just breathe...? not yet, still holding my breath

Even though I had had this epiphany and was finally clear on the beginning, middle, and end of the story, the production of just breathe was still on a list... meaning there were other things I was involved in that either took precedence or were just as significant. It still didn't stand on its own...

During the summer of 2009 I had an idea to throw a Women's art gala. Basically I would get all my female friends that were artists and find a space where they could display their work and possibly sell a piece or two. I looked around and saw that nearly every friend of mine was some sort of artist, whether a jewelry designer or an actress, they surrounded me. August 29th of 2009 marked 10 years of my living in New York City so the idea was to throw this event as a gift to myself, attendees, and participants of the gala. This event was priority. I saw it as a House, while my film was just a room in it. One of my contributions to the event was to screen my "soon to be shot" short film... Although it would have been amazing, my goal at the time was to build this house. So with that I started prepping extensively and came up with entire break down of the how, where, why, and what. Below is the unedited, incomplete skeleton for the event written a year ago almost to day, June, 16, 2009:


The Ladies Art Expose: A Celebration Gift of Ten Years In Art


Lori Stewart’s Introduction


I would like to introduce myself. My name is Lori Stewart, I’m 27 and this
September 2009 marks my tenth year as a resident of New York City.
When I speak of my ten years here in NYC, one of the first things I say is
that this city is where I had all of my “firsts”. First apartment, first boyfriend,
first everything that marks one as an adult. Although I have experienced
very many highs as well as very many lows, one thing that has kept me
grounded and kept me excited was my belief in my art and creativity.
Although I graduated from the School Of Visual Arts with a film degree, I
consider myself an ARTIST in every sense of the word because I take
whatever it is I am feeling, thinking, or seeing in my mind and attempt to
make it tangible and share it all by creating something out of all of every
emotion that I experience. I am excited by the art made by those around
me and the art that I see created everyday on the streets of NY.

(here I talk about why I chose to highlight only women’s art and the history
of woman in art)



I. PURPOSE
II. GOAL
III. ARTISTS TO INVITE
IV. LOCATION/DATE
V. SPONSORS
VI. WHAT ONE ATTENDING CAN EXPECT
VII. FINAL OUTCOME
VIII. **extras**

I. Purpose

My purpose for this Woman’s Gala is to have women from all backgrounds, all
places, and from every art medium to come into one space and share what
they know, their art, their passion, and their experiences. I would like to invite
all of those willing to take part in a learning experience full of culture and art
brought to the masses by a large array of female artists and designers.

II. Goal

My goal is to create a space where anyone can enter and feel at ease moving
about from exhibition to exhibition, learning, creating and sharing; that is my
goal for each attendee.


III. Artist To invite

When thinking of a large array of artists, especially those that are female, the
list is endless. Friends that are:

Painters
Sculptors
Clothing designers
Jewelry designers
Makeup artists
Photographers
Shoe designers
Graphic designers (for web, print, etc)
Installation artists
Mixed media
Live action
Filmmakers
Documentarians
Authors
Motivators
DJs
Directors
Actors
Singers
Musicians
Dancers
Arts/Crafts

IV. Location/Date

I would like to try for the Laura Little Studio space in downtown Manhattan on
Broadway almost at Canal. The location is great and there is a small bar set up
and elevator access. If not here a loft or warehouse space in Brooklyn,
Williamsburg, or Dumbo would be ideal. There may also be spaces avail in
Bushwick as well. Things to take into account for the space, location, elevator
access, train accessibility, will it be avail the day before to set up and the day
after to clean up. Parking space for visits and movers for large pieces on
display. Cost. I think Moira would be great to get her friends together and work
on locking down a space. The ideal date is Saturday, September 5th 2009. If
we decide to showcase an additional day it would be that Sunday, September
6th 2009. That is Labor Day weekend. Which could be either a good or bad
thing, that’s something to discuss. If this weekend does not work I’d go with
the second weekend in September the 12 and 13h I believe.

V. Sponsors. Very important. Susan I will need all of your help on your end to
get this going, as well as Moira to round up her people here in the art
community for their support and guidance.

VI. What An Attendee Can Expect

A day/weekend full of eclectic art showcases and fun. An opportunity to see
NY’s female’s artist all in one room and share in their work.

VII. Final Outcome

I’d like for all of those who attend to leave taking away a piece of what they
have seen and to share it with their peers and hopefully fuse their art, designs,
and or experiences with one of the featured artists.

**extras**
1. How to go about contacting artists. Create 1 uniform way
of inviting an artist to participate. Sending one invite with
purpose and goal listed as a way to introduce the gala to
the participant.

2. Are any ar tists (or anyone besides, space owners,
movers) expecting to be paid?


3. Press. Let’s have a few people there documenting the
festival. Interviewers. Also need a great way of getting
the word out.

4. Setting up the space, curator. It will be crucial to set the
space up appropriately so that each artist feels
comfortable in her space and that each set up is easily
accessible by those in attendance.

I will add more as things pop up.

Here’s a start.

June 16, 2009

Lori Stewart

I asked my good friend Esi Evans to get involved with the planning; locking in artists and talking to her friends that were curators, etc. It was Esi, myself and Moira Meltzer-Cohen. I met Moira I believe in April of 2009 at an art show sponsored by Diesel in Soho. Another friend and artist, Lynnette Astaire had her photography on display there. Somehow Moira and I started chatting which led to many meetings throughout the start of that summer about making this art expose happen. She was very supportive of the event. What started off as an idea, quickly led to several conversations, phone calls, to do lists, and even creating a company name, and discussing a logo to accompany it... I think we decided on "b. a. g." and right now I don't remember what those letters stood for. But at the time we felt we needed a name, so that we would seem established, and therefore we could get a venue and other millions of elements needed to get the show on the road. Towards the end of the summer these talks, calls, and lists all disintergrated. Moira who became our driving force (and frankly who had the most and best contacts in this area) announced that she would be starting law school and we all just took several steps back from the project... I took so many steps back that I fell right were I was supposed to, back into this film with nothing in sight except this character. This is when JUST BREATHE finally became my number one and only priority.