Artist’s Residency
5 days ago I more-or-less moved in with my 97 year old grandmother, Mary. The hospice nurses come by twice a week but they believe a member of the family should be around every day. I am more than happy to be that member of the family. Mary is an artist - a prolific watercolorist, writer, flower arranger and former piano teacher - and much of her house is dedicated to showcasing or making art. I learned to be a photographer using her late husband, my grandfather, Alex’s Minolta Cameras. Mary taught me to appreciate fine art, find the beauty in nature, and to paint. It helps that the place they chose to put down roots after moving from Wisconsin to North Carolina is situated on an inspiring vista overlooking an alpine lake and the granite face of a prominent bald.
This place is the subject of much of her life’s work, much of my grandfather’s photography, and indeed many of my own paintings and photographs. I’m here as a caretaker, but will be mindful to honor her and my grandfather by showing no hesitation in filling up the bag of 35mm film canisters and SD cards with scenes from Mary’s sprawling garden, lakeward vistas, and the surrounding forests. Here are the the photos from the first few days from my trusty X-T2 and a handful of adapted Minolta Lenses.
