We’ve Moved!

We’ve relocated back to www.MagazineBLU.com.

See you there!!

A Single Dad Redefines “Nuclear Family”

Name: Patrick Lynch

Age: 37

City: Oakland, CA

Work: High School Administrator

“You’re having a baby,” the doctor says. Generally, a hush falls over the room, exuberant parents-to-be searching for words to exclaim with pleasure. Very often, the physician’s report is a complete surprise. Sometimes, particularly when the news hits the ears of single people not in love, those without a partner, or some ill prepared for the pending birth, “shock,” “fear,” and even “despair” may describe the first emotions. Those feelings may initially be somewhat selfish. Then, as the belly of looming parenthood grows, so does the fear of wondering how a child born without a traditional family unit could possibly grow into happy, well-rounded adulthood. Beyond those initial moments (however they occur), the rest of the story is one of mice, or men.

Patrick Lynch and one of his twin girls strike a shadowy pose under a dramatic sky. (Photo Courtesy Patrick Lynch)

One man in Oakland, California is forging a path that might become an example for single fathers-to-be everywhere, as well as one heralded by their female counterparts, the pregnant ladies. He is Patrick Lynch, a 30-something, high school Administrator. He is also father to fraternal twin daughters Cailla and Gemma, both five years old.

Patrick and the twins’ mother dated through early 2003. After the couple determined they were not a permanent match and ended their romantic relationship, then 37 year-old Tina discovered she was pregnant. The expecting pair discussed marriage, but knew that they were ultimately not meant to follow that path.

Patrick Lynch, reading to his daughters several years ago. (Photo Courtesy Patrick Lynch)

For the girls’ first five years, Patrick and Tina have amicably shared custody and expenses. The mother maintains 70 percent custody and Dad has the girls the remaining 30 percent of the time. Although their residences were only about 25 miles apart, California traffic congestion and the back-and-forth lifestyle wore on both parents’ energy, time, and nerves. Perhaps more frustrating was the indication that Cailla and Gemma did not relate well to leaving one parent behind, as part of the custody interchanges (as is typical with young children in these circumstances).

Patrick devised a solution. It is one that makes life easier for all concerned, allows the twins to experience a more consistent schedule, continuity in one neighborhood, and perhaps even proves that surprise babies out of wedlock can be welcomed into a stable, nurturing home with both parents present, active, and fully involved. All of that, and – when mixed with a healthy dose of unselfish maturity – spaces that are separate enough to allow for each single parent in the children’s lives to maintain autonomy to pursue other healthy, loving, adult relationships.

What was that solution? He bought a duplex.

Cailla and Gemma. (Photo Courtesy Patrick Lynch)

Often considered suitable by those seeking more space than an apartment, but without the ownership requirements of a stand-alone home (or a transitionary residence as one “moves up” in the professional world), duplexes are less thought of as an ultimate objective for home buyers in their 30’s and beyond. But, this dad had a plan.

Patrick explains, “I looked [for a split-home] in the safest neighborhood I could afford in Oakland, one where the value of the property should continue to appreciate. I liked this house, because it was once a single-family home that was converted into a duplex. So, I saw that it could eventually become a single residence, again.”

That flexibility in the floor plan was optimum, as the original house was divided into a bottom floor dwelling, and a top floor dwelling, both entirely independent of one another. His objective is for Tina and the girls to live on the lower level, maintaining their lives as a single-parent household. When the girls are with him, Patrick will retain his single-Dad status. Minus the commute, and with the immediate proximity, both parents are able to share in all of the joys and tribulations associated with full-time parenting, thus affording each other greater moral and financial support. If one parent is to marry, or when the children are grown and leave the nest, Patrick can reconvert the household to a larger, single unit.

Cailla and Gemma, fraternal twins, giggle with Dad. (Photo Courtesy Patrick Lynch)

Perhaps the most wonderful aspect of the father’s plan is that he seems to truly want the best, not only for his daughters, but for their mother, too. He is man enough to take full responsibility for the children, and to consider their Mom in a modern, yet chivalrous, manner at the same time.

Patrick is also quick to admit there could be some tricky moments ahead, if both parents are to truly have adult lives separately, yet in the same house.

“There are some walls that must be insulated,” he says. “Right now, you can hear what is being said, from one unit to the other.”

Obviously, if Mom has the girls for a weekend, and Dad wants to cook for a friend of the opposite sex (or vice versa), neither wants to be able to hear everything going on in the other’s portion of the duplex. Some soundproofing is in order. Personal space and rights to privacy will need to be respected between the adults of the two households.

Although the house is a work in progress and requires upgrades and some repair, Patrick is optimistic that things will work out for the best. From listening to him as he describes his hopes and plans for the betterment of his children’s lives, we know that he will not only succeed in raising healthy, happy, secure daughters, but in trailblazing a path toward redefinition of “nuclear family” as an institution that even single parents and their children can enjoy.

Legacy: Robert Sullivan Lives “The Dream”

By Kimberly Toms / Photographs by Mark Margraff / Summer 2008

Name: Robert Sullivan

Age: 34

City: New York City, NY

Work: Attorney

The definition of legacy includes “anything handed down from the past, as from an ancestor or predecessor,” such as the legacy of ancient Rome; it also includes “an applicant to or student at a school that was attended by his or her parent” (both according to Random House’s Dictionary.com Unabridged v1.1).

A more concise definition of legacy is Robert G. Sullivan.

He is jokingly referred to as “The Dream,” by friends and family, due in large part to his dashing personal style, optimistic attitude, winning charm and professional ambition. This legacy, commonly known as “Bobby,” is not simply a shoe-in following in forefathers’ footsteps or a man riding the coattails of others. He is worthy of all he has accomplished, and a source of pride for those Sullivans before him.

Bobby’s grandfather graduated from St. John’s University School of Law in 1953. His father was second to graduate from that school in 1973, later becoming the senior partner at Sullivan, Papain, Block, McGrath & Cannavo, PC, a renowned legal firm occupying prime real estate in Manhattan, overlooking the work site that was once the Twin Towers. Bobby was the third Sullivan to graduate with a legal degree from St. John’s in 1999, with his younger brother Brian following close on his heels as the fourth, in 2000.

Now, Bobby and Brian together are Sullivan & Sullivan, LLP of Garden City, on Long Island. Their specialization is that of personal injury, but not of the daytime television variety that airs flashy commercials between Jerry Springer or Maury Povich Show episode segments, asking if you or a friend slipped on a banana peel in your local market. Theirs is a continuation of personal injury representation that is derived of generations of trial attorney experience in the most cutthroat of legal environments that is New York City. It is perpetuation of representation in some of the most well-known and highly broadcast injurious accidents in the country.

Bobby’s veins are filled with lifeblood from the American legal system and his heart beats with the energy to continue the traditions of his Irish American family. Often described as “experienced and aggressive,” just like his father and grandfather, this young Sullivan of 34 years is also compassionate and clearly cares about the welfare of his clients.

Beyond the winning resume and occupational history of those Sullivans before him, Bobby is the eldest son to proud parents. He describes his mother lovingly, saying, “She is beautiful, vibrant, caring and nurturing. She is a great inspiration.”

When asking a young attorney about their proudest moment to date, one would expect an answer laced with bragging of courtroom antics or accomplishments. Instead, Bobby wears his heart on his dapper sleeve, surprising those present by warmly gushing, “It would have to be in assisting in the adoptions of my youngest siblings, aged 9, 8, and 7 years.”

In all things professional and private, this tight-knit clan of New Yorkers that surround “The Dream” appear to live by the mantra, “go big or go home.”

As Bobby dresses for photographs and switches jackets, his Irish, devil-may-care outlook briefly shines through the ambitious, professional exterior, when asked if he is going to wear a particular blazer. “Oh no,” he steadfastly replies, “that is one of my throwaways. I buy a lot of those, so when out having drinks with friends, I don’t have to worry if I ruin it or leave it in a booth somewhere.”

Yes, this man enjoys the social life of a Manhattan cliché. Just about every photograph of him seems to contain six, eight, or ten ladies, with him sandwiched amongst the smiling, well-coiffed and statuesque women of New York, quaint Irish pub environments as backdrops. “I’m not a nightclub kind of guy. Pubs are much more my style,” he says, as if one would question that in a man so genetically Irish and clearly loyal to the ways of generations past.

From those photographs, one might assume that monogamy is not a chosen path. But, perhaps one of the most endearing aspects of Bobby’s personality is that of respect of women, particularly his sisters, mother and girlfriend.

“I’ve recently realized that I am good at relationships. I’ve relearned romance. I used to be ‘Type-A,’ but I think my youngest siblings and my girlfriend have softened me.”

As if revealing some centuries-old secret, his voice quiets slightly as he says, “I even took dance lessons. The first lesson required a little ‘social lubrication’ to get me there, but then I enjoyed it immensely. I can dance all of the classics.”

Not bad secrets, a romantic side and classical dance talent.

He appears to be a dream child to his family, the Golden Son to proud parents who look to their children to accomplish as much or more than generations before them. “The Dream” doesn’t stop short of his own hopes and dreams, however.

“I just acquired a new 2008 BMW coupe,” he grins like the Cheshire Cat. “I love it. But, I think a small jet is my ultimate dream.”

Materialism aside, he maintains, “Life could not be better. My professional life is great. My family life is killer. I get to see my Mom and Dad every day if I want. My law firm is in my home town and I live in Manhattan. My business partner is my brother.”

Yes, he is living the American Dream.

Aside from being a legacy, how did he get there? Does he deserve the gilded life? Those are questions quickly answered, when the man whose taste runs from AC DC to Celtic folk music, travel in Iceland and relaxation in his beach house, playing golf to snow skiing, eating Power Bars to gourmet chicken, weighs in with one winning statement: “I love everything my work provides for me. But, I believe that happiness in life is brought about by the quality of friends you share your drinks with. I think I’m doing quite well…but there is always room at the table.”

Seeing Nature in a Whole New Light

By Curt Riedy / All Photos By Murray Peters / Illuminature.com SLIDESHOW
Spring 2007

Everywhere we go, throughout each day of our lives, Nature surrounds us. Despite its ever-presence, we tend to bypass the beauty and remark little on the awesome and spectacular intricacies of every scene, creature and beam of light. Dawn blurs into day, day into dusk and evening into dark. The routine of our lives brings about a cycle that allows for little notation of what lies beyond the sidewalks and streetlamps of our ever-encroaching and sprawling cities.

Occasionally we might step into our walking shoes or muddy boots and head down a dirt path for a day of fresh air and sunshine. But, do we, as the general public and sometime aficionados of the outdoor experience, really see the complexity and wonder of the Earth upon which we exist?

One man does make note of every ray of light, palette of color and depth of scenery that he possibly can, both for himself and, thankfully, for those of us more inclined to stay within the bounds of our own front lawn or parkway. That man, Murray Peters of Utah, captures Nature in his own time, way and vision that is aptly named Illuminature.

Imagine yourself high on a knife-edged ridgeline. Before you, a breathtaking display of light emits from a setting sun, illuminating the clouds that hover at your feet. You sit perched, completely mesmerized by beauty as the sun drops beyond the horizon. As dusk looms, the realization occurs that you haven’t any tangible form of light with you, neither a headlamp nor a flashlight. While scrambling desperately to traverse rocky edges and racing toward the trail, darkness envelops you.

This may sound a little risky and perhaps borders on suicidal. But, for landscape photographer Murray Peters, just as long as he brings his camera, the experience will be worth it…for all of us.

Despite being his great passion, photography is not Murray’s profession. He’s been an independent financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial for over ten years. Regardless of having to maintain the day job, Peters’ primary reason for creating his art comes from an unrequited love for photography and the breathtaking surroundings that make up his current home of Salt Lake City.

A native of Texas, the 42 year-old single father has a deep affection for capturing the beauty found in the American West. In particular, the bulk of his work involves the Colorado Plateau that extends into the Beehive State of Utah, where he now lives with his 14 year-old daughter, Madison.

Peters’ love for photography awakened in junior high and his current artistic passion grew out of hiking, with both hobbies forging together toward initiation into nature imaging in 1996. “I loved to hike, to be out there with nature,” recalls Murray. “One day, it finally just dawned on me, ‘God, I really need to bring a camera.’”

As a single parent, Murray takes advantage of any opportunity to share his hobby with Madison. In fact, his daughter has naturally developed a love of photography and recently acquired her own digital camera. Although Madison occasionally accompanies her father on his shoots, the result is generally that of her becoming tired during the associated trek, as well as that classic anecdote one would expect to hear while hiking with their teenage daughter, “I’m bored.”

Peters has developed a portfolio of incredible material. For instance, his depiction Across the Waters captures a breathtakingly vivid reflection of a sunrise in the waters of a mountainside lake. The shimmering reds, yellows and golds in both the lake and night sky provide an equal balance that perfectly illustrates Peters’ talent.

Another fan favorite is the piece entitled Sanctuary, which explores the exquisite beauty of cavern rocks. The imagery of the piece takes a firm hold on the viewer’s eye, and makes perfect use of the cavern’s natural color palette.

Like the giving nature of Peter’s photography itself, his website, Illuminature.com, also plays a much-appreciated role in benefiting the landscapes from which it lovingly borrows. He supports the beautiful lands he photographs by contributing a portion of the website’s profits to charitable organizations that dedicate themselves to the preservation of our environment as a whole. As he claims, one of the main goals of Illuminature is to provide more than an aesthetically pleasing collection of images, as a “reminder of the condition of our world” in both its beauty and suffering.

While it’s easy to see how Peters plays a vital role in the planet’s betterment as a photographer alone, the uncommonly honest artist will openly admit to mistakes made along his way. “One day I loaded up my gear and cruised down to Southern Utah, which was a good couple of hours away from home,” recalls Peters. “Once I arrived, I began to unload everything and realized I forgot my mount for the tripod, which is one of the most important tools for capturing exposures that often take several hours. Needless to say, I had to pack everything up right there and head back.”

Even some of Peters’ most admired photos were accidental. This is most notable in the piece entitled Teton Thirst, which features a moose settling down to an afternoon drink. “I was in Grand Teton National Park, setting up this really beautiful angle and at the last moment he just walked right into frame,” Peters noted, laughing to himself. “That moose really ended up making the shot.”

A testament to the painstaking art of landscape photography, the moose from Teton Thirst demonstrates the awe-inspiring results derived from the perseverance required for every single picture. Another fantastic example of Peters’ patience is Aurora, a photograph taken in the Upper Antelope Canyon in Arizona. “To capture [the canyon’s] natural beauty, you need to wait for the different beams of natural light to appear,” states Peters, explaining the shot process. “You just sit for hours, watching them move. It’s all incredibly beautiful.”

While the photographs themselves require an endless amount of skill, the task of naming his creations is, for Peters, a much simpler process. “Sometimes the subject is a formation with a specific name, and I just go with that. Often, it’s a name of my own creation, a stream of consciousness thing. Just clear your head and it’ll pop in there. No method, just whatever evokes.”

Next up for Murray is a road trip to Yosemite National Park, a very iconic location for the artist. The park brought endless inspiration to a major hero of his, the great photographer Ansel Adams.

Although he might one day venture to locations elsewhere (camera in tow, of course), Peters’ main inspiration will always be the American West. “I could spend years knocking out national parks around here. It’s just endless beauty.” As for any international aspirations, Peters sees himself heading to the Himalayas in Nepal, but maybe not right this minute. “Obviously, I think I’d like to wait for the political situation to calm down a bit.”

His other photography plans for the future? “Continue to sell through private collectors and decorators. One day I’d like to have a physical retail store, but I don’t know how much of a reality that will ever be.”

What’s most important to Peters is the desire to continue his craft in the most sincere of forms, to keep the romance alive and bustling. “It’s an outlet, not a vocation. Most of all, I want to continue to love it. I’d like to swap my professional positions [from Financial Advisor to Professional Photographer], but it’s really something I do just because I love to do it.”

Although his initial methods were a bit askew, Murray sees real potential in just how far he can take his photography. “I put it out there backwards,” he admits. “I was learning how to do it as I went. My friends and family would encourage it, and I’d just keep pushing. Basically, what motivated all this was a desire to share, to expose the public to just how wonderful and beautiful this part of our country can be.”

SLIDESHOW

RomanCelt

Name: Robert Romanino

Age: 30

City: New York City, NY

Work: Screenwriter, Actor, Producer, Bartender

The Romans have always been known for their production and appreciation of the ultimate in male physical form and chiseled features, as well as a propensity toward the arts. To the Irish, credit may be given to the milky fair complexion and witty sparkle in light eyes, storytelling and humorous appreciation of libations. Combine the two cultures and bloodlines and the result is Robert Romanino, a stylish personification of New York City, a handsome collective of sincerity, intelligence and humility, perhaps a man neither fully aware of the unending promise of his future, nor the legacy he may one day leave.

Originally from Patterson , New York , Robert aspired first to be an archaeologist, after his dad presented a gift of a book about ancient Egypt . In its pages, he says, “A photograph of a mummy struck a chord.” Indiana Jones further ignited his fire.

Armed with a Bachelor’s in Ancient History and Archaeology from SUNY at Albany in 1996, Mr. Romanino seemed destined to travel a path somewhat parallel to that of Indiana Jones, the character. But then, the art behind development and presentation of that character seems to have become more attractive to Robert than the idea of actual archaeological pursuits. Could it be that, in urging him toward a future in storytelling’s modern sibling (that of film), his Irish heritage was pushing forth?

Well, as he tends bar to support his chosen direction as a screenwriter of both short films and epics, occasionally acting – gigs that he enjoys as they prove both challenging and lacking of monotony – it becomes apparent that yes, he will be storytelling. Bartending is what so many screenwriters and actors before him have done to make ends meet while developing and growing within their craft, so that is no surprise. It also offers Robert a probable environment in which he can do something else he enjoys that might actually influence his pen. Of his work and socializing in general, he says, “I enjoy funny, outgoing, engaging people. Most important to me are the traits of honesty and loyalty.”

“I lost my mother to breast cancer in 2004. That was my first ‘kick in the face’ of reality,” he softly divulges. Of her, he writes, “My mother is my hero. She lived with dignity and grace, with a smile on her face, while she knew she was dying. Her example is one I will never forget.”

His inspirations, in addition to his mother, father and even grandparents he never met, are big ones:

Julius Caesar, because he must have been one of the most charismatic people who ever lived; Jesus Christ – this has nothing to do with being religious, I’m not – It is entirely [based upon] the curiosity of someone who loves to learn and the fact that he must have been one of the most original thinkers to have lived; Martin Luther King Jr., as everything I have ever read, that he said, moved me; John Ritter, because he made me laugh a million times and continues to, every time I see him on Three’s Company; Audrey Hepburn, the epitome of a beautiful person and a perfect movie star, if you had to make one up. Many more. I am not struck by great stars, but by great achievement.

Although his direction is in screenwriting and includes acting and even producing (as he is, now), influence of that original mummy photo is not far behind. Utilizing his degree in Archaeology and Ancient History, Robert has written both an epic screenplay based upon a historic, true occurrence and a history-based television show treatment. He is still finessing the treatment, one which granted him contact from a network.

Just as we start to think he is more heavily Irish than Roman, he states, “I have no delusions about the business of acting and screenwriting. I know the risks, but I believe in what I have to offer and know in my heart that I would regret, later in life, not having given it a go.” Well, there it is: the persistence of the Italians before him.

As we look forward to the day when we will inevitably buy tickets to his major motion picture premiere, his attitude, appearance, bloodlines and traits may all be summed up with the moniker he has so aptly given himself, “RomanCelt.”

By Kimberly Toms / All Photos Copyright Robert Romanino

Hollace

By Kimberly Toms / All Photos Copyright Hollace Metzger
Fall 2007

Name: Hollace Metzger

Age: 31

City: Williamsburg (Brooklyn), NY

Work: Architect, Painter, Poetess, Photographer

A remarkably creative soul was born east of Cleveland 31 years ago.

Yes, Cleveland.

Her resiliency was first tested at 13 months of age, as pneumonia almost killed her. Perhaps it was this experience that freed the spirit of an angel from its mortal shell, to explore the earth with a perspective one would expect to find only in Heaven, at a table reserved for da Vinci, Picasso, Pavarotti, Frank Lloyd Wright, Marie Taglioni, Vivaldi, Emily Dickenson, Thoreau and, occasionally, the Great Moderator of the Table Debates, Einstein, himself.

For now, she remains bound to the terrestrial as Hollace Metzger.

Grandfather an architect and contractor, father a contractor, Hollace was exposed to urban artistry from a very young age. These two men are named as some of her greatest influences, as she wanted to study architecture to appease her hunger for both deconstruction and reconstruction.

Art, though, must sometimes evolve, both in the mind of the artist and in its produced form. Her evolution began through dance and television commercial acting, both in high school and later in New York City . In college, painting became a passion.

Through college, she very convincingly committed to continued, fulfilling self-discovery and education. She graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1999 with a degree in Architecture (having been Student Body President), which included a stint at John Carroll University in Cleveland to study Advanced Physics. Finally, her Masters Degree in Architecture was completed in 2005, at the Architectural Association of London.

Poetry, now published in her recent release, “Observing the Labyrinth from Heaven,” is a written presentation of her artistry, as in her words “it defines a sense of space, just like architecture.”

Whether it is photography, painting, writing, work as an architect, or dance, Hollace prefers large canvasses. In a recent conversation with her, she divulged about her urban existence, “I work in a 17^th floor office over Manhattan . I find that I spend too much time on my computer, which is wasting a lot of my own life and preventing interaction with other people,” to the degree that her easily mused spirit finds suitable. She continued, “I need many different types of people to remind me of what life is. So, it is my time to blossom.”

But, how does such a worldly, inspired soul further blossom? World travel. So in July of this year, not for the first time, Ms. Metzger packed her bags for Europe . It is not long ago that she contemplated her thirtieth birthday in the same method. She was 29 when she realized that there was a sudden, heavy worry about turning 30 and needed to “find my own way and who I am. So, I spent time in Glasgow and Venice . I feel embraced in Europe , safe – despite being pick-pocketed and having to sleep in a train station by myself. Regardless of that, there I am understood.”

Of being single, Hollace says, “I forge friendships through open-minded and spirited interaction. I need many different types of people to remind me of what life is. Being single for five years has given me time to figure out who I am. I concentrated upon myself.” Judging from her evolution within her arts, those five years of self-discovery have not been misspent. But, that pride and happiness are interlaced with a familiar yet subtle longing for an intimate sharing of her heart.

For now, “my ultimate dream is to design a modern art gallery and to be able to show a piece of my own, even if it is just in a back room! But, if I could take away the politics involved, I would be an architect forever.”

As she travels about Europe , we receive periodic correspondences from Ms. Metzger. They are always full of cheer and warmth:

I have been traveling for almost three months now, reading my poetry book at different venues, beginning in Dublin and Scotland, then onto Venice where I fell back in love with my favorite city of cities…then hooked up with the band Method of Defiance and was a temporary tour manager in Athens and private photographer in both Athens and in Paris…still single (although very difficult in Europe!), and just received a painting commission for a professor at Columbia University which I hope to begin in my new home (for this month) in Montmartre, Paris! Quite inspirational walking the same streets as Picasso and all the rest who once blessed/cursed these streets! This is all very crazy and beautiful and a dream, really.

Each and every email take us back to one thing she said during our first conversation. That statement of eight little words reminds us of the true nature of most artists, those engaged in their humble, never-ending exploration for the meaning of life, nature of humanity and self-discovery. As she spoke, I could sense a lock of her hair being twisted insecurely around her tiny fingers. “Maybe I am pretty good at some things,” she softly conveyed. It is that childlike sentence that epitomizes the awakening of a true artist, as she quietly and independently travels the path of Masters before her.

One day, Ms. Hollace Metzger will sit at that table in her Heaven…and, as she interjects with boldness and self-assuredness of twice her once physical size, Einstein will proudly moderate.