Daily Inspiration: Meet Kelly Tanner

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Tanner.

Hi Kelly, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

Hello and thank you for reaching out! I started drawing and painting young, fueled with inspiration by some of my favorites: Pollock, DeKooning, Picasso, Mucha, Lichtenstein, and copying comic book art. Aesthetically I always seem to gravitate towards photographers and other artists and filmmakers that have a background in painting and design.

Drawing and dabbling in painting, eventually evolved into taking photos. A high school film and photography class opened the door early on. We were taught the entire process from loading to developing our own film in the darkroom, and with that I found a true, lifelong love.

I’ve also had a love of film and cinematography early on. Pre middle school, a friend and I were bored, sitting around one summer and decided to split the cost of an ad in the back of a teen magazine for Jim Weaver’s address list. From that we both wrote letters to some actors and to our delight received autographs back in the mail: Leslie Nielsen and Chevy Chase for starters.

We both enjoyed it as a hobby, but I took it to another level, in that I would print movie stills and collect press kits and lobby cards and send those out to be signed. Aesthetically I liked the way signatures looked on a particular image. So early on a love for photography, cinematography, film, calligraphy, writing, literature and mail took root.

Nowadays most everything is digital, including photos and letters/messages, which in my opinion, leaves something lost in translation. There’s a certain romance and charm to letter writing, calligraphy, sending mail, books, and loading and developing film. Something tangible to tickle the senses that is missing and it’s heartbreaking younger generations may never know these treasures.

For college I longed to attend the local art college, MIAD (Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design). Instead I settled for UWM, with a major in photography and just took a painting and street photography class at MIAD. Not long after, I dropped out and settled down and into a comfortable and “safe,” administrative office job, before even taking any art electives. I didn’t follow my heart and down the road, it eventually caught up with me. As I found out the hard way, if you hold onto things and push them down, they can “fester.” Whether those are bad, traumatic things or as simple and black/white as not living in line with your own truth and following your heart, they can sometimes lead to dis-ease and eventfully manifest in the body physically.

I was often teased as a kid for being quiet and softer spoken, but I paid no mind as I’ve always felt more comfortable expressing myself through art and writing. I’m much more comfortable observing the nature of things and being behind a camera. It’s whenever I’ve stepped away from taking the time out to express myself creatively, that it’s caught up with me. Not following my heart and passions and taking a job sitting behind a desk ate away at my spirit every day. Little over a decade later, when I made some positive changes and thought my life was just getting started, I was presented with a diagnosis of the big C at a fairly young age. I don’t often talk about this, other than when asked why I do what I do… or trying to use myself as an example to help others.

I was planning on moving out West. I coveted the warmer weather and wanted to combine my love of photography with my love of film and work behind the scenes in production, photography, and/or cinematography. But that dream was completely halted by that surprise diagnosis and the next year and a half of treatment. I do believe things happen for a reason though and the silver lining in all that was my physical therapist, Colleen.

Following my surgery, I was unable to raise my arms and hands over my head; high enough to wash my own hair. It was Colleen who helped me regain my range of motion and inspired me to do something professionally that would help people like she helped me. So I decided to go back to school for massage therapy. I had some pushback and concern about my choice, recommending I be a nurse instead, but I knew massage would give me the creative outlet I needed in a profession, while still helping people. Also while I was undergoing treatment, I went for a Reiki session at the suggestion of a friend and I loved it. So much so that I decided to study it and get attuned myself, first and foremost to aid in self-healing.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

Absolutely there have been bumps and hiccups. Many. Like in the film Vanilla Sky when Brian says…” without the bitter baby, the sweet ain’t as sweet…” It’s the ebb and flow of life; the ying and yang. You have to have bitterness in order to fully appreciate the sweetness, right? I try my best to learn from everything and handle obstacles with grace and strength. The big C was a huge bump that sidelined me, but perhaps that was to put me on a different path; one that was more in line with my soul contract. Ironically, I just realized both my chosen paths involve a darkroom…that’s interesting; I’ll have to think on that one a bit.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

I am a licensed massage therapist and Reiki practitioner (Reiki Master Teacher) and I currently do photography as a side gig and just for the love of it. I’ve worked with physicians most of my life and as a therapist, I’ve worked with several chiropractors, physicians in a pain clinic, and in a studio spa setting.

In addition to Brand New Day, I work alongside a clinical social worker who prescribes massage and Reiki for clients of all ages for all kinds of issues (stress, trauma, abuse, addiction, body dysmorphia, inability to relax or receive, etc).

I feel the combination of Reiki and massage sets my business, Brand New Day, apart from others. The name is a nod to the Van Morrison classic and my adopted grandfather, Michael, who literally loved to watch the world wake up and often started the day with that phrase asking me, “What are we doing today MOM?”

Reiki is a very gentle energy healing on its own, and when combined with a massage it gets a client in a state of deeper relaxation than normal. Thus, their body is able to receive the massage better and benefit more as they’re more relaxed. You’re able to get in there and do the necessary work.

I also offer touches of Thai and Shamanism and plan to do more so in the future.  Brand New Day is purposefully small, as I take my time with each and every client and know most of them well. 95% of my clients are regulars, meaning they are on a “schedule” that works best for their lifestyle. Everything is tailored to best suit clients’ individual needs and I like to focus on a more natural, alternative and holistic approach for better health and quality of life.

I feel massage and photography offer a good balance for me, although I would love to do more photography now and in the future. I’m inspired by the world around me and I love to connect with others through art. I have many ideas floating around in my head and would love to collaborate with other artists in the future.

I carry a camera or phone always and love to travel and explore and typically shoot a large volume when I do shoot. I spend a lot of time in the editing process too, which I find rewarding. I also look back at older work often, as Leibovitz suggests to do. I took her master class when she first offered it and the one thing she said to study that I have yet to try is to sit in one spot, dawn til dusk, and study the light and how it changes. I would love to find time for that.

As Walt Whitman wrote in “O Me, O Life” and Mr. Keating recited in Dead Poet’s Society: “that you are here—that life exists and identity, That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.” I guess photography is my verse; my glimpse and I find it especially important in preserving time and precious, tiny moments forever.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @mystic_kit_kat
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083931226574