Just the inspiration I needed.

Briony Campbell, photographer

I can’t ever really figure out what makes me make art and what makes me stop for a certain period of time.  For a good amount of time I have had the intention of creating a project with the working title of “A Conversation with my Grandfather.”  The basis of the project is taking photographs with my grandfather’s old camera that was given to me after he died.

Just about 4 days before I was set to graduate college my father called me to tell me that his father had suffered a stroke.  I screamed at the top of my lungs.  I had lost someone that had just begun to become one of my best friends.  We had written each other back and forth while I was in college and had grown to understand each other.  Most of it was me realizing both our vast differences and our great similarities.  I was also old enough to realize that my grandfather had lived for 62 years before I was born and that all of those years influenced who he was.  I understand him even more now, even though he is gone, as I get older.  Generations can grow together when they are willing to accept that they are leading separate lives in the same place.

I have rolls of film taken from my grandfather’s camera, but they are sitting in a drawer in my living room.  I don’t know if it is fear or what, but they have been sitting there for more than a year, waiting to be developed.  And, I know that one or two rolls will not be enough for a strong series of work, so I need to keep photographing.  But, I’m not.  I can give you many many reasons.  I don’t have the time, the energy, I have a lot of things on my plate right now.  But, I am figuring out at this moment that I am afraid.  I am afraid to say goodbye.

But, there is hope for me.  About 15 minutes ago I discovered Briony Campbell and the dad project. She used photography to cope with her dying father.  The artist also created a film which may be viewed HERE. The work is honest, soft, natural, heartfelt and very inspirational.  Just what I needed.

Briony Campbell, photographer

I’d consider it a success.

Well, yesterday my very supportive husband and I made the trek out to Point Reyes Station to see my work along with all of it’s new artwork friends at Gallery Route One.

Here’s my artwork!

Portrait of a Mother and a Father

Linocut print on a Mirror

I was happy to see that my work was among some of the best artwork I have seen in a group show in quite some time.  The show was extremely crowded, but I worked up the courage and elbowed my way through the sea of artists and found myself in a short conversation with Kenneth Baker.  He was cordial and cracked a few jokes to lighten the nerves I’m sure both he and I felt.  I have stepped up one more step on my ladder to being comfortable in my role as an artist.

Sunday was a great day.

On another note:

In celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. I would like to share one of my favorite photographs of him.

Photographer Paul Schutzer took this photograph in 1961.

photo courtesy of time.com