St. Paul, Minnesota

After we retrieved the car from the snowbank, I drove Emily back to her temporary home in St. Paul. She took off the winter head gear and put on lipstick, and I followed her around the house looking for some place with enough light to take pictures.

I told Emily she was like a force of nature - not like anyone I have ever met.

She once told me she never let things get confusing because she is not gay and that's not a nice thing to do to gay girls. And that's real love in my world and why we remain such great friends.

Emily and the Shanty of Misfit Toys

Anyone who has read her book, Glory Goes and Gets Some, knows that Emily Carter has been through some pretty rough experiences and has survived to tell the story. Last week, Emily and her dog, Lefty, agreed to brave a blustery afternoon on Medicine Lake in order to explore the shanties with me. While Lefty slid on the ice and sniffed various shanties, Emily and I discussed how it feels to have siblings who get married, have children, own homes and enjoy a financial security that eludes the likes of the two of us. Upon exiting the parking lot near the lake, Emily and I got the rental car stuck in a snowbank for dramatic effect and were rescued once again by Minnesotans.

Hard Times

What with the war, the economy, the mortgage crisis ... even shanties are struggling.

The Ice Museum

If this shanty had internet access and a doggie bed for Paris, I could almost live here...

Snap Shot Shanty

One of my favorite new shanties is The Snap Shot Shanty, where I had my picture taken. If I look slightly like a corpse, that is because it was awfully frigid out there, and I can't sleep more than seven hours straight to save my life. Or maybe I'm just creepy, who knows.

Norae Shanty

One of the oldest and most lively shanties is The Norae Shanty designed by artist, Mike Hoyt. Inside, you will find Minnesotans singing karaoke and drinking beer. Both my glasses and camera lens fogged up the second I walked in the door, so this is what the scene looked like to me ...

Auto Ethnographic Guide Service

Here's where all the fun began five years ago ...

Don't know what Auto Ethnographic means? (I didn't).

Ask Peter.

Doing Fine

Congratulations to Jen Bekman on delivering an excellent talk, "Doing Fine: Emerging Artists and the Fine Art Market," at The Minnesota Center for Photography on Monday night. Jen is pictured below after her lecture along with some of my favorite Minnesotans who came to hear her speak.


Jen Bekman


Susan Boecher


Peter Haakon Thompson


Kari Reardon


Bill Mondale

Jen Bekman

Peter Haakon Thompson and Jen Bekman in Art Shanty
Medicine Lake
Minneapolis, MN
February 2008

Another important woman in my life, Jen Bekman, is giving a presentation tonight about her experiences with artists and the art market at The Minnesota Center for Photography. Jen and I spent a few hours yesterday on Medicine Lake keeping warm with our dear friend, Peter Haakon Thompson, in the original shanty and touring the others. More photos to come soon.

Winter

Winter Branches
Austin, TX
December 2007

Red Tricycles

Red Tricycles
Marfa, TX
December 2007

Armchair

Armchair
Marfa, TX
December 2007

Silver Horse

Silver Horse
for Nicholas
Austin, TX
December 2007

Nicholas

Nicholas John Stauffer
Born Feb. 7, 2008
Photo by Devin and Dana

Here's my new nephew, Nicholas, born yesterday in Austin, Texas.

Isn't he cute??!!

I think he looks like a sailor.

Talking to GOD

Talking to GOD
Interstate 10 West
Texas
December 2007