Winter Hot Shot Mickey Smith is a busy, busy lady. After joining us in New York for the showcase on Wednesday she's off to New Zealand, followed by a full plate of work + travel + more work in the spring—"these are exciting times in the land of Mickey Smith. "I'm so blown away by this work, and how serious Mickey is about presenting it. She really seems to have things together, is a McKnight Fellow and well, damn, I'm so pleased that she's chosen to participate in the competition," says Jen. And she has a great website to boot—enjoy.

When + where were you born?
1972 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA

Where were you trained, if anywhere?
University of Minnesota, Moorhead (just across the Red River from Fargo)

What do you do to pay the bills?
A little bit of everything, but mainly I'm a recovering arts administrator.

What led you to photography over other mediums?
The Kodak Disc camera, circa 1980

What is your guiltiest tech pleasure?
I'm a tech weenie. My guiltiest pleasure is simply being able to see images instantly on a camera back. Before digital I was Polaroid. My undergraduate internship was with the Polaroid Collection in Cambridge, MA.

Do you have any other creative talents?
My man and I do a little design work on the side, I might have been a silversmith or jeweler in a former life, planning to get to it later.

What image is permanently etched into your brain and thank goodness for it?
The first image that comes to mind is by Duane Michals, a black and white image of a couple sitting on a bed, it begins "THIS PHOTOGRAPH IS MY PROOF".

This Photograph is My Proof by Duane Michals

Who are three of your favorite living artists?
Martin Parr, Ed Ruscha, On Kawara

What does the spring and beyond have in its forecast for you?
This Friday I'm off to New Zealand for a few weeks at the beach with the in-laws... Once back in Minneapolis, I'll hit the ground running. Editing new work from Seattle and Kansas City in preparation for the McKnight Fellowship exhibition. Driving to Art Chicago in April. Flying to New York and Los Angeles to meet with with galleries in May. Pulling together a book proposal for the Volume work in June. Working on my new Unaccompanied Minor project in between.

Share 3 of your favorite links with us.
The man's band: Quarter Acre Lifestyle
These crack me up, especially Jack Black
South Park Create-A-Character

What led you to enter Hey, Hot Shot!?
Swanny recommended I check out jen bekman last fall. My new intern-turned-studio manager pushed me to enter the Winter '07 Edition.

Anything about you—exciting news, oddball facts, or otherwise—that we should know?
Exciting News: I'm waiting for a very important (possibly exciting) letter and last night my fortune cookie said, "A cheerful letter or message is on its way to you."
Oddball Fact: I have a brother older than my mother.
Otherwise: Considering a move back to New York, so thanks to HHS for the 24-hour dose of the city!