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Laurel's Personal Message:
I'm thrilled to share some of my paintings with you and to be in the company of the talented Miki Turner, who has contributed some terrific photographs. This auction is to help support a great cause, The Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, and to also pay homage to Miki's late father, a descendant of the Maasai tribe, who passed away last summer. All proceeds from this auction (100%) have been earmarked for the education of children and for health clinics.
We hope you find something you like, want to bid on, and own. If not, we also invite you to donate to the MWCT by going directly to their website at www.maasaitrust.org or thru my fundraising page at www.firstgiving.com/laurelhollomannet1 where you can leave a message. Thank you all for your support. Laurel
Laurel's Inspirations:
First and foremost, Marlene Dumas, an amazing artist from South Africa. To me, her work has a content-rich sensuousness and intense layers of meaning. She often uses human faces, nude figures, or groups of people. My favorite paintings are: "The Painter", "Measuring Your Own Grave" and "The Kiss". Other favorites are Tracey Emin, from London, and Louise Bourgeois. Also admire Francis Bacon. I first saw his paintings while doing a semester abroad at BADA. I love "Maman", an installation at the Tate Modern in London. As far as actors that paint, I would have to say Juliette Binoche. She has an exhibit of paintings called "In-Eyes" on view at the Cultural Services of the Embassy of France. You can visit their official website at www.frenchculture.org.
What Laurel Likes About Painting and Art:
As I get older, and after having children, I feel that it's most important that I follow my passions more vigorously. It quells my own fear of immortality, which I felt more intensely after giving birth and adopting. Although commercial success at some level feels good, it doesn't necessarily motivate me in my work or my personal life.
On a more visceral level, there's a feeling that comes with painting that I never quite feel with acting. A painting can stay with me for days or months and haunt me, kind of like an obsession. With acting, once you have a good take or a great scene, there's a high and then it's over, at least for me. Only a character can haunt me, especially now that I mostly work in television, it's more rare. The last time that happened was during The L Word season one finale Tony Goldwyn directed in which I lost myself in the scene. Or, in episode 211 directed by John Curran. He shot my stomach the day before I went into labor and my daughters feet were pressing against my skin. Those moments were haunting in a way I love.
The hardest part about the auction was painting in front of the camera. I always paint alone, and I found the performer wanting to come out and found it hard to focus, especially on the first video. On the second one, I was alone and forgot it was there, which helped a lot.
Another reason I really love to paint is that I can get really messy and it has nothing to do with my appearance. I'm really a jeans and t-shirt gal and although I appreciate getting “glammed” up for work, it’s not my comfort zone. I've always been part tomboy and had a very free southern upbringing that involved a very Sally Mann sort of existence at our family's river house, i.e. lots of childhood skinny dipping, catching crabs, driving a boat at age seven, water skiing, painting fences, building oyster beds, catching snakes, and running around trying to keep up with my brothers. Somehow painting brings all of that back for me.
Miki's Personal Message:
I am exceedingly thrilled that my friend and sister, Laurel Holloman, asked me to be a part of this effort to raise money for the Maasai Wildnerness Conservation Trust. In doing so, I pay tribute to my late father, William Turner, a descendant of the Maasai tribe; and I'm also honoring my own credo: to whom more is given, more is expected. Here's hoping that you'll see something you like and contribute generously to this worthy cause.
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Laurel Holloman
Laurel recently completed six seasons starring in the groundbreaking series, The L Word, where she won the Golden Satellite Award for Best Actress in Season 1. Laurel has been in over 25 feature films, including many Sundance hits, the critically acclaimed “The Incredibly True Adventures of 2 Girls in Love” among them.
Some of Laurel’s other film credits include, “Boogie Nights”, “Tumbleweeds”, “The Myth of Fingerprints”, “Prefontaine”, along with leads in “The Rising Place”, “Blossom Time”, “Last Ball”, and “Lush”, along with Campbell Scott and Laura Linney.
In January 2010, Laurel will appear in a recurring role in
Marti Noxon's upcoming series, "Gigantic".
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Miki Turner
Award-winning
photo-journalist/producer/author Miki Turner has been working in the
communications industry for more than 28 years, specializing in print,
television, radio and new media.
Turner started her journalism career at the Cincinnati Enquirer, writing
breaking news and features for the Kentucky bureau. From there she moved
into sports, becoming the first black female sportswriter in the state of
Virginia. In 1989, after having served as PR director for the Central
Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Turner became the first regularly
featured black female sports columnist in the country when she worked at
the Oakland Tribune in Oakland, California.
From there Turner moved to Southern California to cover the NBA and pro
tennis for the Orange County Register. After four years at the Register
and two years teaching feature writing at Cal State Fullerton, Turner
transitioned into entertainment, working as the Los Angeles bureau chief
for Satellite Orbit and Satellite Direct magazines.
In 2000 she accepted a position as the L.A-based pop culture critic for
the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, covering the film, television and music
industries. In 2003 Turner was part of the team that created Page 3 for
ESPN.com, a page that married the worlds of sports and entertainment.
Three years later she was hired as a producer for a new ESPN TV show
called ESPN Hollywood hosted by Mario Lopez and Thea Andrews.
In 2006 Turner began working as an on-air host and producer for AOL Black
Voices, covering the entertainment industry. She is now working on her
second book, “Journey to the Woman I Will Become,” and is a frequent
contributor to Essence and Jet magazines, the Chicago Tribune RedEye and
various other websites. She also produced and co-wrote “Gang Girl: A
Mother’s Journey to Save Her Daughter,” which is currently in post
production.
Turner, who has lived in Los Angeles, Oakland, Calif., Boston, New York,
Washington, D.C. and Hampton, Va., was born and reared in Cincinnati,
Ohio. She attended Wyoming High School, where she was a marginally
talented musician before getting kicked out of band camp, and played
basketball, softball, field hockey and ran track. Turner received her B.A.
degree in mass media arts from Hampton University and an M.S. in
journalism from Boston University. In 1989 she was selected as one of 16
fellows at the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education at UC-Berkeley.
In her spare time Turner enjoys traveling, photographing lively children,
watching classic movies, spa days, fine red wines and playing tennis and
golf.
Rumor has it that she is the secret love child of Sidney Poitier and
Diahann Carroll.
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Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust