Meet…Glynnis McDaris

(Photographer and Multi-Faceted Marketer, Glynnis McDaris)

All around creative type, Glynnis McDaris has a lot going on. Whether it is her personal photography, her up-start company Wildcat as well as its spin-off Catnip, her main passion lies within the photographic realm. With tons on her plate - I had a chance to chat up McDaris to see what’s been keeping her busy this winter. Check it out below….

Tell us a little bit about WILDCAT. What was your original mission in founding it?

Wildcat was founded out of a shared interest in creating environments and events that functioned as unique happenings and art projects. We focus on finding alternative venues, showcasing unusual work, and pursuing a wide range of unexpected performances. Since it’s founding in 2003, Wildcat has collaborated with numerous non-profits, galleries, musicians, publications, and other artists. We operate on a special project basis.

WILDCAT has since expanded and has spawned CATNIP. What are the main differences between these two companies? How in sync do they work with each other?

Catnip was founded as a formalization of Wildcat’s relationship with frequent collaborators; technology partners, sound engineers, and designers who share in Wildcat’s vision and approach to projects.

What projects are you currently working on?

I just got back from New Orleans where I co-curated a satellite show with Julia Trotta, God is in the Details, for the New Orleans biennial, Prospect 1. The venue for the show was a haunted, decadent mansion on Coliseum Square. Artists in the show included William Stone, Daniel McDonald, Kon Trubkovich, Judy Rifka, Vlatka Horvat, Glynnis McDaris, Jane Rule Burdine, Gloria Maximo, Joseph Heidecker, Paul Kopkau, & Liz Goldwyn. I’m working on a show of my work (mixed media) for Feb/March, 2009 at Bespoke Gallery, and shooting editorial assignments and personal work. I am also getting ready for a road trip over the holidays-down south and across the west

How did you get into photography? What is one key element that you try to convey in your shots?

I experimented with all kinds of art as a teenager, but focused on photography as a film major in college. I would manipulate stills from my videos and eventually started to take photos as story boards for my video narratives.
I began showing these stills and “photographs” and then taking pictures professionally soon after. Whether shooting reportage, portraits, or abstract work, I am interested in many of the same things- subjects with duplicity, energy, relaxed beauty and formality, and a sense of charged calm.

All Photos by Glynnis McDaris

Top Search Words for 08

The word “Zeitgeist” means “the spirit of the times”. What better way to understand the collective conscience than to see our Top Search Words — After all, Google Don’t Lie! And so comes my annual report of Google Zeitgeist (read Google’s 2007 Top Searches words later to see how we’ve evolved— or devolved)…

Here’s Google’s Top WORD searches for 2008

(UNITED STATES Top Google Searches)

TOP SEARCHES regarding Economy (US)
financial crisis
depression
bailout
mortgage crisis
wall street
oil
stock market
subprime
credit crisis
housing crisis

(The word “Layaway” makes a comeback)

TOP SEARCHES regarding Fond Farewells (US)
heath ledger
bernie mac
tim russert
isaac hayes
george carlin
brad renfro
randy pausch
paul newman
boyd coddington
michael crichton

TOP SEARCHES with “Who is” (US)
who is obama
who is mccain
who is palin
who is lil wayne
who is miley cyrus
who is dolla
who is jonas brothers
who is chris brown
who is biden
who is martin luther

TOP SEARCHES with “What is” (US)
what is love
what is life
what is java
what is sap
what is rss
what is scientology
what is autism
what is lupus
what is 3g
what is art

TOP SEARCHES with “How to” (US)
how to draw
how to kiss
how to write
how to cook
how to tie
how to hack
how to run
how to cite
how to paint
how to spell

FASTEST RISING OVERALL (US)
obama
facebook
att
iphone
youtube
fox news
palin
beijing 2008
david cook
surf the channel

TOP SEARCHES FOR POLITICAL NEWS (US)
fox
cnn
abc
cbs
msnbc
drudge report
new york times
snl*
huffington post
wall street journal

*A good portion of the volume of searches came from the show’s up-to-the-minute spoofs on the campaign.

(The Race to the Finish Line)

TOP SEARCHES FOR CAMPAIGN BUZZWORDS (US)
joe the plumber
jeremiah wright
maverick
william ayers
bridge to nowhere
lipstick pig
yes we can
that one
rashid khalidi
hockey mom

(Sports Searches)

TOP SEARCHES FOR OLYMPIC SPORTS (US)
gymnastics
swimming
soccer
tennis
basketball
volleyball
equestrian
bmx
boxing
baseball

TOP SEARCHES FOR BASEBALL (US)
red sox
yankees
cubs
phillies
mets

TOP SEARCHES FOR BASKETBALL (US)
lakers
celtics
suns
knicks
pistons

TOP SEARCHES FOR FOOTBALL (US)
giants
cowboys
patriots
steelers
packers

(Just to represent for our London Office and Clients)

UNITED KINGDOM Top Google Searches

FASTEST RISING OVERALL UK
iplayer
facebook
iphone
youtube
yahoo mail
large hadron collider
obama
friv
jogos
wiki

MOST POPULAR (UK)
facebook
bbc
youtube
ebay
games
news
hotmail
bebo
yahoo
jobs

POLITICIANS (UK)
gordon brown
david cameron
barack obama
tony blair
sarah palin
john mccain
george osborne
alistair darling
boris johnson
nicolas sarkozy

RECIPES (UK)
cupcake
meatballs
rocky road
crumble topping
eaton mess
pork belly
rhubarb fool
lemon posset
honey comb
beer batter

HOTTEST TICKETS (UK)
oasis
leonard cohen
ac/dc
the ashes
steve coogan
sos
oliver
gladiators
tina turner
nickleback

… [cue drumroll] …and now for the top searches in the whole world!

Top Search Words for Google in 2008 (GLOBAL)
sarah palin
beijing 2008
facebook login
tuenti
heath ledger
obama
nasza klasa
wer kennt wen
euro 2008
jonas brothers

Read more past archives at Google Zeitgeist.
Let’s mind our searches and self-educate in 09!
J

Get Your Eggnog On!

The Starworks family wishes everyone a very very Merry Christmas.

(Put down those Blackberries and iPhones a sec and pay attention to mom and dad!)

J

Miami Spots

(On the road to Hamam — The Standard Hotel Spa, Miami Beach)

Wishing everyone is having a nice holiday moment. I’m parked in Miami Beach with my familia. Just sharing my “spots” as I’m unraveling from a hectic year.

(Poolside, The Standard Hotel, Miami Beach)

(Waiting for my Palomilla Steak at the classic Cuba Diner Spot, Versailles)

Hope everyone is savoring their downtime in their own ways.
Merry XMas Eve…
J

Nuking Christmas Lights

(Do Not Attempt At Home)

Did you know that when you put Xmas lights in a microwave that they light up?! You can watch the experiment here so you don’t have to risk your life at home. These wacky boys already did it.

Greensock.com / Christmas Lights in Microwave.
J