User:MicheleHaro

Born in Upstate New York in 1953, Michele has always had a love of the arts from childhood. One of the classes she loved in grade school and high school was Art.

In later years in 1985, she attended college at the age of 32 for Graphic Design, at the Sage Colleges in Albany, also known as the Junior College of Albany. Michele was chosen out of many other women for a scholarship from the Schenectady Business & Professional Women's Club, which helped tremendously in attaining her goal. She was working, attending college and raising her youngest daughter Chanel, on her own. After college, she became a Graphic Designer for various area print shops beginning with Mohawk Printing which was then on State St., in Schenectady and 2 years later worked for Spectra Graphics in Colonie, NY. Later on, she became the "flats" designer for the Ballston Journal Newspapers of Ballston Spa. This would entail the complete design of the newspaper from front to back.

Upon the death of her father in 1993, Michele left Journal Newspapers, too devestated to continue her work. She then stepped in to care for her mother, who expired 3 years later in 1996. She knew she had to pull herself together and received training to become a Sign Maker at Pendlelton Signs of Glenville, New York. A year later, not happy with her employer, she moved on to another, more flexible sign business at Quick Sign Stop in Scotia, New York where she worked for another 4 years. After that, she decided it was time to become her own boss, and purchased the equipment to start her own sign business. She still occasionally makes signs today, but her true love is in Photography and Digital Art.

In 2001, Michele sold her beautiful 2 story glass house on Saratoga Lake with most of its furnishings, and moved to Palm Bay, Florida. She brought very little with her to start her new life. She longed for a change in climate and scenery and Palm Bay seemed the perfect place for year-round photography, art and travel. In her travels, she has been from Jacksonville to the Keys and from the Space Coast to the Treasure Coast and many places in-between. Her favorite place of all is St. Augustine with all of its historical richness.

Photography to Michele is just a means to an end. What she enjoys most is creating Digital Art from her photography. She has sold many pieces that were on exhibit throughout Brevard County working with the Art In Public Places through the Brevard Cultural Alliance Center with Lynne Brezina. Michele's work has been exhibited in the Viera Goverment Center in the County Manager's Office, The Cancer Center in Merritt Island as well as in Titusville and Rockledge. Presently, her work is on display at the Melbourne Airport, Melbourne, Florida from May 7th, 2009 - September 7th, 2009 on the main concourse. Other works can be seen at the Melbourne Harbor in Melbourne, Florida.

Michele has also been featured on a television show called "Focus" in Melbourne, Florida. A portion of that video can be seen here:

Michele's photography and artwork depicts models, portraiture, nature, new and old construction, special events, historical sites, musicians, landscaping and candid shots of people being themselves. She also creates videos of musicians in conjunction with WGRV, "The Groove" under Randy Bennett. Her goal is to capture places, events and people to document for future generations. She finds traveling to new places very exciting and intriguing.

Today, she remains single and has 2 daughters who reside in Upstate New York. Chanel, is the youngest who just completed college from Bryant & Stratton and the oldest, Deena, is presently in college, also soon to graduate.

Her favorite motto is: "If I cannot create, I cannot breathe."