Place Called Anywhere

Michael Napolitan

At least one. Of course some people have hundreds or even thousands of stories.
By Michael Napolitan.

Biography: Mike Napolitan graduated with BA in Illustration and a love for comic books. His first professional job was a comic book colorist, coloring comics for companies such as Marvel, DC, and Image Comics. Around the same time he also realized he had a passion for design and quickly set out to make it a career. He has designed a wide variety of products including backpacks, apparel, brochures, and book covers. Companies he has designed product for include Disney, Warner Bros., Nickelodeon, Six Flags, and Barnes and Noble. He is currently a web designer for HarperCollins Publishers, and spends his free time reading comic books.

Heather Aschinger

Some are scary.

Others are sad.
By Heather Aschinger.

Biography: I grew up in the pacific northwest, but have lived in NYC for the last seven years. About five years ago, I started photoblogging when a friend came across fotolog.com. Last year, I moved over to flickr. I've found my photography has improved with the blogging. I'm no longer just clicking and hoping something good comes of it; I now look for the picture. I have a camera on me at all times ... since you never know what your going to come across.

Margot Miller

Everyone has a story.
By Margot Miller
margotmiller.com.

Biography: Born and raised in Staten Island, New York, Margot Miller has always had great enthusiasm for the world of Illustration. Highly inspired by the line drawings in Eloise and the playful colors and characters of Dr. Seuss stories, Margot decided children’s books were her calling before she was old enough to read them on her own. She attended Syracuse University and graduated with honors and a degree in Illustration.

Margot's work has been published by Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, Layers Magazine, The Outreach for Breast Health Foundation, The Post Standard, and The Society of Illustrator's Student Exhibition catalog. Her mixed media work combines textured surfaces and found objects to create bold, colorful images.

Margot enjoys coffee with soy milk, reading, shopping, and photography. She invites you to visit her website at www.margotmiller.com.

Bryan Moore

I met this man in San Francisco while I was taking pictures, and I chose him to go with the text "Everyone has a story" panel because out of the hundreds of people I have met and talked to he had the most amazing story I have had the privilege to hear. He was a dog trainer in Nam. He trained dogs to sniff out explosives and people. After coming back from the war he lived the rest of his life in Kansas until he found out he had life ending cancer. It was then that he decided to travel to the west coast so he took his dog and started hitchhiking across the country. He played the harmonica the whole way and after traveling to Colorado on the goodness of strangers. A man that heard him playing bought him a plane ticket to California. He told me he traveled all that way because he had been out in California before the war and he wanted to see it one last time before he died. His dog was given military status so after he passed he knew it was guaranteed to be taken care of. When I spoke to him he had less then 3 months left to live and in the picture you can see his tears in his eyes as he shared the story with me. I feel this picture is the perfect opener based on the causes this book is going towards and the amazing life story he shared with me.

For the panel: "At least one. Of course some people have hundreds or even thousands of stories." I chose this picture because in this picture the man seems from a different time and has at least one great story if not more.

For the panel: "But they're too busy, or too tired, or too embarrassed to tell them to anyone." I chose this picture because in it there is no one person just glowing auras of people that seem to be moving too fast to even see let alone tell or hear a story. It was taken during the black out in Times Square as people rushed to get to there homes.

For the panel: "In Anywhere, everyone likes to tell stories. They each have thousands of stories to tell." I chose this picture because this telephone pole has a staple from each flier that was put on it and in a way I see it as each staple shows a story that some one was trying to tell.

For the panel: "Many are laugh out loud funny." I chose this picture because it just makes every one smile when they see it (a picture of a woman and the bird she raised since it was born.)

For the panel: "There are those that only adults can be told." I chose this picture because it is something for children to play on, but covered in caution tape to keep the kids away.

For the panel: "Right before bed, during dinner, early in the morning or very late at night, whether it's raining or the hottest day of the year, each person in Anywhere will tell his or her favorite story..." I chose this picture because it looks like the woman is telling the man her favorite story and I get the feeling that she would tell him anywhere and the ghost effect of the people I feel just adds to the feeling of any place and any people.

Biography
Bryan Moore is a street photographer born in the Midwest but raised in cities around the world. His images show the beauty often overlooked in the rush of modern life. Bryan has worked with some of today's top artists, such as David LaChapelle, Chuck Close, Alex Katz and many more. His work has and continues to be shown in NY as well as overseas. In the mean time, he continues to walk the streets of NY producing more work, which can be seen on bryanmoorephotography.com

Julie Blattberg

And many that only children understand.
By Julie Blattberg
JulieB.net

Biography
Julie Blattberg's work can be compared with that of the New Objectivists of Eastern Europe, but from the perspective of a female photographer in New York City at the turn of another century. A personal reverence for ages gone by brings a particular sensitivity to her signature graphic style: classic compositions and vintage aesthetics.

Her photography has been featured in many bestselling books, including Here Is New York; 98º: The Official Book; Lemony Snicket: The Unauthorized Autobiography; CBGB and OMFUG: 30 Years from the Home of Underground Rock; and Tombstone Tourist: Musicians. She is also the author of Beth and Trina: A Scratch-and-Sniff Adventure (Abrams Image, 2006). Friends welcome at www.MySpace.com/BethandTrina.

James Johnson

Some are scary.
By James Johnson

The Place Called Anywhere Project

This project is about the brain -- the left side, the right side, the magic of its fiery connectivity and the powers of its imagination and memory, as well as the encroachment of physical elements that aren't supposed to be a part of it.

It is a collaborative art project based around a children's story. You can see the text of the story here, and laid out on pages here.

The idea behind the story is that everyone has a story, and not one, but many, and that we all have our own unique ways of expressing these stories, which range as far and as wide as our own individual experiences, imagination, and one-of-a-kind thought processes will allow. It's a celebration of each person's unique take on their one of kind vantage point and experience, and emphasizes the importance of expression and sharing and connecting with others.

It's important to note that every panel in the story is an opportunity to tell a unique story in a unique, artistic way. The text on each panel simply supplies basic prompts -- sad, scary, the countless number of stories we each have. The art of your stories will fill in the blanks.

Artists of all types are invited to contribute to the project by rendering a visual "story" for a panel of their choice. There are 15 panels, plus the cover. Artists can submit art for more than one panel. The more creative and unique, the better. All submitted art should be original.

The art will be curated on the placecalledanywhere.com site, and selected panels will eventually be made into a book. The book will showcase multiple pages for each panel. So, for example, the "Some are scary" panel will run for multiple pages. Though the story is told in children's book form, feel free to create art that is adult-only. The book project will most likely involve an all-ages version, as well as an adults-only version.

(NOTE: You maintain the copyright to your art, but you are giving us permission to showcase on the placecalledanywhere.com site and include in any book project, as well as any relevant marketing material. Your name and a link to your site, as well as your bio information, will be placed on the site with your work. If your art is included in the book project, your name, website url and bio will appear in the credits.)

ALL proceeds from the book project will be given to brain tumor research and service organizations focused on helping people who have either had a brain tumor or have a brain tumor.

SPECS: Art should be submitted via email as an attachment to placecalledanywhere AT yahoo dot com in any web format (jpg, gif, etc) in even dimensions (square), at least 2200X2200 pixels, 300 dpi. Art needs to come in at such a high resolution in order to be usable for the printed book project.

WHO IS BEHIND THE PROJECT: James Johnson and Jeffrey Yamaguchi, and this list will grow as artists begin to submit work.

THE STORY OF THE CHILDREN'S STORY:
It was written in 1992 by Jeffrey Yamaguchi. It was a Christmas gift for his younger sister.

Place Called Anywhere Story Text

[Cover] Everyone Has a Story

[Pg. 01] Everyone has a story.

[Pg. 02] At least one. Of course some people have hundreds or even thousands of stories.

[Pg. 03] But they're too busy, or too tired, or too embarrassed to tell them to anyone.

[Pg. 04] Except in a place called Anywhere.

[Pg. 05] In Anywhere, everyone likes to tell stories. They each have thousands of stories to tell.

[Pg. 06] Some are scary.

[Pg. 07] Many are laugh out loud funny.

[Pg. 08] Others are sad.

[Pg. 09] There are those that only adults can be told.

[Pg. 10] And many that only children understand.

[Pg. 11] Every person in Anywhere knows at least one of every kind of story, whether it is sad or happy, very short or really, really long, one that must be told in a whisper, or one that never ends.

[Pg. 12] But they all have their favorite story.

[Pg. 13] And each person in Anywhere loves to tell his or her favorite story.

[Pg. 14] Right before bed, during dinner, early in the morning or very late at night, whether it's raining or the hottest day of the year, each person in Anywhere will tell his or her favorite story ...

[Pg. 15] As long as there is someone listening.

Everyone Has A Story (text) copyright Jeffrey Yamaguchi.