Beauty and Wisdom by Robbie Kaye
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Elizabeth Brantley, AL

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Mrs. Milner Marina Del Rey, CA

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Blossom Long Island, NY

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Mary Ellen's Salon Santa Monica, CA

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Carey Taos, NM

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Aggie Memphis, TN

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Blossom's Hand Long Island, NY

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Dryer Chairs Mary Ellen's Santa Monica, CA

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Jessie Marina Del Rey, CA

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Doris Long Island, NY

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Carmen Santa Fe, NM

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Gladys Memphis, TN

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Marilyn and Eunice Memphis, TN

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Lillian Houston, TX

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Mrs. Guste New Orleans, LA

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Miss Julie Baton Rouge, LA

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Barbara Santa Monica, CA

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Helen Memphis, TN

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Phylis Toluca Lake, CA

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Vera Conroe, TX

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Rose Memphis, TN

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Southern Ladies Brantley, AL

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Ruth Marina Del Rey, CA

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Bessita Brentwood, CA

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Yoshi Los Angeles, CA

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Mary Ellen and Barbara

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Beauty and Wisdom presents women, aged 70 and over, who have been going regularly to the beauty parlor once a week, not as a luxury, but as a necessity for most of their adult years. This project explores the grace and courage in which these women age. Ironically, these are the women who opened doors for future generations of women, yet they are now part of an invisible generation.

The women in this overlooked generation may be invisible to many, but they are quite visible to me and even more so since I began driving throughout the country to interview and photograph these amazing women for Beauty and Wisdom.  

It is my goal to not only preserve and highlight the role of these golden beauties in our culture, but also to demystify the aging stigma and show that older women are beautiful, vibrant and have very much to contribute to society.

These lively crones live in a culture where the beauty of youth is hugely valued but the beauty of age is often ignored. In beauty parlors across America, this fading generation of women share their humor and wisdom, as I learned in New Orleans when Mrs. Guste, 88, who lost every piece of her jewelry when her house was looted during Hurricane Katrina, reminded me, "everything is borrowed and when it goes away, it's time to give it back.”

Beauty and Wisdom provided insight into my own future. As I photographed the women, I listened in on their conversations and looked into their eyes and saw the kind of courage that comes from embracing life fully without expectations, except to be happy and connected to people. Their "take me as I am" attitude has given me permission to age fearlessly with no regrets and reasons to look forward to my own aging process.

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As a classically trained pianist, I come to photography looking for visual melodies.  Just as music can take you on a journey, make you laugh and cry and touch the deepest part of your soul so can a photograph.  I am a storyteller and I look to create visual narratives that define a place in time.  I also am drawn to finding beauty in unexpected places, hoping to intrigue, inspire, and evoke a reaction from the viewer.  I am a champion of the overlooked, and see my photography as a way to create change, giving exposure to societal issues that need to be addressed. 

With my work in "Beauty and Wisdom" I want to celebrate a soon-to-be-lost generation and show how these women thrive in a society that is so focused on the beauty of youth. My intention is to alter the perception of beauty, show its agelessness and honor the women who came before me.

 

 

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Robbie Kaye/CV

robbie@robbiekaye.com

www.robbiekaye.com

 

EDUCATION

2003                     University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

                              Photography, English,

New York University, New York, NY, English

2001                     University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, English

1981                    Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA

                              Composition, Piano

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2012                     Cameraworks Gallery, Portland, OR

2010                    Mallow Studio Gallery, Santa Monica, CA

2009                   Bergamot Gallery, Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, CA

                             Signature Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2008                    Synergy Gallery, Culver City, CA

2007                    Tosca Salon, Santa Monica, CA

2006                    University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2012                     Mrs. Milner, (from the Beauty and Wisdom series), Center for            Fine Art Photography, Ft. Collins, CO. Juror: Anna Walker Skillman

Elizabeth, Vera, (from the Beauty and Wisdom series), Looking at Ourselves: Portraits featured on Lenscratch, Guate Photo Festival, Guatamala City, Guatamala.  Juror: Aline Smithson

                       Jeanie Madsen Gallery, Santa Monica, CA, Curator, Jeanie Madsen

                        Perfect Exposure Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, Curator, Aline Smithson

2011                     Conversations, Reclaimed Frame, Santa Monica, CA

Moon Over Tahquitz Mountain, Paint and Snow, California Sunrise, Winter’s Light, The Women’s City Club of Pasadena, Pasadena, CA. Curator: Margaret Danielak

Shea and Nico, Romance, A Smith Gallery, Johnson City, TX

                              Lonely in Arizona, GEM, Gallery 825, Los Angeles, CA

                              Man in Nature  #2, Out There, Gallery 825, Los Angeles, CA

                              Moon Over Tahquitz Mountain, PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury, VT

                              Bow Legs, Get Art4, Siren Studios, Los Angeles, CA

                              Tree in Snow, Can You See Me Now? Artspace at Untitled            Gallery, Oklahoma City, OK                         

2010                     Bow Legs, Carmel Art & Film Festival, Carmel, CA

                              Jenny, Month of Photography, (MOPLA), Los Angeles, CA

AWARDS

2011                     Showcase Winner, ArtSlant

2010                     People & Portrait, International Aperture Awards

2009                     People & Portrait, International Aperture Awards

                              Commercial, Advertising & Fashion, International Aperture Awards

Showcase Winner, ArtSlant

2008                     Honorable Mention, Culture, International Photography Award

                              Honorable Mention, Self-Portrait, International Photography Award

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

2011                     Imprints, Professional Women Photographers, Beauty and         Wisdom, December

D La Repubblica, Beauty and Wisdom, Italy, December

Visual Overture, Beauty and Wisdom, December

Tree on Fire, Fall Landscapes, Tera Bella Media

                              Jenny, Mrs. Milner, F-Stop Online Magazine

                              Beauty and Wisdom, Lens Culture, Online Magazine                           

2010                    Beauty and Wisdom, Lenscratch, Photography blog

                             Good Morning Universe, by Robbie Kaye, Debbie J Johnson

2009                     A Day at the Antique Mall, by Robbie Kaye

2008                   “GLOW” THE L.A. Art Magazine

                              Santa Monica Loews Hotel (photo), Gourmet Magazine

                              Santa Monica Loews Hotel (photo), Allure Magazine

2006                     Rendezvous With Light, by Carol Muske Dukes and Robbie Kaye, Figueroa Press.

 

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

2011                     Medetti, Stefania. “Beauty and Wisdom,” D La Repubblica, December

Moran-Bishop, Marta. Beauty and Wisdom, October

Ruby, Ilie. “Great Women Series,” Beauty and Wisdom, April

Hoffman, Beth. ”Celebrating Robbie Kaye” Brava, February

F-Stop Online Magazine, “Jenny” and “Elizabeth” from “Beauty and Wisdom, June

                              Casper, Jim. “Beauty and Wisdom” Lens Culture, July

2010                     Hodges, Karen. “Beauty & Wisdom” Synthesis Coaching: Adventures to Transformation, Interview Series, October

                              Smithson, Aline. “Robbie Kaye” Lenscratch, September

                              Neferis, Christina. “L.A. Stories, Featuring the photojournalist, Robbie Kaye” September (video)

                              Seitzer, Michelle. “A Magical Journey with Robbie Kaye” Seniors 4 Living, June

                              Rose, Amara. “Beauty & Wisdom” The Amara Rose Interviews, Feminine Wisdom, April

                              Killen, Bob. “Robbie Kaye, Beauty of Wisdom” Bob Killen Fine Art Photography Blog, March

                              Elia, Rebecca. “Robbie’s Story” Feminine Revelations, February

                              Hudson, Pam. “Beauty of Wisdom, Robbie Kaye” Imperfect Women, January

2009                     Photographer’s FORUM, December

2008                     “GLOW” THE L.A. Art Magazine

                              Santa Monica Loews Hotel (photo), Gourmet Magazine

                              Santa Monica Loews Hotel (photo), Allure Magazine

 

COLLECTIONS

University of Southern California

 

 

 

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2323 28th Street     Santa Monica, CA    90405         310.562.4475

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