The invitation:
Join award-winning, fine art photographer Jane Fulton Alt as she discusses her recently published book, The Burn. This series of arresting photographs, begun in 2007, captures the beauty, violence and regenerative power of controlled prairie burns – “the ephemeral moment when life and death are not opposed, but are harmonized as a single process to be embraced as a whole.” Light refreshments are provided and a book-signing will follow the artist talk. Museum exhibitions will be open for viewing.
Posted by Jane afterwards with some photographs:
Thank you to the Ragdale Foundation, Jeffrey Meeuwsen, DePaul University Art Museum and Laura Fatemi for a wonderful night. It was so satisfying to do the presentation, realizing what a long trajectory I have been on that culminated in The Burn. Thank you, Jessica Tampas, for the visual record of tonight and to Michael Horvich who was the messenger (it took my breath away).
(You can see the back of Gregory's and my head just under the screen.)
This was a gift given to me by a fellow artist minutes before my presentation of The Burn, which was dedicated to my sister who passed away last November. My sister collected cherry EVERYTHING. Needless to say, it took my breath away...
Then in an e-mail from Jane including an article from The New York Times written by her niece:
My mom was a collector of cherries: cherry plates, cherry shoes, cherry scarves, anything with cherries on it. I am a photographer and early on I really wanted to create a portrait of her surrounded by her vast collections. She was reluctant to pose for me because she didn't want to look silly or feel like I was making fun of her. After some convincing, she finally agreed and loved the photo, hanging it in a place of honor in the kitchen amidst her cherry collections. She passed away in November and every time I see cherries I will think of her. Submitted by Emily Heller.
This was followed by a comment from Susan Page Tilett, (friend, fellow artist, mentor, and former executive director of the Ragdale Foundation, now executive director of the Mesa Refuge artist retreat center. My mom was a collector of cherries: cherry plates, cherry shoes, cherry scarves, anything with cherries on it. I am a photographer and early on I really wanted to create a portrait of her surrounded by her vast collections. She was reluctant to pose for me because she didn't want to look silly or feel like I was making fun of her. After some convincing, she finally agreed and loved the photo, hanging it in a place of honor in the kitchen amidst her cherry collections. She passed away in November and every time I see cherries I will think of her. Submitted by Emily Heller.
Why does it not surprise me that the intuitive Michael Horvich, would deliver such a gift?!
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Summed up by my thoughts:I continue to be amazed at the web of interconnectedness in my life as well as my ability to do and say just the right things at the right times. Call it Devine Guidance?
