KELLI.

I like results, dignity, integrity, character and those that are themselves with nothing to hide. Cheating and lying are NO NOs. I don't play games; I'm for real. Like it or leave it; I do not care. Not everyone cares what people think. I am one of them. Here are a few things I am too: Facetious & Playful. Big sun lover, tree hugger, tot tree monkey, impulse catalyst, ultimate explorer, fashion futurist, always adventurist, intense individual, tactful talker, ocean floor feeler, past apathetic, solid breather, quite listener, objective observer, crap detector/caller, opposite of fixator, constantly growing, Arm-Wrestling Queen, word wooer, day dreamer, inquisitive instigator, harmony maker, peace spreader, answer finder, question asker, problem solver, perpetual believer, universal picture vision person, Big Red bubble blower, beer-bread baker, cross-country runner, 7 year gymnast, singing bird and piano player depict me. Tisch School of the Arts called, so I hopped a jet to experience. Reared in Oklahoma, I rode my horse to school wearing my cheerleading uniform, cowgirl hat and boots saying, "Gitty up Lightenin'. Good boy.". My karaoke songs are "I Touch Myself" by The Divinyls, "Just A Girl" by No Doubt and "What's Up?" by 4 Non Blondes (Which I got an 'Audience's Favorite' certificate; yeah! lol.). :)
August 10th is the birthday I share with my Grandpa Ed, except he was birthed in 1917 vs. my 1980. His illness onset my writing at fragile five. Often I cry at night because my best friends won't join myspace. (That last line isn't true; it's a joke because I'm facetious. That's one of the first things I said in the above paragraph.) I contain great tendencies to swoon, be agog and invest ab ovo (= from the beginning). I invest ab ovo because I owe it to myself to give it everything I got before I even start. I do my homework. I love learning more than.... most everything. When people try to interfere with my studies, it makes me feel invaded. My work is very important to me. If you respect me, then you will respect that. If you don't respect me, then... well, you are not my friend. I only surround myself with friends, and let me tell you, I've been doing some major Spring cleaning over the past few years.
My pet fish is named Mo, to remind me to do mo of this and mo of that everyday. I have bad news, Mo passed away because they told me at the pet store I could give him bottled water. The water I put him in which was a generic brand, killed him. This made me very sad. What's worse is, I watched him die over about a three day period. I could tell the water was tainted because he just wasn't swimming right; he was becoming stiff. I boiled some tap water immediately, cooled it down to room temp and put him in it. That always works, but by that time it was too late. His fins had started falling apart and the trauma was too much. Little bits and pieces sat at the bottom of his home. I could tell he felt relieved though. It was like the burning from that awful bottled water had gone away, but it was too late. The poison had already taken over his insides. Everything is alright. I know there are other Mos out there for me. So, my sadness lasted about 30 seconds in real time. I know that I didn't believe what I told myself because I kept thinking about him. My fish before Mo was Einstein. Moving on... there are mo fish for me. Moral of the story: Don't believe everything spoken even if it's someone that should know the topic well.
WATCH THIS SHORT -- DEFINING THE PROBLEM Directed by Kate Sharp. It was the first & last 35mm film I shot. Ck out how beautiful Prague (Czech Republic) was back in the summer of 2003. Due to a severe back injury in 1997 and another one later in 2005, I only do thinking jobs in the film/tv world; NO MORE: moving, lifting, hauling, shifting, loading, carrying or nervous system inflammation. I respect my body. Fortunately my predicament steered me to focus on the role I really really want in big screen land: Writer/Director. My pen can't stop making love to paper and my fingers won't quit the keyboard. So, at one point, a dam will give. This girl knows what she wants, so directing is not a problem. :)
Creating sets me free. I want to see more people grant themselves freedom to create and abandon self-defeating criticisms and deflect destructive words and thoughts, especially those that come from outside sources. I'm a self creator, not created by others. My time is consumed by piecing the puzzle together and solidifying my visions in harmony constantly. The main career irons in the fire are: Writing, Directing, Fine Art, Fashion and, last but not least, Music. I love expression, education and communication. The every moment goal is to have fun and make every second count. My destiny is up to me. Those that try to convince me otherwise are nutz CRAZY!!
If you have questions I'm easily approachable. If I find someone interesting before they approach me, it is likely I will approach them. Read my blogs to find out what I want to tell the world. I have much to learn but I just now decided to start telling the world all of my stories and information I have gathered from my studies. It has taken time to find the right characters for the jobs and parts. Not everyone is fit for my work. What I've been doing my entire life is casting characters for different parts. I knew my part, therefore I knew my character and what I have to do. It's what I've been doing all along. I've been casting, interviewing and auditioning. This means I've definitely fired some people because they weren't right for the parts no matter how badly I wanted them to be. I give everyone a second chance. If they aren't in my life, they blew their audition or they aren't in it for one reason or another. I can't make people who they are. People make themselves. I know that. Wow! I've learned that spoiled eggs cannot be unspoiled or can they? Only if the core is not rotten. I have no patience for nonsense; its just too BORING! I have better things to do. :) I'm Czech American and this is my galaxy famous "art".
I've learned that people just want a background check. Well, here it is Sweetheart, here it is. XO . . . . . .
-Kelli Stretesky
The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing. -Socrates
You saw me from afar, and it helped me see myself.
-Kelli Stretesky
I fight the world with my sweetness. I'm number one on Evil's shitlist. Ask all the villans; they confirm without request. Their snickering is petty static.
-Kelli Stretesky
Be a person of your word and your words will have meaning.
-Kelli Stretesky
My work is complete before requested.
-Kelli Stretesky
We are only as good as our designs. If time and energy is not invested into the goal, that was part of the plan.
-Kelli Stretesky
Integrity. It's obvious if you have it.
-Kelli Stretesky
I am a series of "If ..., then ..." statements.
-Kelli Stretesky
Reason is the equation to the sum of character.
-Kelli Stretesky
Open your heart. Open your mind. Fear destroys everything. End the madness.
-Kelli Stretesky
I am Bohemian . People love and hate me for the same reasons.
-Kelli Stretesky
Don’t wish me happiness - I don’t expect to be happy… it’s gotten beyond that somehow.
Wish me courage and strength and a sense of humor - I will need them all.
- Anne Morrow Lindbergh
(She is a relative on my Mom's side; when I read her books, it amazes me how much we have in common.)
Courage is grace under pressure.
-Ernest Hemingway
Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and
those who matter don't mind.
-Dr. Seuss
You see things; and you say, "Why?" But I dream things that never were;
and I say, "Why not?" -George Benard Shaw
Imagination is more important than knowledge.
-Albert Einstein: German-American physicist, Nobel Prize for Physics (1921), 1879-1955.
Fiction is the truth inside the lie. -Stephen King
Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment.
-Claude Monet
Creation is a drug I can't do without.
-Cecil B. DeMille
Kelli Stretesky
Lawlessness, 2002
Oil on canvas
36" x 48"
Kelli Stretesky
Bright Sight, 1995
Acrylic on board
12" x 18"
Kelli Stretesky
Concrete Kiss, 1999
Acrylic on canvas
16" x 20"
Kelli Stretesky
Detrition, 2005
Oil on canvas
9" x 12"
Kelli Stretesky
Egg In Cup, 1997
Film photograph
5" x 7"
Kelli Stretesky
Egg Shadows, 1997
Film photograph
5" x 7"