Connection. An apple a day…
Posted At: Friday, September 3, 2010 8:37 AM | Posted By: Jon Katz
It is a sweet thing to see an animal making a real connection to a human being. Food helps. Lulu comes charging down the hill when she sees Maria and I and this week Maria is offering apples from an apple tree in our front yard. Before that, it was sweet corn. Lulu appreciates it, and so does Fanny.
Fall
Posted At: Thursday, September 2, 2010 9:08 PM | Posted By: Jon Katz
When leaves
Walking on the path, I saw this beautiful dying leaf, a sure sign that fall is close, despite the nasty and sticky summer. Fall has its own rythyms. I have hay in the barn, and the water is almost ready. The sheep will leave shortly, the donkey will stay. Fall is my favorite time. Not only are there beautiful leaves, but “Rose In A Storm” comes out in October. Fall is good.
New from Full Moon Fiber Arts: Placemats
Posted At: Thursday, September 2, 2010 3:01 PM | Posted By: Jon Katz
New: Placements from Maria
Maria emerged from the sweltering Studio Barn with new placemats from Full Moon Fiber Arts. I am trying to order some, but I have to get to the bottom of the line. These and other artworks will be sold at our Creative Union/Affordable Art 2 Show to be held at the Redux Gallery in Dorset, Vt., along with the paintings of Christine Nemec on Saturday, November 13, from one to four p.m. Good stuff cheap for Christmas – notecards, placemats, potholders, e-book bags, and who knows what else might come out of there? Signed Bedlam Farm notecards, including the new flower and light series, are also up for viewing and sale on Redux. Or orderable by phone: 802-867-4211.
The drama of the family farm
Posted At: Thursday, September 2, 2010 2:37 PM | Posted By: Jon Katz
The emotion of the family farm
There is tremendous emotion in a family farm, hard to capture it in words, perhaps easier with images. I have been using black and white to reflect the drama I feel at the Rouse farm, but this shot, taken in natural light and sweltering heat, seemed to capture it well, as the Rouse family works hard to keep the farm that has been in their family for five generations going.
You get the feeling that individuals like Ed Rouse and his family are struggling to fit into the new, big, Wal-Mart corporate mode that seems to be the only model big and powerful enough to gain a foothold in much of America. It is hard to see how the notion of rugged individualism, so long a part of American history and the life also of creative people, can survive in a world with so many complex elements – connectivity, technology, mindless regulation, and bureaucratic disconnection.
Ed Rouse seems to feel that small farms can make it if they run lean, stay out of debt, and manage themselves well. I hope he’s right. The statistics on small family farms suggest that this rich part of American culture and history is fading away. Being in the Rouse barn – this was also evident in John Clark’s barn – is humbling, and teaches me a lot about family, character, work ethos and the American character.
Meeting Wyeth’s Ghost
Posted At: Thursday, September 2, 2010 1:42 PM | Posted By: Jon Katz
In the past few weeks, I’ve come nose to nose with the ghost of Andrew Wyeth. On Friday and Saturday, at 7 p.m., the Hyde Museum in Glens Falls is hosting a performance, “Andrew Wyeth in Music, Poetry and Dance,” in conjunction with an exhibit of Wyeth’s works, “Andrew Wyeth – An American Legend.” The performance will be by Catherine Reid. The producers of the concert were not able to get permission to use images of Wyeth’s works, so they asked me if I would provide some photographs. The performance is in no way about my work, it is about Wyeth’s and Catherine Reid’s interpretation of him.
I’m not sure how many photos are being used, or in what way, but I am happy to see them used in conjunction with Wyeth’s work. I’ve been reading about Wyeth and studying some of his paintings and I feel a strong connection. I do not compare my photos to his paintings, but I do see that some of the same kinds of things touched each of us emotionally, and that is a powerful thing. So I am going be there Friday night, and it will be an important night for me. To meet Wyeth’s ghost.
