Rylie’s infectious smile and laughing eyes illuminate
the somber room,
the vacated bedchamber of the scandalous babyselller Gertrutde Pitkanen.
Immediately when Rylie strutted into the studio with this modern outfit, vintage looking necklace and that bright magenta hair, I knew we had to go downstairs into the Gerty room.
Her black knit top, and striped black and white shirt are classics with a twist, and that necklace was a perfect addition to tie it all in with a room that has mainly been untouched. (You can get the outfit at Mirror Mirror Boutique!)
The elaborate wallpaper wasn’t found until the hoarder’s delight of past tenants hodgepodge was purged to make room for new heater installation.
The room? Is now akin to a metal scrapyard with tubes and parts of heaters in our basement of the Casey Block.
This basement apartment was likely Gertrude Pitkanen’s bedroom as researched by Richard Gibson.
Gertrude is notorious for selling babies on the black market – selling newborns that were literally just minutes old to families wanting a child, from parents that wanted no paper trail left (forged birth certificates made it so that nobody could find out the biological parents. Want more? Read the New York Time’s most recent article in April here .)
And Rylie’s giant smile and big brown eyes with those ornate patterns and squiggles (for lack of better terminology) add elements
of sweetness,
of innocence,
of an old-fashioned soul,
with a bright red, black and white twist of modern-day edginess.
I can’t help but wonder, who has stood in this room before?
Were the rooms filled with laughter and joy, or misery and tears?
Did the renters of this place love the hubbub of Granite Street, or was it a downstairs dungeon they longed to escape?
Were there 5×7 daguerreotype family photos in oval-shaped frames hung with care against these walls, or was it a lonely emptiness?
These walls are filled with portrait sessions like Rylie’s – there’s laughter, fascination, and best of all?
A backdrop you could never buy,
with a history you could never fake.
Introducing Rylie Gonzalez – Class of 2016 Senior Model!
Model Name: Rylie Santina Gonzalez
School: Butte High
Hometown: Butte, MT
Nickname: Ry
Favorite Candy: Redvines
Favorite Drink: Cool Lime Refresher from Starbucks
Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat or Combo (your favorite social media): Instagram
Favorite Website: Tumblr
Dream Job: Actress or Singer
First Crush: 3rd Grade
Biggest Accomplishment So Far In High School: Staying in high school
Unusual Talent That I Have: Blowing my whole paycheck in like a week
Favorite Place On Earth: Concerts
Favorite Song: Come On Eileen by Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Iris by Sleeping with Sirens, or You by The 1975
Person I Most Want To Meet: Matty Healy from The 1975
Favorite Things In My Closet: Big Winter Sweaters or leggings
Favorite Brand: Vans or Glamour Kills
Something I Wish I Were Better At: Being Outgoing
3 Things I Can’t Live Without: My Dogs, My Car, Music
Something I Always Have In My Purse: Chapstick
Favorite App On My Phone: Vine or Tumblr
I Love Lisa Wareham Photography Because (Shameless Plug!): The fun opportunities and amazing ideas
My Goal After High School: College for Film and Photography at MSU
My Hobbies: Acting, Roller Derby, Drawing
Favorite Fictional Character: Margo Roth Spiegelman
The Last Good Book I Read: The Time Traveler’s Wife
When I Grow Up I Want To Be: Happy
My Favorite Dessert: Mint Oreo Ice Cream
What I’m Excited About For My Senior Year: Graduation and Freedom
A Random Fact About Myself: I have a ribcage heart tattoo on my right shoulder
My Friends Would Describe Me As: Funny, Loud, or Caring
Get our 14 Tips to Dress for Your Personality and Avoid Awkwardness in your Senior Portraits
