BAD ASS, A Photographic series by: Melonie Bennett

Join us on Sunday March 17th from 2 - 4 p.m., at PhoPa Gallery, 132 Washington Avenue, Portland Maine and listen to Melonie Bennett tell fascinating stories about her photographs.

Melonie Bennett artist statement. 

The images in this exhibit represent a rebirth of my creativity after a long and arduous period of personal challenges and family crises. My intention was simply to have fun, celebrate life and surprise myself. I started at my local bar. I struggled to get past the stigma of frequenting the bar by myself, but as soon as I started taking pictures and connecting with people it didn't matter anymore. Two of my favorite images are of couples kissing. Their over the top affection left me envious of their freedom of expression.  I discovered that my gift, to myself, is being able to vicariously share in others experiences. So, even if I didn't personally ride the mechanical bull or dance on the stripper pole, I felt like I had. 

Last year I started following Kid Rock, the musician. What better way to celebrate life than going on the Kid Rock Cruise? It was a feat in itself to find a ticket. I knew once I did this, everyone would know I was obsessed with Kid Rock. I went by myself. I wondered if I was making a big mistake, but I knew it would be an adventure no matter how it turned out.  On the first night of the cruise I was in the casino dance, club, a girl lifted her arm and exposed a tattoo in her armpit. I knew I was in heaven. 

There were several cruise events, but the bikini contest was by far the most notable. There were many scantily clad women of all shapes and sizes, shaking their stuff, competing for the coveted tittle "Miss Lucky Bitch 2012". The rumor was that the winner would get to spend a few hours hanging out with Kid Rock. What exhilarated the on lookers most wasn't what you would expect. An amazing woman in her mid-nineties had enough guts to hit the stage. She worked the crowd hard. The winner was picked by applause. It was very uncomfortable for all because no one made any noise for any of the other contestants as they were called. The crowd of hundreds watching went wild as she accepted her crown and sash. A woman congratulating her flexed her muscle with a tattoo that read, "have the courage to live, anyone can die". Perfect!

Whether I am taking pictures of my family, patrons at the bar of groupies on the Kid Rock Cruise, the common thread in it all is searching for that spark of life, creativity or humor that takes me by surprise. 

"Imperfection is Beauty, Madness is Genius, and It's Better to be Absolutely Ridiculous than Absolutely Boring" Marilyn Monroe.