleep

Book or Movie?

Cathy: Book
Stacie: Moive

Nora: Book
Melissa: Book

Coffee or Tea?

Cathy: Coffee
Stacie: Coffee

Nora: Coffee
Melissa: Coffee

Chaos or Order?

Cathy: Order
Stacie: Controlled Chaos

Nora: Order
Melissa: Order

Plan or Whim?

Cathy: Whim
Stacie: Whim

Nora: Plan
Melissa:Whim

Busy or Idle?

Cathy: Busy
Stacie: Busy

Nora: Busy
Melissa: Idle

Inside or Out?

Cathy: Inside
Stacie: Both

Nora: Out
Melissa: Out

What interests do you take time for, other than fashion design/teaching/art?
Stacie: Movies, Music, Theater, Art, A little bit of traveling, occasional hiking and camping, paging through glossy fashion mags, spending time with good friends, my dog and my boyfriend.

Nora: Art, Outdoors and Culture.

Cathy: I am very self disciplined--I either run, bike or swim every day depending on what I am training for at the time (running or tri events) I find cardio and working out make my mind more focused and sharp and clear thinking. Some of my best ideas come while running. It's kind of a meditative thing where tons of thoughts float around and something becomes clear to me.

What do you fear?
Cathy: Not being remembered.
Stacie: Heights.
Nora: Making mistakes.
Melissa: Losing my loved ones.

Interview Questions by Melissa Au

Introduction: Melissa Au, Documentor/Photographer ~ Dandelion Dreams Photography

I have been a photographer in the artistic sense for most of my life. I am in business as a family/child photographer under the name Dandelion Dreams Photography. I can sum up my passion for photography in this way: I am a light seeker...I admire the way a shadow wraps gently around a child's face or how sunlight halos a young girl's head. I love catching that 1/60th of a second glimpse into my lens as a baby wonders--just what is that big contraption I am holding. I strive to capture the real essence of my subject as opposed to a contrived shot…to catch a real moment in life, to document.

My biggest inspiration, is my family: inquisition, wonder, attention to the small things, unabashed enthusiasm, creativity, love. I think that a lot can be told in a photograph about the relationship of the family, the emotion of the individual, and I love to tell that story through the snap of the shutter. These are days to remember. My gift to the family is creating a keepsake of their moment together.

Awards:

3rd Place Portrait, 2010 San Diego County Fair

Donated Award for Portrait (awarded by Digital Photo Academy), 2010 San Diego County Fair

Honorable Mention Pet Portrait, 2010 San Diego County Fair

Honorable Mention Portrait, 2010 San Diego County Fair

Honorable Mention Digital Arts Image, 2010 San Diego County Fair

Melissa Au, Dandelion Dreams Photography ~ melissa@dandeliondreamsphoto.com ~ (858) 349.5946