Humor is a double edged sword.  To get it right, one needs to be right on the blade, and it better be a sharp blade and maybe even a little bit bloody. Los Angeles photographer, Michelle Alexis Newman, explores this subject with her project,The Open Mic.  This is an ongoing series of portraits of standup comedians.  They pick the joke that goes under their images and she hand writes their attempts to be funny as a way to combine and reference both of their creative processes. Sometimes it’s hilarious and sometimes, it’s not.

Originally from Seattle, Michelle received her BFA from Western Washington University’s School of Visual Arts and now lives and works in Los Angeles.  She is drawn to humor and handwriting, horror and family. She is a member of Phoot Camp and has exhibited in solo and group exhibitions around the United States.