dan abernathy - contributing to the chaos

april twenty twenty nine, two thousand eight

When Rock Rabbit was an art gallery one of the artist that I hung was my dear friend David Vaughan. He is my “brother from another mother” and I would also guess that he knows me better then anyone else. With that knowledge he still encourages me to push the limits and keep contribute to the chaos. Here are a couple of images that he sent me from a resent session I wanted to share. Here too are some links to his site, Personal Fiction and the Rock Rabbit Collection.

april twenty seven, two thousand eight

This month marks the fifth year that I have not had my baby sister. She was ripped from our lives and I do not think there is a day that passes where she does not pass into my mind. I loved her so much and now, though I now that she is on a different level, I miss her so. I miss the way she brought life to a room when she entered and I miss the conversations we had that lasted for hours. When I lost Robin part of me went with her and it is a wound that is not healing. My daughter Erin wrote this story about losing her aunt, I have posted it before, but I want to link it again to share. The photo of Robin is a page in my journal. The laugh says it all.

april sixteen, two thousand eight
I was reminiscing trough my journals and thought I would add some new images to that gallery. I had to photograph them for another project so here are some to look at. I'll be adding more in the future.

april thierteen, two thousand eight

Response

Hi!
Hello!

It is nice to meet you.
It is nice to meet you too.

I love talking to you.
We talked all night.

You make me laugh.
You make me laugh too.

I want you.
Baby, I want you too.

Read On....

A photo from my archives!

april nine, two thousand eight

Guro, the man that gave me the feather that I wear and gave me slight direction to where I'm going.

Always Seeking

As I was, I am, and I always will be seeking, looking for something else, something new, and something that is not there. Perhaps the mere act of searching is in itself finding. When we seek enlightenment, we are enlightened. These words have a profound truth to them. A truth that we would all benefit from, if we could hear there meaning.
What it is that I am searching for in its entirety, I cannot be completely sure, but I think basically, it is a simple quest. Over the years my search has been manipulated and damaged slightly on the surface, but after analyzing the core it is just happiness that I seek. I think we all are just trying to pursue true and complete happiness. Read More

april six, two thousand eight

Caught in a World of Circumstances

Because of the importance and order I put on a situation, the ability to control, fix or eradicate the elements of the life that I am living, or of my destruction are no longer near my grasp. I am caught in a world of circumstances I have no control over.
I find myself having no fear of these circumstances. I find no dilemma of any outcome. There is

no negative, no positive, only the rippling effect of an outcome. On one side, everything is accomplished to the standards of others, and life would move on as is. On the other side, everything could be lost; pummeling to the ground and a new chapter would revel itself. Either way life moves forward. The later scenario would be simpler, more adventures and calmer. It would allow me to move closer to being me. Although by the measurements of others it would be a failure, but stepping away from the push of society would be calming.
Could withdrawing from the material world solve these problems? Could physically isolating ourselves from the materialistic demands that our consumer society has forced on us keep our creative thoughts pure? It would not solve the current problems, but it would slow, or stop the

accumulation of any new destructive circumstances.
    We are forced to earn the so-called ever-important dollar, just to spend it. Should we work hard to make the same dollar to save it? What we should do is work on being self-sufficient and not relying on consumerism. We should work hard to not need the so important dollar so we can live a purer life. A life not governed by money. The want and craving for money is an addiction worse than any drug seen on the street. It can make a good person uncaring and evil. I have been witness to this, people ruined by the sudden on slight of wealth. Consumerism means money and money means greed. Money is our evil, not the cure for our happiness.
    I do not believe this withdrawal should be a complete isolation from humankind, just an absence from a world not governed and controlled by a society that does nothing but consume. It should be an inner withdrawal; an escape to the purest goal is of peace and happiness. I am not talking about world peace, that fable will never be seen until all is destroyed. What peace I refer to is peace in our hearts and minds.
    If we seek life with a sincere and pure heart, we will feel a liberation. Strive to enjoy the pleasures of the world you are living in. If you cannot, then change it. Seek the bliss you desire. It does not take wealth to be happy and enjoy life.
    Our physical instincts, our natural urges and needs are installed into our beings in creation. With them, you form a foundation. Our primal instincts focus on keeping us strong and alive. Then we are influenced to what our wants and needs could be, usually by a form of physical pleasure. They too can become attached, so deep that they feel basic and part of are human makeup. Our basic instincts, our primal needs and nothing but human behavior. The influences from others are what can be associated with bad and evil.
    Do not deny the urge to live and feel a blissful life, but do so without following a false path. Fallow your path, the only path, even if it is by yourself. Listen to advise, suggestions and examples from others learn all that is possible, but be your own person, not one of the 65%. Live to be yourself and you will be a pure being. Enjoy the pleasures of life and you will enjoy the pleasures of the world. Strive to keep your spiritual quest alive and began to live being you. The complete you. - dba

april four, two thousand eight

Old Girlfriends & Horrible Memories

I heard a phrase the other day, "old girlfriends and horrible memories," and it derailed my thoughts making me think what it meant. The only thing horrible about old girlfriends is thinking that they were horrible. What a sad way to remember a relationship with someone that at one time you

were attracted to, or cared for. I know there is evil out there, on both sides of the spectrum, but there is also a lot of good.
I think people are basically good at heart. Sometimes they get attacked by society, which influences their behavioral traits, casting a shadow and stops their light from shining bright. It is societies cause and reaction that pushes them into the dark. No one really begins life horrible. It is reaction to life's path that makes behaving in a different and sometimes not so polite way a reality.
Because love is not a light switch, people revert love to hate in an attempt to deal with hurt. This biting phrase, "old girlfriends and horrible memories," made me search the past and bring up my old girlfriends, and think about them. I can't say that any of them were horrible, though some were not compatible, we shared no common interests, or they were different then me and my eccentric ways, I think they were all individual people and very unique in their own right. It didn't mater if they were together for a night, a day, a week, or years. I loved them all.
Trying to understand people that think love interests turn horrible makes me wonder about the person having these useless feelings and casting these sharp words. Are they blaming the other person for their own inadequacies? Maybe they should look deep into themselves, before casting blame and remarks. Judgment begins inside, at the central core of each person. - dba

After that rate of wisdom I also have a new addition to the Tramp Stamp Tribute and to the Road Kill image.

april one, two thousand eight
I love food and I love good food even better. This is an obvious observation to anyone that has been witness to the erratic behavior of my waistline. My belt is adjusted more than tight panties on a church bench. There are only a couple of things more enjoyable than sitting down to a fine meal, and if I have to tell you what they are you are more deprived then you should be, Enjoying fine food should be a ritualistic experience, a sacred indulgence. Dining is a time for enjoyment where your senses come alive with stimulation.
With the fast passed lifestyle, society has hammered us into; people are not enjoying the finer pleasures in life. We work, we eat, we sleep then we start over again. We have forgotten about the enjoyment of life. Eating is what you do when you are dining, dinning is what you do when you sit down to relax enjoy and eat. So, as I travel, experience, observe, I eat, I make photographs, I write and I like to share. The gastronomically highlights of the Denver trip were: the Domo Restaurant and Hà Nòi Pho.

Domo is the 5th top Japanese restaurant in the United States. It is a Japanese

country foods restaurant and a unique dining experience. It is also the home of Aikido Nippon Kan, a Japanese country museum and a traditional Japanese garden. The Aikido students are the ones working this restaurant, which is why there is such a high standard in this fine restaurant. I had Japanese curry that was way good and a pleasure to enjoy. Don't be in a hurry when you get there and take time to walk around the museum and the garden. We did this stroll after we ate and it was a nice way to let your meal settle. This is an experience you don't want to miss, so stop while in Denver for lunch or dinner you will not be sorry.
Walking into Hà Nòi Pho ,a Vietnamese restaurant, and seeing nothing but Vietnamese people is

a sure sign that you are walking into the right place. Having a bowl of hot Pho is something that everyone should experience. It brings something to your person that makes you feel good. It is dinning for the art of true fulfillment. Hà Nòi Pho is on Federal Blvd and the phone number is 303-975-0919
Influenced by the Chinese and French, the noodle Pho originated in Northern Vietnam during the mid-1880s. Rice noodle and spices came from China and the French popularized the eating of red meat. It is believed that "pho;" is derived from "pot au feu" a French soup. Vietnamese cooks blended the Chinese, French and native influences to make a dish that is uniquely Vietnamese. The popularity of pho spread southwards in 1954, when the country was divided into North and South Vietnam. As the dish moved south, cooks infused it with additional ingredients until it evolved into the version that is commonly served today. Read more.

I also had dinner in a nice pub in Fort Collins, on Collage Street. Unfortunately I have lost the name and for this I apologies. I did had a starter of ostrich toped with a mustard sauce that was very nice. The server was also great and steered

me away from the wrong choice. A good server is a big part of the dinning experience. A good server can make a bad meal better and bad server can make a good meal bad. Laura was great! She is supposed to be looking at this site and if she does, I will ad the name. I also had a Kings Curry that was two-time-hot, which is just the way I like them. It is nice to ask for hot and get hot that still has the flavor.

march 29, 2008
I have put up the Tramp Stamp Gallery, which is my collection of tattoos for this area. If anyone

out there that reads this and would like to contribute a piece of their skin please let me know. I would like to shoot you and get you in the gallery. The only thing about this project is I have to shoot them. Emailing your own images has not worked.
I also have a new participant in the 23 Questions page, have a look and again let me know if you are gutsy enough to answer the questions.

As I was coming back from Jackson a couple of days ago I found my first Pronghorn road kill image. What a contrast to the pigeon in Denve

march 28, 2008
This little car that I drive seems even smaller as I drive down a interstate highway. Travelers are mere dots in the road for the 18-wheelers hauling freight from coast to coast to weave through on I-80, which has been commandeered by the trucking industry. With the number of big rigs and the constant wind that blows on I-80 my little car does not have much presence as it floats down the road, humming with the collection in my CD case. As I looked out the window when one of these rigs passed all I see are tires and spinning lug nuts. It was a cat and mouse game of sorts. The passed me on the downgrade and I would pass them on the upgrade as they slowed with the burden of their heavy loads.

My Granddaughter
Raiya Sunshine

The first day in Denver was so very cool. I have recently been exposed to a new form of art. I have seen it before, but unfortunately for me I have not paid much attention to it, even though I have shot it before. Jessie, a friend of mine turned me on to this art form and now I'm constantly on the prowl looking for it. I am even going so far as to start tagging with my chaos sticker!

Though it may be deemed graffiti and vandalism it is art. I'm not referring to tagging, which is more like a male dog pissing on the bounders of their territory. What I am looking for is art that has been thought out and executed in a grand fashion. Though the time of year was a factor and I think in the summer months we could have found more, Erin and I walked a lot of back alleys and byways looking for street art that had not been covered up. I don't understand why so many people look down on street art so badly. I would welcome it and like a small percentage of other people do, invite artists to paint murals to brighten the drab and bleak. This whole dilemma reminds me of the animated movie Wizards. The little fat fairy king went around putting color and flowers to the dark and suppressed only for it to be hunted and covered in mankind's drab thoughts of life and existence. Personally, I'm for more color. Shooting street art has become a new photo project for me and I will be posting a new gallery exhibiting street art in the near future.

Erin In the Gypsy House, one of the many coffee houses we visited.

By afternoon we had been out in the brisk air long enough and took refuge at the Denver Art Museum where we strolled the galleries looking at art from Picasso and Monet and many others. I have always been a huge fan of Picasso, both the man and the artist. I smiled inside as I looked at the original work of this great and renowned artist and saw so many similarities in the street art I had looked at during the morning. It was a fantastic day exposing ourselves to the world of art.

march 26, 2008

Erin and Myself,
yes this is a portrait not just a reflection, or a photo of a empty room!

I have been slacking on my updates, and I know that I have, but they will be coming more regular again. I'm getting my head back on tighter, although it is never very tight, and there still seem to be a number of sources trying to keep it knocked loose. They are not have much luck as I'm to demented for their cheap shots.
I just returned from a weekend trip to Denver and I will be posting much from being there
In the meantime here are some images I just downloaded from my digital Leica.

New Road Kill Images.

These are city kills, the rabbit in Pinedale, the Pigeon in Denver

Email Dan; say it & I'll post it!