New Blog!
Sorry for the long absence. I have recently relocated my blog to http://www.davidzentz.com/blog
Also, just started a wedding portfolio at http://www.davidzentz.com/weddings. A work in progress, but you gotta start somewhere...
Monday, November 05, 2007
Friday, October 12, 2007
Controlled burn
David Van Roeyen, 23, gracefully bounds across the lawn of Olin Quad at Bradley University holding a flaming Chinese straight sword while practicing a variation of fire poi with other members of Phoenix Rising in August. The recently organized group of young Peorians now performs fire spinning in front of local audiences. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
View the multimedia project here: http://www.pjstar.com/php/index.php?/multimedia/soundslide/controlled_burn
Controlled burn
Fire poi, based on an ancient Maori tradition in which performers spin heavy objects dangling from ropes around their bodies, are usually kevlar balls hanging from chains and doused in kerosene and white gas. When spun around the body in a rhythmic motion the visual effect can be stunning. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Controlled burn
Members of Phoenix Rising regularly attend a monthly gathering called the Full Moon Jam in Chicago, where they can join several other poi spinning groups along Lake Michigan north of the city. The event draws crowds of around 200 people, including fire spinners, drummers, dancers and spectators. Members of Pheonix Rising are trying to develop something similar in Peoria. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Controlled burn
David Van Roeyen give a friend a fire hug, in which the fire spinner spins poi around themselves and a trusting participant, while performing at the Full Moon Jam in Chicago. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Controlled burn
Phoenix Rising spins glowstick poi, a safer alternative to fire poi for indoor shows, in front of an audience at an artists reception at the Contemporary Arts Center in Peoria. The group has steadily been booking more shows at area events. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Controlled burn
As dangerous as it looks, Van Roeyen and other spinners occasionally burn themselves when they're not careful. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Controlled burn
Heather Arn of Bloomington gets a "fire hug" during a poi spinning performance at the Firefighters Street Fest in front of the CEFCU stage on the Peoria waterfront in September. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Controlled burn
David Van Roeyen, 23, spins fire using a Chinese straight sword while practicing with the group Phoenix Rising at Olin Quad on the Bradley campus in August. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Big squeeze
Madeline Ellingsworth, 10, of Findlay, Ohio, is squeezed between her mother and marathon runner Tim Borland behind the Peoria Riverplex as they embrace her in a hug following the completion of the AT Cure Tour fun run along the riverfront Wednesday evening. Borland is midway in his mission of running 63 marathons in 63 days to raise money and awareness for ataxia telangiectasia, a rare degenerative disease, from which Ellingsworth and 20-year-old Megan Mautino, who was also present, suffer. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Shake, Rattle 'n Roll
Steadying her 6-year-old sister Olivia's arm, Audrey Driskell, 4, gets a closer look at one of the hundreds of butterflies released by participants in the the Shake, Rattle 'n Roll fundraiser for Parkinson's downtown. Along with the butterfly release, the daylong event organized by Joan Snyder, a Parkinson's sufferer from Rome, featured a walk along Water Street, live music and an ice cream social in the parking lot across from the Le Vieux Carre complex. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Shake, Rattle 'n Roll
Beth Turner, 19, left, and Ali Snyder, 20, daughter of Joan Snyder, let loose the last of the butterflies released during a ceremony honoring those that have died from Parkinson's disease during the Shake, Rattle 'n Roll fundraiser for Parkinson's at Liberty Park Sunday afternoon. The event, started by Parkinson's sufferer Joan Snyder of Rome in 1998, featured a walk along Water Street, live music and entertainment and a butterfly release at Liberty Park. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Bank robbery
One of three suspects arrested for attempting a robbery at First National Bank on SW Adams St in Peoria is lead from the building by authorities Thursday afternoon. He and another suspect were in the bank, while a third suspect waited outside, according to police. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Ladies' night
Volunteer Marilyn Lafary and Jacquie Hart laugh Wednesday night while trying to operate a sewing machine during Ladies Night Out, a weekly gathering for women at the Peoria Dream Center. The activity gives women a chance to get away from the responsibilities and concerns of their daily lives in order to bond with other women while learning important life skills such as cooking, sewing and parenting. "We all have responsibilities and we just leave them at the door," says Martha Dakin, one of the volunteer group leaders. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
First in the pool
During a recent trip to Peoria, hall of fame swim coach Jack Simon stopped by the Central Park Pool, which he helped open as its first pool manager in 1969. Simon now lives and coaches in Malaysia. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Irish
Members of the Irish Nation prepare for the game before their Notre Dame boys varsity team defeated the Dunlap Eagles 3-1 Monday night at Notre Dame. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Irish
Peoria Notre Dame high school defeats the Dunlap Eagles 3-1 during regular season play at Notre Dame Monday evening. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Irish
Peoria Notre Dame high school defeats the Dunlap Eagles 3-1 during regular season play at Notre Dame Monday evening. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Changing Course
Harley Dodson, 11, Reyna Ventura, 10, Austin Ventura, 11, and Dylan Brown, 9, cook s'mores while camping with their family along the Hennepin Canal just west of historic lock 21 near Wyanet on Labor Day weekend. The family, from Spring Valley, comes to the canal nearly every weekend throughout the summer to camp and go fishing. The 104-mile canal connecting the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, which is this year 100 years old, was made obsolete by the railways not long after its completion. After twenty years of neglect, the canal was turned into parkland in 1971. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Changing Course
John Ast of Evanston walks along the Hennepin Canal trail between historic locks 17 and 21 while hiking in July with other members of the Friends of the Hennepin Canal, a group dedicated to the preservation of the canal. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Changing Course
Water flows over a waterfall created by lock 5 near Bureau Junction in September. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Changing Course
The parkland along the Hennepin Canal is teeming with wildlife, from a variety of birds to fish, bugs and wildflowers. Along the canal near Sheffield, a little green heron comes in for a landing on a tree positioned on its shore. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Changing Course
From left, Austin Ventura, 11, Dylan Brown, 9, Harley Dodson, 11, Reyna Ventura, 10, and Addalissa Ventura, 8, all of Spring Valley, splash around in the shallow waters of the Hennepin Canal next to their camp site moments before being told by a park ranger that there is no swimming in the canal due to sanitary concerns. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Changing Course
Jason Picatto of Utica fishes with two of his children, Dylan Vizzone, 7, and Hannah Vizzone, 5, beneath historic lock 21 while camping nearby with his family on Labor Day weekend. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Changing Course
Boaters travel east on the Hennepin Canal near Sheffield in July. The shallow waterway, only a few feet deep, is used by small motorboats, kayaks and canoes in limited sections between the locks, which no longer function. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Changing Course
Matt Archer of Standard camps with his wife Janice and daughter Nicole along the Hennepin Canal near Wyanet on Labor Day weekend. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Changing Course
Using a wooden fishing stick fashioned by her father, 3-year-old Sarah Kalapp of Sheffield waits patiently for a bite while her older sister Melissa, 9, helps gather some extra line while fishing along the Hennepin Canal not far from their home. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Changing Course
A grasshopper rests on a blade of grass along the Hennepin Canal near Bureau Junction in August. The hundred-plus miles of parkland along the canal are teeming with wildlife such as fish, a variety of birds and wildflowers. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Changing Course
Michael and Robin Buyers from Toronto bike along easternmost stretch of trail on the Hennepin Canal near Bureau Junction on a Sunday afternoon in August. "We think this is a great facility," Michael Buyers says. The 104-mile Hennepin Canal, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, was designed to connect the Mississippi and Illinois riverways. Not long after its completion, however, the canal was made obsolete by the railways and closed in 1951, not to be restored and made into a park until 1970. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Monday, September 24, 2007
Life cubed
Phil Doubet shows off a fake door he has jokingly positioned in front of his minimalist home in Hanna City. There is no actual front door on the home. Visitors must climb a staircase on the side of the house to enter. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Life cubed
Admittedly into "dark art," the home of Phil Doubet in Hanna City is sparsely decorated with macabre pieces both purchased, such as this piece placed in the corner of the second floor television area, and pieces he has made himself using computer programs such as Photoshop. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Life cubed
Phil Doubet's minimalist home in Hanna City is a two-story square construction noticably different from the traditional homes of his neighbors. Particularly unique is the simple shape, a front door that is on the second level, and a rooftop patio. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Diabetes Walk
Brady Hough, 8, tries to tackle Jake Driscoll, 9, who has diabetes, while playing football with friends and family following the third annual Central Illinois Walk to Cure Diabetes, hosted by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, Sunday afternoon at Glen Oak Park. Thousands walked to raise money and awareness to help find a cure for juvenile diabetes. Colorful hairdos, such as that sported by Hough, and facepainting were offered to the kids by the volunteer staff. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Diabetes Walk
A group of young peformers wait backstage before entertaining several hundred attendees of the third annual Central Illinois Walk to Cure Diabetes, hosted by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, Sunday afternoon at Glen Oak Park. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Diabetes Walk
The third annual Central Illinois Walk to Cure Diabetes, hosted by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International Sunday afternoon at Glen Oak Park. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
ZZ Top
A cheetah-skin rug was part of the set dressing as ZZ Top performed at the Peoria Civic Center Arena Sunday night. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
ZZ Top
Guitarist Billy Gibbons performs with ZZ Top at the Peoria Civic Center Arena. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Close encounter
Ella Metzger, 7, peers through a hole in the side of a beehive display as children from the Agudas Achim Jewish Synagogue in Peoria learn about bees and making honey as part of Rosh Hashanah Sunday afternoon. The Jewish tradition of eating honey on the high holy day celebrating the Jewish new year is to literally show God that they want a sweet year. Following a presentation by beekeepers Danny and Janet Hart of Brimfield, the children made their own Rosh Hashanah honey jars. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Velva
Chicago band from the future, Velva, entertains a small crowd at TeJ's in Peoria Saturday night. Photo by David Zentz
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