"Dorothy, California Dreamin'" represents the last stop on a cross country road trip from Baton Rouge, Louisiana to the Westside of Los Angeles, California. While we were living in Baton Rouge on location for a film project, I discovered the Ruby slippers as I was searching for a Flying Monkey costume for my husband. When I tried on the new pair of Ruby slippers, I was immediately in LOVE with all they represented, the magic and nostalgia of the Wizard of Oz and the journey of the young heroine, Dorothy. Who can forget Dorothy's famous quotes “Toto...we're not in Kansas anymore" and "There's No Place Like Home!"?

The film project finally wrapped and we drove from Baton Rouge to Los Angeles. This gave me the opportunity to document the journey in the Ruby slippers, reimagining Dorothy's travels to places unknown. We drove for 5 days and four nights, staging the Dorothy scenarios along the way. Through Fort Worth, Texas, Tucumcari, New Mexico and Flagstaff, Arizona, to finally reach our destination, our home on the Westside of Los Angeles, California. I like to imagine that Dorothy would have continued her journey West, leaving the quiet life of that Kansas farm to pursue a grander life in California.

California Dreamin' is a state of mind shared by so many people, people who love the magic of stories and their power to transport us to the places we dream about.

"Dorothy, California Dreamin'"
Series Title: "Witch Dorothy, The Journey From Maiden to Crone"
Photograph
Art size: 10 1/4" x 12 1/2"
Framed size: 13 7/16" x 15 11/16"

Location:  Will Rogers State Beach, PCH 17000 CA-1, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272, Lifeguard Tower 5