Eyoalha's creating an Art Show in Los Angeles!

SUCCESS! 


Of course.... Everything is turning out infinitely better than I initially anticipated! :)

Self portrait. Eyoalha Baker. Quilcene, WA 2018.


I initially started fundraising to help with costs of rescuing my life's work in photography (2005-2019) from 2 crashing damaged hard drives.

I received 3 quotes from computer tech places, brought it in over night and was told it would cost $1200-$2500, would take at least 2 weeks at a recovery lab clean room with no guarantees that I'd even get my work back.

I’m generally an extremely optimistic but this (and a leg injury the same week!) had me feeling quite disheartened. 

I posted to social media sharing what had happened, the instant outpouring of support was heartwarming and super encouraging!

I immediately created and posted this fundraiser in less than 5 minutes to social media. Support, donations and words of encouragement started to roll in right away!

The incredible outpouring of support got me thinking...


Portrait Quentin Robinson by Eyoalha Baker. Montreal, QC 2017

I’ve wanted to do an art show and had been in the process of creating book projects with this potentially lost work for a really long time. 

I’d spent 6 months developing a new photo technique with light photos  and artistic nudes while glamping in nature that I wanted to show.

I had a rough draft of a long awaited Jump for Joy Photo Project  book (but needed access to photos taken 2012-2018 that happend to be on one of the corrupted hard drives). 

I’d also been working on an art book of road trip photos  through the USA in 2018. My goal was to do an art show to launch that book as well. Along with 1000s of other creative photos  and portraits  I’ve taken over the years. 

However, an interesting pattern has emerged over the years (self sabotaging success maybe?) …

Every time I’d put a little money aside to work on my creative passion projects, other more pressing survival mode priorities would urgently present themselves and my creative work would get set aside again and again. 

So, I decided to raise more than just covering costs of saving my art work.

I decided to raise continue raising money money to create my first solo art show with the saved work! 

A pair of battered barrels enjoying the scenery together. Eyoalha Baker. Wyoming USA 2018.

As many of you are aware, I don't live a very conventional lifestyle.

I'm homeless. I live out of 2 suitcases. I couchsurf, house sit and hop around from place to place as opportunities and adventures present themselves. I often don’t know where I will be from one week to the next. 

If you know me or even just follow me on instagram @eyoalha  or Jump for Joy Photo Project  you know that uplifting people, and playfully creating art while adventuring is my life, and life is my art.

I live with little to no regular income. I’m not a consumer. I don’t buy new things often (unless I really need them, they break or wear out). Most of my what I own: clothes, camera, lenses etc. are hand me downs, gifts, recycled or found for a couple of $’s in thrift stores. 

I do a lot of trades for photos or help people out in exchange for food and a place to stay. Occasionally I make a bit of money from my photography work, but often just enjoy gifting photos to people in gratitude for sharing their time, energy, food and or home with me. 

I’ve relied heavily on the incredible generosity and kindness I receive from friends, family and even random strangers along my creative adventures over the years. 

Pool Portrait, Jasco Begovic. Eyoalha Baker. Palm Springs, CA 2018


Now, I’d like to share some of my stories and art by creating my first ever solo art show!

My goal is to print and frame a selection of rescued images, along with a projected Show and Tell art show and share stories with my images.

With your help, I'd like to do it in Los Angeles, CA by mid December 2019. 

Money raised will go towards the following (in kind offers also welcome!):

1. A location that holds 50+ people. 
2. To print and frame between 10-20+ images. 
3. A table and projector (a tech person to help me). 
4. Things for people to sit on while they enjoy my slideshow. 
5. Cards or prints on hand to sell or gift to my guests. 
6. A dj or live music to create a beautiful / fun ambiance.
7. Lighting (and help setting this up).
8. I’d like to offer delicious food and drinks to my guests.
9. I’d love help with marketing, PR and invites.
10. Sound set up

And whatever other random materials and costs I haven't thought of yet. 


Jump for Joy Photo - The Hit House  fam! (mega sponsors!) Eyoalha Baker. Torrance, CA 2019


The show will be an eclectic mix created from whatever artwork gets saved.

Any money I make from my art show, will then go towards publishing books and other art projects.

If you live in or will be visiting LA in early December, consider this your invite!

Please share this link with people who might like to participate and stay tuned for updates!

Much love and gratitude,


Eyoalha Baker
My art is my life. My life is my art. 


@eyoalha 

www.eyoalha.com 

www.jumpforjoyphotoproject.com 

Powwow Collage. Eyoalha Baker. Vancouver, BC 2017.