Blog leads to friendship

I belong to a local photography organization that way back in the Spring of 2008, had a program on how to create a blog. This was a presentation to show and explain the benefits of creating a personal blog to help promote one's fine art photography. My blog began  on July 4th, 2008 as a mix of personal, fine art and portrait posts. I've since separated my fine art and portrait blogs. This site has become my portrait blog and http://williamzuback.blogspot.com has become my fine art blog.

New to blogging at the time, I created a post in August of 2008 titled, New by Mattel, Beach Barbie. Months later I had a comment on this post by someone named, Frieda Babbley. Not only did she comment, I believe she may have become my first "follower" on my BacktotheZu News blog. I saw this and knowing nothing about "followers" or "following" other peoples blogs I found this to be odd. Why would this person I don't know, "follow" me? Well, it didn't take me long to understand this aspect of blogging. Frieda and I quickly became internet friends that shared an interest in writing, family and art. She became a big fan and conduit for my original "Book Passages" photography series and I became a big fan of her poetry and short story writing. She helped spread the word of my Book Passages project to people in her internet and writing circles.

Then came Facebook. Frieda and I became friends and our friendship grew. I became friends with her husband on Facebook too and we continue to enjoy "liking" and commenting on each others posts. My most recent project, Madonna & Child: Interpreted brought Frieda and my creative skills together once more. I curated this art exhibit with 31 visual artists and 3 writers providing their interpretation of this iconic subject. Frieda contributed an essay for the show and the exhibition catalog. This weekend I get to meet her and her family as they make the 6-8 hour journey to Milwaukee to see the Madonna & Child: Interpreted exhibit. Sunday I get to meet in person this wonderful writer and her family. How cool is that? I think it's very, very cool.

Joyce Carol Oates

Mandy Patinkin

The NEW and IMPROVED BacktotheZu Studios website

BacktotheZu Studios is three years old and during that time has grown from a traditional portrait studio to more of a boutique style studio offering very unique, stylized and personal portraits. The pace is slowed down to provide quality not quantity images from each individualized session.

Tour the new BacktotheZu Studios website and schedule your next portrait at the Zu.

Four Outstanding Milwaukee Artists on the Internet

A big thank you to Mary over at CricketToes for including me in her "four outstanding artists on the internet". Check it out. CricketToes is a refreshing voice in Milwaukee for all things creative.

Check it out:
CricketToes

Rear View Mirror

Looking for individuals interested in participating in my next visual journey. This series will require a portrait session as well as an brief interview. To maintain the spontaneity and surprise during a future exhibition you must also sign a release of confidentiality of idea until the work is exhibited.

If you are interested in becoming a part of this most interesting visual journey please email me at:
wmzuback@williamzuback.com

For a bit more information on this series read my most recent fine art blog.

Book Passages: A Visual Journey at Steenbock Gallery

Photography exhibit, Book Passages: A Visual Journey is now on display at the Steenbock Gallery, 1922 University Ave., Madison WI.

Opening reception and dramatic book passage readings by Mariapia Lambert, Saturday December 11, 6-9pm.

Show closes January 14, 2011.

Explained very well by a reviewer at a portfolio review of my work, He said, "The idea behind this body of work is the collaborative connection between the artist and the person who selects the passage of writing and the original passage itself. A three way triangle. One person sees and writes, one person reads and relates and an artist brings to light an idea of what the vision is. What do these diverse connections tell the viewer about the nature of perception and life? The essence of this project is the complexity of human communication. The beauty of this project is deeper and richer than just the pictures. It's in the way that we each communicate our idea's and emotions to each other and try to understand how this world works. It is ever changing and ever reinterpreted."

As the artist, I became the interpreter and the director.