Heidi bluegirl Calvert

Heidi Calvert began her creative journey as a young, aspiring painter in Tampa - a slow-paced city in the heart of tropical Florida - where admist the beaches, trailor parks, and barely-existent nightlife, she dreamt of New York, Andy Warhol's factory, and being a famous artist in the big city. The most interesting things about Tampa in the 80's were it's goth scene, death metal bands, and the Salvador Dali Museum acoss the bay in St. Petersburg, a place where Heidi would sometimes ditch school and hop on a bus to go spend the day. She hated high school, and had much bigger dreams than Tampa could offer. After taking a night school art class in order to graduate on time from Gaither High School in 1989, where art was by far the teenage misfit's favorite subject, she started on a bizarre and exciting journey to becoming a professional photographer. Her first forays into photography were in concert venues and nightclubs, fake I.D. and photo pass in hand, shooting bands. It took a bit of time and some coaxing from her musician friends who loved her early work for her to consider her hobby a potential means of creative expression and even a career. But eventually, like a camera's shutter, it clicked. She was determined do what she loved with photography as her destined medium and make a life out of it.

It wasn't until 1993 that Heidi had decided to pursue photography with a serious intensity through further education. She began at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa and continued at the School of Visual Arts in the city that embodied all of her wildest dreams – New York. There she was blessed with a Chairman's Merit Scholarship for photography to help her on her way financially. In addition, Heidi curated and produced a variety of her first solo art exhibits at local coffee houses and sold her work to finance her big move.

Although the city was her dream-come-true, life in Manhattan wasn’t always easy, or glamourous. For the first six months she was virtually homeless, rotating from and into several different small rooms with bunk beds at the Gershwin Hotel, each of which she shared with random backpackers, young male models, other students... and mice. It took a few months before the Gershwin hired her as a baretender and eventually in their Reservations Department in order to pay for her board. Sharing dorm style rooms with models introduced her to their modeling agencies and she began testing for a few for trade. It was also during this time that she literally stumbled upon Night Magazine's office located in the Gershwin, befriended artist and NYC nightlife photographer Anton Perich, and began submitting work. She shot photos for Finnish designer Stefan Lindors' book, Rational Animal, and between that and Night, achieved her works' first publications. Eventually she was forced to move out of the hotel so that the Gershwin could upgrade into a more reputable boutique hotel, and she moved to Jersey City into a small, shabby studio, commuting to Manhattan for school and work. Trying to forge a unique path while taking eight classes and working two jobs, resulted in dark times and naturally her grades suffered. Although it was overwhelming, Heidi understood that her art could also be a source of salvation, as well as her drive to keep forging ahead. It was during this period that she garnered her moniker ‘bluegirl’, representing her struggle with depression, after a photo shoot with color infrared film produced a bluish effect resulting in an image of a blue girl. She suddenly realized that the darkness was a source of inspiration, and perhaps a blessing in disguise.

Heidi inevitably dropped out of school but subsequently founded bluegirl Productions, eventually moving to a nicer apartment in Queens, NY. In 2002, following the tragedy of 9-11, work opportunities in Los Angeles brought her to Hollywood Boulevard and she became the on-site property manager of the Gershwin Hollywood Hotel, where she shepherded many infamous and even famous artists to make the Gershwin their homes. Amoung her neighbors/tenants were film-making icon Kenneth Anger, former Marilyn Manson bassist - the late artist Gidget Gein, Mad TV's Mo Collins (who rented a room there as a painting studio), "Golden Gals Gone Wild" curator Lenora Claire, Fashion Design team Junker, and many more interesting characters including real-life, pistol and sword wielding pirate Mad Jack McLad, whom she remains friends with. In August of 2004, she kicked off the first of a series of infamous art parties at a 2000-sf space she salvaged from a sordid past as a cockroach infested sweatshop, the art-wonderland and her personal photo studio known as bluespace located a few doors down from the Gershwin. The artists of the Gershwin, as well as many other Los Angeles based artists, including celebrity artists such as Clive Barker, Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh, Bauhaus' David J, and Poison's Rikki Rockett all exhibited their talents at bluespace. The sort of depravity that christened the space was the stuff of underground Hollywood legend. For over two years, it was the home to dozens of monthly gallery events featuring shocking performances and edgy fashion shows sparking a flurry of similar, Warhol Factory inspired parties where a variety of media were presented. Heidi eventually closed bluespace in 2006 to return "home" to New York, and lived in Mahattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, having many wild experiences within the short time of just eight months, before realizing that Los Angeles was a better fit for her career-wise (and rent-wise!) at the time. Besides, New York just was'nt the same post-9-11.

Upon her return to LA, Heidi got a job working at the LA Weekly and continued to throw those trademark events in different venues on both coasts, returning to NY when time, work and finances permitted. Her quirky themed multi-media art parties have a distinct following and have recieved much aclaim. Amoung them, she curates "The Hive Gallery"’s middle room for its annual erotic show, "BEE-roctica", as well as a monthly one-night show known as "The Night Gallery" at a dark subculture nightclub. The former Gallery Director for the now defunct Infusion Gallery, where Heidi worked after being laid off from the Weekly in 2008, has also worked with Cannibal Flower and The Hive Gallery regularly, all the while exhibiting her own work in a number of galleries and exhibits in LA and across the country over the years. In 2009-2010 Heidi teamed up with fellow shutterbug Apollo Star and brought to life a sexy live art-making series know as "Erotic Art School" - a tongue-in-cheek, one night art party and exhibit that combined the duo's appreciation for the genre with a "lesson" in making people feel comfortable in the presence of creative sexuality.

Since returning to LA in 2006, Heidi has lived in Hollywood, Koreatown, and now resides in North Hollywood, where she recently decided to return to school to finally obtain her Bachelor's degree at the Art Institute. She strives to rekindle the same intense passion she once had for photography, while opening herself up to learning new digital photo, photo editing, and lighting techniques, exploring different genres, and shooting more often. She is also studying web design and video to expand her range of expertise, and plans to shift her focus from fine art photography to more profitable commercial and fashion work. She is currently looking for the right agent to help further her career. In addition, she is considering eventually obtaining a teaching degree, and finally, to someday reopen her beloved art sanctuary, bluespace.

***CALL FOR MODELS!!*** CONTACT ME IF YOU WANT TO MAKE ART WITH ME! TFP ONLY (no pay) for experienced models only!***I am also available for HIRE if you want something specific from me or more than what I offer for TFP.

For TFP, this is my policy and what I offer:  I will need a model release and your ID before the shoot.  You may use the image/s for any non-commercial means you wish. I dont give raws or high rez files so you get (usually one- the one I pick out to be the final image - when we shoot one look or concept) web version (72 dpi around 800x600 pixels) of the image with my stamp inconspicuously printed on the bottom.  Prints available at cost.  Also, if you should need a hi-rez copy for publication, I am happy to provide it to the publication directly so ensure I get credited and a copy of the publication.
Please keep on the lookout for my casting calls or contact my directly if you are interested and agree to my terms. If you'd like raw, unedited or high rez images, see below.

I am available for freelance hire in LA if you want a creative photographer to bring YOUR dream image to life, also looking for creative commercial assignments! Contact me for rates! Rates vary based on project, usage, etc. All paid assignments include a CD of all raw images, and a certain amount of high rez edits, based on your budget and needs.

Note to aspiring models: I can help you build your portfolio! I give specials for multiple looks. Contact me for details. I have worked with Ford Models, DNA, Spirit, AMF Korsets, Junker Designs, Fierce Couture, Cosmos and many more agencies and designers in the past.**