GROUNDED by Michael Ulmer
“I filmed my entire WD-40 campaign in the Texarkana area, and I have taken most of my monthly photos in Texarkana, Redwater, and the surrounding area. I stay in the area often to visit family and to film because there are so many amazing spots that I never appreciated when I was growing up.” Though he may spend time in Paris and Vienna, Texarkana has that special way of drawing you back
don’t explore those ideas, just for myself, I don’t feel complete. So, I made a New Year’s resolution of sorts to do a monthly photo series for all of 2019, to explore what I call my ‘On-Again Off-Again Relationship With my Brain.’” He spent time at the beginning of each month doing some “self-assessment” and exploring the areas within himself that needed some attention and work, then developed a
home. It’s a magnetism many of us have experienced. “Growing up in Texarkana specifically gave me a love of nature that I didn’t realize until later in life. Something I took for granted as a child is how beautiful East Texas is. There is so much varying terrain in the area. I didn’t realize how nice it was to always be surrounded by trees and to be able to disappear into a forest until I lived in Los Angeles for a few years, where there are barely any trees.” The entire year of 2018, Michael worked on amazing commercial projects. On paper, the year appeared to be a complete success, but he noticed a feeling of dissatisfaction and an itch to do more. While he felt fortunate for the steady flow of work, something seemed to be missing. “I have a million ideas and stories inside me that fight to get out, and if I
visual to accompany it. “It’s been such a therapeutic process and feels like it’s given me a language to communicate these ideas in my head that I could never put into words. That’s why, when 2019 was over, I wrapped up that series, but continue to do monthly pieces and plan on continuing for the foreseeable future.” The reception of this project has been incredible by so many. What started out as an outlet for self-expression quickly became deeply relatable works of art that dig deep into the truths of our inner-struggle and bond people by the recognition of those shared human connections. The On-Again, Off-Again Relationship With my Brain series tackles topics like “Self-Sabotage,” “Loss,” “Addiction,” and “Ego.” “While I don’t have a favorite, my very first piece ‘Grounded’ is really special
Michael Ulmer
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COMMUNITY & CULTURE
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