I was part of Hails second hmong artists show at the Homewood Gallery in North Minneapolis.It was a good opening night but I must say I have learned a couple of things from that show.
One, I don't like my work in 16x20 inches. I think the work is more effective in a larger scale or maybe it was the fact that it was so close together. Two, I hate full bleeds. I think its important to have borders around my prints. I feel that it gives the viewers time to digest my photographs individually. I just think that overall my prints could have been hung better. There was dust in and on the glass and the print borders were cut unevenly which totally away from the photographs. I guess I can't complain much because I wasn't there to help it get hung but still... And lastly from now on I want to be apart every decision made when hanging my work.

A few weeks ago I entered in this contest called "Heyhotshot" and although I wasn't chosen to show work, I did get honorable mention along with 20 other artists, which is better than nothing, right? It was bittersweet I guess. I guess you can say I have been questioning my work and my life. you know, if I should take this path or not.. I prayed to GOD and asked him to give me a sign, because it always seems like I'm good but never good enough. Could this be the sign? I have had some bad luck recently. I need some sort of validation from the community, any community. I need to know that I'm doing what I'm suppose to be doing. Its important for me. I can sit here and say I don't need validation but that would be a lie. I NEED VALIDATION.


and lastly here is a photograph taken last fall of Brian. He has been my muse this summer. I enjoy making work about him and his brother. They are the loves of my life.


I know that in my last post I said sometimes the world doesn't seem to understand me or my work. What I want the world to know about my work is that it will always be and has been about the hmong people and our struggle to belong. I LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY.