We’re always happy to hear from our prolific & talented friend

Maura Wolfson-Foster

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Maura tells us: “I received my B.F.A. from Bennington College in Vermont. It was there I learned how to “see” and ‘listen” abstractly. Before that, I studied in NYC with Daniel Green, a well-known portrait artist…. total realism, oil paints, “live” models….also, posed as a painter’s model during that period. Owned “Embellishments” – a business I created from being inspired by a small Indian mosaic frame found in the gift shop of the Jacksonville Museum of Art. – for 12 years.”

Now, she works at Merrill Lynch, helping people with their 401k plans. Photography has become my salvation. – You can see more of Maura’s photography at jpgmag.com and her previous aamora posts here.

Imagine taking a leisurely Sunday drive, and encountering a giant black head on someone’s porch.
Well, it happened to me, while driving down Dellwood Avenue last weekend. Here are the results.

Maura is an aamora member. She tells us: “I received my B.F.A. from Bennington College in Vermont. It was there I learned how to “see” and ‘listen” abstractly. Before that, I studied in NYC with Daniel Green, a well-known portrait artist…. total realism, oil paints, “live” models….also, posed as a painter’s model during that period. Owned “Embellishments” – a business I created from being inspired by a small Indian mosaic frame found in the gift shop of the Jacksonville Museum of Art. – for 12 years. Now, I work at Merrill Lynch, helping people with their 401k plans. Photography has become my salvation.” – You can see more of Maura’s photography at jpgmag.com and her previous aamora posts here.

Cairenn Russelo initiated Parallel Lives, an intuitive project, collaborating Aamora members John Linton, Rhio9 and Maura Wolfson-Foster.

The object of the Parallel Lives was to intuitively exchange an image with another photographer, not knowing what image was to be shared. The result… juxtaposed subjects sharing a very similar vision.

Careinn chose photographers John, Maura and Rhio, feeling she knew their work and their (sometimes) quirky visions, anticipating an intuitive connection in subject matter.

All photographers had formerly met on JPGmag.com.

Cairenn and John Linton

Cairenn and Maura

Cairenn and Rhio9

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Rhio9 is a photographer & musician. Enjoy more of his wonderful work by checking out his blog, his books on Blurb, or his contributions on aamora.

John Linton is aamora’s floundering member living in Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, the state with the biggest name and smallest size. View John’s work on his Flickr stream, JPG Magazine or aamora.

Catching the Bus

by Aamora Guest Maura Wolfson-Foster

1/17/10. Woke up early. Drove my parents’ beige 2000 Lincoln Continental (our transportation these days) to Pepboy’s. They were short a mechanic and the wait was going to be 2 to 3 hours. I asked if it would be better to come in the next morning and they said, ‘Okay….around 8:30.”

On my way there I had noticed a painted bus but held myself back from taking a photo. When I came out, I was so happy to see the bus still parked there. I was trying to get my camera out of the bag when the bus started to pull away. All I could think about was “Aaron & Aamora…” I had to get those pix!

Jumped into the car and started following. Every time the bus stopped I would snap a photo. Stayed right behind for at least a mile until the bus pulled into the Avenues Shopping Mall and parked. I pulled up on the left side, leapt out and proceeded to photograph (even though there were cops there and the tag on the Lincoln is from 2007).

A few minutes later, the driver got out of the bus and asked, “May I help you?” I replied, “I’m just a crazy artist and this is such a cool bus…I…I followed you.” He said, “I know.” I asked if he minded me taking a few pictures. He said, “No”. I asked if he wanted to be in one. He said, “No”. I thanked him and took a few more photos.

So, these are the result of my quest. I think I should have been a photojournalist, because I’ll do almost anything to get the shot.

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Maura Wolfson-Foster received her B.F.A. from Bennington College in Vermont. Maura says it was there she learned to “see” and ‘listen” abstractly. Before that, Maura studied in NYC with Daniel Green, a well-known portrait artist; total realism, oil paints, “live” models, also, posed as a painter’s model during that period.

Maura owned Embellishments, a business created from being inspired by a small Indian mosaic frame found in the gift shop of the Jacksonville Museum of Art for 12 years. Now photography has become her salvation.

View more of Maura’s photography at JPG Magazine.

“Old paint on canvas, as it ages, sometimes becomes transparent. When that happens, it is possible, in some pictures, to see the original lines: a tree will show through a woman’s dress, a child makes way for a dog, a large boat is no longer on an open sea. That is called pentimento because the painter ‘repented,’ changed his mind. Perhaps it would be as well to say that the old conception, replaced by a later choice, is a way of seeing and then seeing again.

-From Pentimento by Lillian Hellman

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Maura is an aamora member. She tells us: “I received my B.F.A. from Bennington College in Vermont. It was there I learned how to “see” and ‘listen” abstractly. Before that, I studied in NYC with Daniel Green, a well-known portrait artist…. total realism, oil paints, “live” models….also, posed as a painter’s model during that period. Owned “Embellishments” – a business I created from being inspired by a small Indian mosaic frame found in the gift shop of the Jacksonville Museum of Art. – for 12 years. Now, I work at Merrill Lynch, helping people with their 401k plans. Photography has become my salvation.” – You can see more of Maura’s photography at jpgmag.com and her previous aamora posts here.

an aamora show
produced by aaron schwartz
photographs by maura wolfson-foster

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“The more photos I took in Mt. Dora, the more drawn I became to abstraction….”

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We welcome Maura as a new member of aamora. Maura tells us: “I received my B.F.A. from Bennington College in Vermont. It was there I learned how to “see” and ‘listen” abstractly. Before that, I studied in NYC with Daniel Green, a well-known portrait artist…. total realism, oil paints, “live” models….also, posed as a painter’s model during that period. Owned ”Embellishments” – a business I created from being inspired by a small Indian mosaic frame found in the gift shop of the Jacksonville Museum of Art. – for 12 years. Now, I work at Merrill Lynch, helping people with their 401k plans. Photography has become my salvation.”  – You can see more of Maura’s photography at jpgmag.com

Portrait of Dreams – aamora from Michael Van der Tol on Vimeo.

Aamora acknowledges and thanks:

Michael Van der Tol for conceiving and producing”Portrait of Dreams”, the aamora members and guests who made the portraits, and their subjects who so generously shared their time and their “dreams”:

Chandra, photographed by Diane Peterson
Sarah, photographed by Catharine Amato
Crystal, photographed by Aaron Schwartz
Alexis, photographed by John Linton
Stefan, and Ronnie, both photographed by Ronnie Ginnever
D.A.Windle, photographed by Marie Wilson
Sheralee, photographed by Alexis Gerard, and
Quinna, photographed by Maura Wolfson-Foster

The song “Brake” is by Canadian artist Melissa McClelland from her “Victoria Day” album.

(If you would prefer an alternative to viewing the slide show in the window above, try viewing it by clicking here.)

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Michael Van der Tol, founding aamora member, lives in Qualicum Beach, British Columbia. His photographic work focuses on rural & landscapes. View more of his work on his website on his blog or here on aamora.

Founder of aamora.com, Aaron Schwartz, is a photographer, actor, lawyer, writer, and flaneur based in Toronto. You can view more of Aaron’s work at his website, on JPG Magazine, or on aamora.

John Linton is aamora.com’s floundering member living in Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, the state with the biggest name and smallest size. View more of John’s work on his Flickr stream, JPG Magazine or aamora.

Vancouver born Marie Wilson, was one of the first aamora.com members. Marie is a writer, photographer, artist, actor, mother & muse living in Toronto. View her work on her website, on JPG Magazine or on aamora.

The Best of aamora – 2009 from Michael Van der Tol on Vimeo.

Michael Van der Tol, asked our members to contribute their favorite shot of 2009. He created this slide show for you to enjoy. Thanks, Michael, and Happy New Year everyone!

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Thank you…Aaron Schwartz, Catharine Amato, Claudia Lüthi, Danielle Kelly, Diane Peterson, Jim Robertson, John Linton, Llorenç Rosanes, Marie Wilson, Maura Wolfson-Foster, Michael Van der Tol