Wildflowers, in the woods, for Robert

  August 30, 2008 – I am grateful to the people who helped bring me to life as an artist, and who communicate with me, and love my work, and thus me, and who struggle every day to do their work, and deal with fear, life, confusion and purpose.   I want to encourage them to keep their faith and courage up, to understand that their creations are important, and deserve to be in the world. I said earlier today that I would go out and take some photos in honor of Robert, the photographer with ALS who helped me learn how to take pictures, and who is now working the shutter with his teeth and toes, and taking good pictures still.
  And then I thought that the two or three photos I post should also be in honor of the many other people I know who are fighting every day, in different ways, to make space for themselves, their stories and their art.
  Thanks to Kim, who is supplying me with some wonderful quotes about art and creativity. I am loving them all, including this one from Henry James:

  “It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance, and I know of no substitute for the force and beauty of its process.”

    I would not have agreed with that statement a year ago, and today, it seems perfectly obvious to me. People who go around prattling about their art all day have always given me a stomach ache, and now I seem to be one of them. How curious life is sometimes.
   It took me a long time to see this, and I am determined not to be looking backwards, but also to make it a point of my life to try and show that there is no substitute for the force and beauty of living your own life, and seeing the creation of your own work as a sacred thing. Don’t quit.