"Any day is a good day for a funeral. To let die those parts of yourself that no longer serve you. Those things that hold you back, that keep you small. You're much bigger than you feel. You carry much more muchness inside you than you know. You can send yourself off in flames like the grand warrior funerals of old, or the quiet pilgrim's walk from hill to shore... Or trumpeted celebration and song like marching through the French Quarter in perfect Creole pomp and flare... Whatever way you choose to release yourself, the end result is always YOU. The sum of any equation; YOU are what you are left with. You're what you started with. It'll be you through every single change. Every single motion. And in the stillness, it'll still be you. Life is full of so much sadness. So much loss. And then at times, it's not us who've truly lost anything, but others who have lost us. The gift all along being our true selves. Sometimes gifts are squandered. Mostly, happiness is a decision. It's a choice. An active, moving choice. A living and breathing thing. It's true what they say; that "it's not the destination." The destination is a fixed point. Happiness... Happiness never stops moving. Not ever." As written for the short art film: ~author K. Day The Funeral starring actress K. Day + director Michael Avila Christman + produced by Darkhorse Productions + written by K. Day Theatrical Teaser Trailer:
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Since I was a little girl, I have always been inspired by the beauty icons of old Hollywood; Marilyn, Sophia, Audrey, Rita...and most of all BRIDGETTE. At almost 40, I got the opportunity to be Bridgette Bardot for a day, and what a magical experience it was! Once again taking lead on photography and a little light filming was Joe of Illusionbreak Photography. This time we ventured to The Historic Pearl, now one of San Antonio's swankest hot spots. I was careful to study her wardrobe, posturing and essence very closely prior to the session. Here is a collection of side by sides featuring Miss Bardot herself and my look-alike tribute. Look no. one + as well as an actual on-the-spot self portrait drawn by me. Look no. two + featuring my Canon Rebel XT which is my real tool of choice as I am also a photographer by trade. Look no. 3 + featuring a DELICIOUS freshly made cinnamon bun from Larder. Look no. 4 + sporting the very first business blazer I have ever owned from my teens in the 90's.
I spent Veteran's Day becoming the hero of my own story during the first day of filming for my upcoming short art film with director Rick Canfield. It was nothing shy of a real life fairy tale. What began as a cold and gloomy harsh weather day turned out to be quite a little adventure for 4 South Texas creatives with one shared daydream of an artistic endeavor. Film maker / director Rick Canfield and I began brainstorming in September and had landed on wanting to drum up a whimsical and flexible film short featuring my spoken word poetry as our inaugural project together. I'd only loosely begun drawing up set ideas by the time I contacted photographer Livi Cardenas of This Witch's Photography (a big up and comer that I recommend looking into). After an energetic conversation and pitching my concept, I knew that between all of us we were onto something magic. Pulling hair expert Crystel Franco into the mix made a solid team I was confident could deliver something impactful. On the day of however, light rain poured as temperatures dropped to the point that we could see our breath. This would have forced most to reschedule. But San Antonio artists are a stubborn breed and fortunately for us Livi knew of the perfect alternative location for our setting. I'm happy to report that this once "alternative" is now the solid set for the film. I'd never heard of The Denman Estate state park until she suggested it and we're collectively glad she did. The grounds of the estate are sprawling, open and dappled with mythical looking trees with low hanging branches. Just like a story book. We were grateful enough to shoot the stills and film under the welcoming awning overlooking the lush green landscape as the mist came down through dusk and on into the cold night. From gilded gold Victorian masks to taxidermy insects, "poisoned" apples to antique and handcrafted jewelry (featuring one of artist Jen Burns' gorgeous eye necklaces), cloaks, smoke and a whole lot of playfulness...we pulled out all the stops to create something altogether other-worldly. It was a night full of on-set shenanigans and laughs, trouble-shooting and learning one anothers' rhythm. With such a perfect conclusion to the first leg of the project, day 2 came the following weekend. We were thrilled to be joined by my co-actress, professional freak show performer Miss Lita Deadly whose stage moniker is The Human Pincushion and rightly so. The weather on the second day was as cold, but a bit dryer which made for excellent access to the grounds of the estate, to include the Moon Labyrinth---my personal favorite. In no time we were frolicking, levitating and conjuring all about the spiraling maze. And what day of magic would be fully equipped without a real life miniature unicorn? Between the tiny horned pony, the wandering geese and a curious butterfly who landed on my finger, no one could doubt that the fairytales we wove were coming to life before our eyes. It's just the sort of alchemy you cannot make up. By dusk as the darkness crept in, so too did the film begin its descent into the deep of the woods to the witch's den. Rick's camera rolled over crystal balls, hand-painted skulls, tea-stained parchment and all manner of glass bottles containing everything from herbs to ashes, powder ground deer antler to scorpions. I will say it takes alot more muscle than you think to fain an epileptic spirit possession. And equally difficult to hold a straight face when your costar is instructed to whisper in your ear only to verbatim say, "whisper, whisper, whisper..." The laughs and bloopers were plenty and definitely kept us warm as the sky blackened and the temperatures once again plummeted. It was mind-blowing to see a cloaked body double of me following closely behind, eerily reaching and lurking. Definitely gave way to some existential shadow self ponderings. My colleagues seemed to share in the unnerving feelings our esoteric acting catalyzed. After a very Jungian day two of filming, only one day remains before the film goes to Rick's cutting floor. And it's all paper moons, a handful of stars, a wink and a prayer. To be continued... ~author K. Day *View Livi's photography at https://www.facebook.com/This-Witchs-Photography-1356141827821925/ and follow her on Instagram at @thiswitchsphotograpy Follow director Rick Canfield at @thenativecreation on Instagram My latest creative excursion was a cold rainy day trip modeling for Illusionbreak Photography at the historical and hauntingly breathtaking Menger Hotel. Picture this:
The skies are gray and gloomy, the air crisp with spontaneous light drizzle, the streets wet and the wind carrying the scent of leaves even in the concrete heart of downtown San Antonio. That describes the October mid-day accurately when photographer Joey Satanas and I embarked on our first session together. Initially we had no particular location in mind. We'd set out to capture an assortment of witchy urban fashion with a hint of couture. It was in fact the dreary weather that led me to suggest stopping in at The Menger Hotel as opposed to fairing the outside. As is evident in the elegant photographs we were able to capture, this turned out to be an auspicious detour. Joe had never been inside the old walls of the hotel. I on the other hand have ventured through its halls, its stairwells and winding corridors since my teen years in the 90's. I took great pleasure in showing him around, chatting up the staff and several guests who incidentally were enjoying a getaway with their senior group. Between wardrobe changes the ladies swooned over the flashes of sequins and posh little dresses I'd chosen for the day. We played in the antique phone booths, melted into the rich fabrics of the many vintage chairs and fainting couches, and touched the low top floor bar ceiling with our curious fingertips. The thing about The Menger is that it's one of those rare places that swallows you up, leads you to a place in your headspace where all time sort of stands still. Past intermingles with present until you seem to float in this space that is outside of the construct of time while there. Like walking through a dream, foggy euphoria despite the clarity of the eye... And from this particular dreamstate emerged some of the most beautiful work of my 13 year long career. I will say to the reader, if you haven't ever had the pleasure of staying at The Menger Hotel, you should absolutely add it to your travel list. As one of San Antonio's most glorious haunted jewels, it is well worth it. ~author K. Day A look into my 14 year modeling career, past and present. Lady in Red + photographer C. Farrow + White Sands, New MexicoBrokedown Baby + photographer C. Farrow + San Antonio, TXBeing Bridgette + Illusionbreak Photography + The Historic Pearl, SA/TXFrom whimsical to weird, nightmarish to sci-fi... All of the more labor intensive art driven photoshoots from my modeling career. Saxophone Girl + body painter Ritamarie Garza & Winterborn Photography
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ModelI have modeled professionally for 14 years as of 2019. ~above still frame captures from my very first short film project as shot by director Rick Canfield.
featuring hair by Crystel Franco colorist Belleza by Terry Archives
November 2019
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