I invite you to BREAKDOWN. A photography gallery show that removes the mask of ‘looking good’. You will be left with pure authenticity.

We’ve all heard the suggestion, “Have a good cry, you’ll feel better.”

actor Michael Medico

And it’s true, we do seem to get some emotional relief when we finally give ourselves permission to have a good cry. It is a moment when we completely surrender “looking good” and finally express whatever it is we’ve kept bottled up. Beyond the crying is a deeper transformational expression – the Breakdown.

actress Brittany Ishibashi

The Breakdown is a formidable and fierce moment where perhaps years (even decades) of repressed expression converge into a single and profound moment. For me, words cannot aptly explain what a breakdown is. It is an emotional freefall where we surrender to the reality of our true feelings – which is why I have chosen photography and music to explore this journey

WHY EXPLORE THE JOURNEY OF A BREAKDOWN?

In my experience, a true Breakdown ultimately gives us access to transforming our lives. It is a moment where we have the opportunity to give up “the old way” we do things and adopt new and more powerful ways to live our lives. Where we say “enough is enough” and choose to stop being what we hate and start doing what we love.

Ultimately we resist having a Breakdown – we resist expressing our true feelings. We put on “the good face” and just try to get through it all. My project is ultimately an invitation and an invocation to say YES to whatever you have been resisting. I intentionally wanted to create the most provocative experience WITHOUT WORDS through images and music so the viewer can have the opportunity to see themselves in the work – and perhaps FEEL what they have been repressing.

actor Neil Patil

It may sound funny that I would want to activate someone into their own Breakdown – but I know deep inside how precious this moment is. I believe that we suffer because we are committed to “an argument” about how our lives should be (our dreams) and we are experiencing it as something else. Over time we build up a huge wave of despair and sorrow. Our Breakdown is the moment we give up that argument and we simply face our reality (how ever it is) – it is the moment we give up “our dreams” of what should have been and surrender to what is. This surrender of the “old dream” can be fierce and mournful – in the end we are left clear and open – and then we create something NEW. This is my dream for people who come to view this show – to give them an opportunity to feel what they’ve been resisting. To get real, drop the baggage and create something new.

Instead of settling for the small reprieve of a good cry – a good breakdown could transform your life.

actress Brittany Ishibashi

I felt a deep calling to create this show and I consider it a great honor to bring this show into form (while having a number of my own breakdowns and breakthroughs in the process). I called on many favors to initiate this project and a number of very generous and gifted people have already volunteered their talents and services to get the project this far. This is an experiential show and in order to complete the work I am need of additional financial resources to create and install the final media for the actual show.

WHAT IS IN THE SHOW?

The show will be a visual and audio journey through four archetypal characters to represent YOU on the journey through a Breakdown. Each of the four characters will have 6 large format photos printed that will chronicle the journey through three stages Breakdown: ‘the inauthentic self’, ‘the breakdown’ and ‘the nothing’. (24 images total)

'the inauthentic self' (actress Kelsey Crane)

'the breakdown' (montage of four separate images)

'the nothing'

Between each stage will be a large mirror for the viewer to literally “see themselves” in the show. There will be 12 mirrors total. A custom instrumental musical score has been commissioned specifically for this show. Over 45 minutes of evocative music will bathe and cradle the space as people view and experience the show. If finances permit, I am planning on creating video that will be projected onto one wall of the gallery. This video will include more images than what is printed on the walls – all gently moving in synchronicity with the musical score.

actor Michael Medico

actor Michael Medico

I AM IN SO MUCH GRATITUDE…

Four actors, Brittany Ishibashi, Neil Patil, Kelsey Crane and Michael Medico graciously donated their talent and time to this project. I am so lucky to know such amazing people who support my vision and creation.

Cheers, Ciao and Aloha,

Erin