RUBY RED JEWELS

it was a particularly trying last two days. but to come home to this many pomegranates made the days so much brighter and delicious. lucky us.

HERE'S TO LONGING | 64

this is a special HTL, as Russell Means, a Lakota warrior recently passed on to the spirit world. this HTL quote is from him, and largely what my masters thesis was based on. no words to describe my respect for the legacy Russell has left behind, and the millions of people he educated and touched.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAYLI SAMIMI. QUOTES BY HER & HER LOVED ONES;

NEW PIECE UP EVERY FRIDAY, READ MY MANIFESTO FOR THIS PROJECT  here.  SEE THE ENTIRE BODY OF WORK here. 

hey dummies: just a little something to watch before halloween

this is an amazing video shot during the annual Indian art market in Sante Fe. there's even a couple cameos by my good buddy & phenomenal artist [who won an insane award at this art market for his buffalo horn inlaid belt], Kevin Pourier & his son Jiles gettin' down with the "hipster" [min. 1:14 on]. this is so hilarious and well made! pass this on!!
  PLEASE, don't dress up as a Native American for halloween, dummies.

mama layli's been busy.

i've been concocting new designs, and boy does it feel good. like, brand new designs, unlike the others but still a part of the good ole solid-gold-mon LISH family. this is a sneak peek of some of the latest LISH ready for their close-ups. ;) > stay tuned for more designs popping up in the next couple of days! you can snag the latest one, PROTECTION here!

sick fashion, good song, great director

to tell you the truth, i've never heard solange knowles before. never ever. i wouldn't be able to tell her apart from the others. but this song, and more importantly this music video directed by Melina Matsoukas [one of the only successful female music video directors] is off the chain. her entourage is modeled after a Congolese society called "Le Sape Society" (Society for the Advancement of People of Elegance) and I'm kind of DYING over their wardrobe. All the prints and all the colors are making me salivate.  pretty beautiful video, right?

HERE'S TO LONGING || 63

i know it's been a while, dear readers. i think i needed to take a summer break from my longing project. i needed to soak up the time with family that i'd been so sorely pining for, and travel back [twice] to the south dakota prairies and people that i call home. but i'm back on the train now bros and girls and it feels good. i'll be posting regularly on fridays, as i used to do and i hope to hear from all of you and how these move you and evoke something in you.

|| HERE'S TO LONGING #63 ||

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAYLI SAMIMI. QUOTES BY HER & HER LOVED ONES;

NEW PIECE UP EVERY FRIDAY, READ MY MANIFESTO FOR THIS PROJECT  here.  SEE THE ENTIRE BODY OF WORK here. 

just beautiful.

Make ready thy soul that thou mayest be like the light which shineth forth from the loftiest heights on the coast, by means of which guidance may be given to the timid ships amid the darkness of fog…

~ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

a pilgrimage

"Nor does God whisper through the trees. His voice is not to be mistaken. When men hear it they fall to their knees and their souls are riven and they cry out to Him and there is no fear but only wildness of heart that springs from such longing."

Cormac McCarthy

all these photographs were shot in south dakota on my last trip there for national geographic/aaron huey (see the project i worked on here). this day in particular, was 105* at sunset, the wind blowing an intense heat and dust, the colors and intensity of saturation on this particular day were due to a wildfire that was blazing on pine ridge south of the badlands. it felt so surreal to be hiking in one of my favorite places on earth, on a day like this. it was so. quiet. so very, very quiet. and i was out there by myself, with these golden fields getting more and more vivid in front of my eyes. i drove back through the park by myself at dusk only to find this amazing bright orange moon rising. i sat there in the park with my camera, in the dark staring at the sky and clouds for a while. i felt so small and so significant all at the same time. it was a pilgrimage of all sorts to go back home to south dakota by myself with some time to spend in nature alone. solitude to converse with God and myself, to reflect on my life and be quiet within my heart and mind. words cannot describe the Presence of spirit and God that i feel at times like this, connecting all around, inviting me to Return to my Center and be thankful for the gifts bestowed on me. 

*none of these photographs are enhanced or photoshopped. this is just how phenomenal God is, that He creates such beauty all around us.