PULSE PROFILE: Chambers Balances Law, Film, and Photography

Joy Chambers

Occupation: Attorney and Artist

Education: B.A. - Economics/George Washington University; Law degree/George Washington University Law School; Ph.D. Candidate in Housing Finance/The London School of Economics and The University of London, Psychiatric Rotation Harvard Medical School.

Neighborhood: Lives in Old Town, Alexandria

Background: Joy Chambers has been an attorney for 30 years, yet she shows no signs of slowing down. With a successful private practice specializing in trusts & estate and real estate, she also serves as the City of Alexandria's Real Property Counsel, serves on the Governor's Commission Studying Guardianship, and testifies before the Alexandria City Council and Virginia's General Assembly on the problems of the elderly.

"The only thing I ever wanted to do was be a lawyer," said Chambers, she had her law degree when she was 22 years old. Yet, after years of taking psychiatry courses and teaching classes on law and psychiatry, she decided that she also wanted to move more into the creative process.

One of the things that she started doing was taking photographs, mostly at jazz clubs. "I loved jazz and frequented clubs, so when I asked to take pictures, they welcomed me onto the stage," said Chambers. She's photographed several jazz artists over the years, such as Oliver Lake, Sonny Rollins, Hammitt Blueitt, and Cecil Taylor.

"It's wonderful to be part of the artistic process," said Chambers.

Her work has appeared in Smithsonian Magazine and she recently had a show at the Corcoran College of Art and Design, where she is currently taking classes. Chambers is deciding if she's going to start a degree program in photography. "They said I have talent," she said modestly.

For the past three years, Chambers has produced and moderated a cable television program. Done in cooperation with the Alexandria Commission on Aging. "Maturity, with Joy Chambers" airs every Saturday night at 7 p.m. on Alexandria cable channel 10.

It covers varying topics, such as a review of the exhibition of an 87-year-old artist and a review of an Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film. Chambers feels strongly in the need for television programming for seniors, and regrets that there are so few broadcasts for seniors.

She also feels that all of her activities balance each other out. "I've never been busier," said Chambers. "I love my life right now."

Hobbies: Enjoys kayaking, biking, arts and athletics.