The Other Dance Festival came out of a heated talk about the lack of performance opportunities for Chicago modern dance that turned into a mad plan for change. Six years ago Elizabeth Lentz and I were talking about what the community needed: a visible performance event that would draw audience, more...

How magnificent, to live the life of the working artist. Work? It’s great, I tell you! I get paid to do what I love. Most artists work a job to pay the bills; I get to pay the bills with the same camera that feeds my art. Beats telemarketing. Right?

Sure, my greatest passion is for pictures no one hires me to take. But I try to let my work placate the muse. I churn out pretty pictures for my client base all year. I make more...

Ultimately, the most daunting thing about seeking out organizations is the fact that there’s no predefined path to follow. It’s important to go with your gut and let the work you create reverberate with people. A lot of that is self-promotion but a good amount is simply will. It’s important to listen to what your work is saying not only to yourself, but to other people as well. When people identify with pieces strongly, its clear that you’ve made some sort of connection with them. That connection can replicate itself if you let yourself be open to the resources at your disposal. I think the Internet is the single most important backbone of connecting the artist to his or her own kind.

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I used to consider myself an anomaly in Chicago because I had chosen to specialize in a type of music, which until recently, was totally devoid of a scene: Popular Country Music. I am not talking about the old school "honky-tonk" style of country played at Carol's Pub; or the Alt-country music played at the Hideout. No, I am referring to straight out of Nashville, US99 playing, Keith Urban loving, Country Music. I fell in love with artists like Alison Krauss, Brad Paisley, and Reba McEntire--becoming enthralled with the voices, harmony, and songwriting—while I was in college. I made the decision to pursue this passion after graduation. more...