To see these images much larger, see my Flickr.
No. 1
No. 2

To my friends, family, teammates, swimmers, teachers, lovers and haters:

Today I reveal to you through Facebook my deepest darkest secret.
I wish with all my heart that this would be something we could talk about face to face. Please send me a message, call me, text me, come by my house.

The SECRET is that I, Cassie Dixon, Mama Cass, was RAPED. 11 years ago. I have just recently come forward and told my family, my boss, my friends.

I have just RECENTLY shifted from being a VICTIM, to feeling like a SURVIVOR.

My survival story (in progress) is here for you to see online at http://mamacass.carbonmade.com/

Here in Las Cruces, I have been working with the amazing Joe Deloria Azure, Tara Melton, Chynna Tiara-Renee Moore, and Michael Vogeli to put on an International Art Show called The Secret Show here in Las Cruces at the Azure Cherry Gallery on June 1 and 2 (one month from today!)
If you know ANY PERSON who has had a Sexual Assault experience in their life, that may have a secret (or many), and who could contribute both to filling our secret space as well as emptying out that secret space within themselves, PLEASE motivate them to creatively submit to our show! We accept any and all forms of creativity: drawing, painting, photo, video, writing, sculpture. Here is a link to the event: https://www.facebook.com/events/460547257362716/

and here is a link to our tumblr where you can submit! http://art-therapy-as-a-charity.tumblr.com/

Thank you, I love you, each and every one of you. I am alive because of you. ♥ ♥ ♥

I created the piece above and wrote this accompanying poem with her in mind:

My selves, my being, my love, my pain
Trudging through madness but desperate to keep sane

Stuck between darkness and everything illuminated
I, the accomplice in these suicides perpetrated

And from the cadaver, wretched self-disdain
and from the cadaver, only grace will remain.

If you have something to say on this topic or wish to connect with others in this realm, share your story at: http://art-therapy-as-a-charity.tumblr.com/

See my Flickr for more from this shoot.

My friend Edie, whom I’ve shot a few times before, happily agreed to model for me again and we had such a blast. I shot over 1400 images. It rarely happens that I shoot so many in one location. Edie had never really modeled prior to the first time we shot together and she seriously just gets better and better. Every great once in a while, my camera and I collide with a model whose confidence and fearlessness know no apparent bounds, someone who isn’t afraid to look silly or stupid or even ridiculous on the gamble that we’ll create a great shot. I‘ve had the pleasure of photographing several amazing women with these bold qualities -and the added fortune of calling them my friends in most cases- in the last 12 years I’ve pursued this passion of mine. And Edie is one of them.

It wasn’t long at all in my new position (a couple weeks?) before I realized a change of scenery wasn’t all I required and I accepted the fact that I was no longer truly enjoying design like I used to. And somewhere along the line my dream job being a graphic designer had become a 9-5 drag that was slowly sucking every ounce of creativity from my body leaving nothing left and therefore little desire to pursue my side-passion: photography (In fact, in the few months prior to leaving the Indy that I was looking for a new job, I was spending more time looking for work OUTSIDE the industry than within it. But this job being offered to me was too good to pass up and I truly couldn’t turn it down.)

Fast forward to last week when I stumbled upon the epiphany that it was time to take my second chance in less than two months and I very apprehensively but resolutely gave my notice to the owner that I needed to leave and would finish out the month (hoping that in that time, they can find a suitable replacement for me.) So with the support and encouragement of both my husband and a few great friends I’m embarking into the great unknown. I’ve decided the time feels right to stop shoving photography to the back burner and to start prioritizing it – even possibly making a modest living at it. I’ve been shooting since I was just 16 years old and I’ve never stopped loving it. And somehow in spite of myself, within the last ten years I’ve found moderate success in the fine art photography world. I’ve been published in beautiful volumes alongside so many amazing photographers on many occasions (I’ve been invited back to the New Erotic Photography Volume 4 due out Spring of this year!), I’ve been featured on numerous websites and I’ve been invited to participate in quite a few collaborative shows in addition to more than a couple one-woman shows both here in Colorado and one in Rome in 2010. All of that without devoting nearly as much time to it as I would have always liked.

I’m a little nervous, a little scared but mostly just really EXCITED. I feel extremely grateful for this chance and for the amazing people in my life who are standing behind me in this new adventure. I already have a few customers wanting to book shoots and my boss has very graciously agreed to continue utilizing me for any photography her clients may need. I also plan to continue doing some freelance design on the side because as I’ve been told “Gotta keep that design muscle in shape!” I think some time out of the 9-5 grind will do me some good and I look forward to loving being creative again.

A few days ago I saw a piece of typography online that said “Sometimes on the way to a dream, you get lost and find a better one.” How appropriate.

(Please send me whatever good luck, thoughts and vibes you can spare. I can use every drop of it.)

I wish Britt and Brennen all the luck in the world in their new adventures in Seattle. I sure as hell am gonna miss them.
And as a sidenote: This camera is damn amazing. I hope I’m badass enough to handle it…

(ps. Profusely apologize for the duration of time between this post and my last. How completely unacceptable of me!)

I wish there was a way to correctly translate to words what I saw and felt in this short 10 days but I can’t. All I can say is “GO.”

(The images above we’re taken at the Ladybird Johnson Grove at Redwood National Park.)

The little shoot was fun and took place at her apartment where her new kitty cat Shiloh kept getting cameos. I’m a HUGE cat person so put a cat and a pretty tattooed girl in front of my lens and it’s like I’ve won the lottery. :) See more of my favorites from this shoot at my Flickr!

Lastly, if you’re in Colorado Springs and want a tattoo, see Shanna at Pens and Needles!

Earlier this week, I traveled to Omaha to watch my youngest cousin, Rachel compete in the Olympic Swimming Trials. I was planning to be there about 3 days or so to watch her swim and then spend a little time with my family as well as a friend who would coincidentally be there at the very same time for work. Unfortunately, the Waldo Canyon Fire here in Colorado Springs cut my trip short and I got an earlier flight home in case my neighborhood (which was only mere miles from the fire) was to be evacuated. Fortunately, that didn’t happen but I’m completely bummed my time with friends and family was cut short. It’s not often we all get to see each other. Rachel didn’t qualify in her race on Tuesday but she has another shot on Sunday so please help me in sending positive thoughts her way!

Go Rach!

(and hey, at least now I can say I’ve been to Nebraska…oh, AND Iowa!)

Also – GIANT thank you to my friend Claire and Edie for modeling for the above photographs. I’m a lucky girl to have such gorgeous women in my life.