One

Update!  Photos from my collaboration work "One" with Todd Powers and Alala Archer have joined a new group arts exhibit, "PAIN" at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, in the Gallery at the LRC .

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Chickens appear often in my work.

Born with wings, but rarely given the chance to fly, they represent deep, often unsatisfied longing, for that which cannot be --for paths not taken; for unrealized dreams; for unrequited love.

I've recently had the opportunity to play with my theme of chickens in a new medium: Concept Photography. 

I've been working with Todd (my husband) on his photography projects for many years, as a set dresser, designer, and manager, as a body painter and costumer.  I enjoy this work; it provides opportunities to stretch my creative muscles, and think outside the bounds of my usual mediums, the canvas or mixed media.   

This was to be my first photo shoot as director.  I pitched my concept to Todd, and to model Alala Archer; we all agreed on a test of the concept, to get our minds working. 

I collected my supplies and grew the necessary properties for my concept:

For several weeks, lemon seedlings adorned my windowsill.

The day of the test shoot arrived.  The "test" however, produced such lovely results --too lovely not to publish.  We decided to properly edit this set, and release it:

I have titled this set "One," with a nod to the old axiom:

"Don't put all your eggs in one basket." 

'One'
Concept Photography
Photographer:  Todd Powers
Model and MUA: Alala Archer
Concept, Direction, and Properties:  Jen Raven

With this shoot, I was hoping to do more than continue my theme of broken dreams (represented through chicken imagery); I was also exploring the unexpected opportunities which often arise out of thwarted plans, if one is present enough to be able to see them.  As the saying goes; every cloud has a silver lining.  In this way, my 'One' series is also a bridge to my 'Dine-In, Take-Out' series: