Four in the Dust

"Barndominium"

Last Saturday was a fine day in Santa Fe, warmer than usual for this time of year. I was at the Santa Fe Society of Artists show, a block west of the Plaza. It's a two day show and restricts itself to 2D art. I've done several shows with them over the past two years and have always enjoyed it very much.

A couple came through from Midland, TX and talked about their new "barndominium". It's a combo barn and living quarters. A fine place to be. Then they chose my "Four in the Dust" as the first piece of art to hang there. What an honor!! I love to hear stories about where my photographs are going to live, who will see them.

Linda, please send me a photo if you get the chance. I'd love to see "Four in the Dust" on the barndominium wall!

New Season for Santa Fe Artists Market!

This morning at 6:25 am, warm and barely a breeze, I arrived at the Railyard Park. It seems we just finished last season, but here it is the first morning of a new one! 21 brave souls beginning again. The wind picked up before 8:00 am and clouds were moving in. No, No...not on the first day...not on any Market day for that matter! But everyone proceeded to set up by hauling all their items from their cars or trucks to their space. Put up our tents, set up our tables, hang our drapery or racks, attach our weights, arrange our goods, and breathe a sigh of relief. DONE! At least for this Saturday.

We hung a new banner today! It represents months of work by the new Board of Directors, putting together an organization that will take us into the future. Hanging the banner today was a milestone for me, representative of how far we've come. Felt great!

The 21 artists that set up today were all professionals. Painters, photographers, potters, furniture makers, jewelers, and fiber artists. It's a great feeling to see so many talented artists with smiling faces early on the first morning. Could this be a sign? Are we about to have the best year ever? We all hope so...

Frank Osborne raises goats. He's a fiber artist, weaving his own, creating beauty from the wool of his goats. Last night he brought two new, little baby goats into the world. I think that's definitely a good sign!

Dusty Road Workshops

Today and days from now, I am working on and revealing to all the dream I've had for a long time. That of making Dusty Road Workshops a reality.

For the past couple of months I've been researching and talking about my workshops to everyone who will listen. I've had quite an interest brewing and have found some incredible ranches in New Mexico who will host our photographic adventures. What I promise to everyone who attends one of my workshops is that they find a peace they have not known before, out there photographing and experiencing ranch life in all its beauty, richness of character, and fullness of southwest experience. A true photographic adventure!

Stay tuned for all the developments underway and visit my website often for the latest dates and locations.

Presently underway...San Cristobal Ranch, outside Santa Fe a few miles, yet far, far away from the nearby lifestyle. Join us in September, one of the most beautiful months in northern New Mexico, for a four day photographic adventure...September 16, 17, 18, and 19. Also included in the workshop will be an exciting shoot of New Mexico's Wild Horses. Email me at patricia@patricialeigh for further details.

On with the journey...

It has been sometime since I last posted. Life. Life changes. In the flash of light, a phone call, a doctors appointment...nothing is ever the same again.

What I searched for most of my life went out the window and came back in again in a more powerful and magical way. In a few words...photography saved my life.

Diagnosed with cancer and having surgery in one day can spring a person out of this world and into the next and back again. Living through it and then experiencing the healing process creates a different sort of awareness. There are books and articles written about it. There are movies made of it. And after all is said and done, there are no words.

Photography and beginning again created joy and a sense of belonging like nothing else for me. I dug out my photographs that I had worked on, found my business cards that I designed and never used, and researched how to do this and do that until the sun went down. I found an Artist Market and signed up right away...no delays. I set up my white tent along with all the rest of the folks and waited and hoped for a sale. Something to tell me that I could make it as an artist. Some sign that there were people out there that liked my work. And it came...

Maybe it was just that I took that first step. A leap of faith. They say that when you take that leap, there is nothing to fear. There is nothing to fall upon but pink, fluffy, rose petals. I guess that's how I would describe it. Pink and fluffy and real...

So I'm starting again. This is my first blog in two years. It's time. I have a lot to write about and a lot to share. Let me know your thoughts along the way.

On with the journey...

Wall of Beauty

I attend a fitness center called "Tone". It's a workout/gathering place just for women. My friend Kathleen owns and manages Tone and with Fall approaching decided to do a new marketing ad for the local newspaper. The original idea has ballooned into a wonderful project, one that I can participate in as a photographer and one that the women of Tone can be part of.

"Wall of Beauty" will grow into a gallery of photographs of the women who workout at Tone. The ads for the new Fall campaign will come out of the first photos taken, but as we move along with more and more images of the members, the ads will take on a whole new meaning. At least that's what we're hoping for.

Women come in all shapes and sizes and they gather at Tone to workout, socialize, and have healthier, stronger bodies. In honor of this, we are establishing the "Wall" to shine a light on these disciplined, wonderful women who come in and take the time to stay strong. As a culture, women most often feel uncomfortable with their bodies, never seeing the beauty, the individuality. One must be young and lithe and tanned, or we hide under layers of clothing. With the "Wall" everyone in the center will see just what beauty means and remind us that each of us are beautiful in our own right.

Here's the first of hopefully many images of the beautiful and dedicated women of Tone, who work out one day at a time, one moment at a time...

Time Passes

It's been months since I posted to this blog. There's a reason or two that this is true. Death and dying, accidents and illness seem to have creeped into the story and even though these are "just part of life", they come draped in a different cloak than other experiences in our lives.

Since my last post, my sister was diagnosed with stomach cancer, my good friends' son committed suicide, a friend from twenty years ago died of lung cancer, and my stepdad was in a car crash that nearly killed him. He was left alive but with a broken neck, crushed chest, punctured lung...need I go on? To top that all off, he just took an overdose of his heart medicine and again, nearly died. Does he want to die???

So for a few months now, I've been overwhelmed with this news. For the people experiencing these things, I am sure it's worse. But from the outside looking in, it's also very tough. To say, "this too shall pass," is a comfort indeed but seems so cavalier. In the end, it is the only answer. My Mom and Stepdad are in their 80's and are experiencing the challenges that come with that. My Mom doesn't want to plan dinner anymore, shop for the food, or prepare it. I'm searching for a cook or chef to take some of this load off of her, but it's difficult to do this when they live in an entirely different state. The thought, "Should I relocate and take care of them?", is a constant one.

My old friend from long ago, just 63, dying of lung cancer wasn't so much of a shock as a window on the future. When I visited there last year, Ron was ill, never to return to a vibrant life. And Gary, also an old friend from that time and place, had battled lung cancer and then brain cancer. He was still alive, but again, never to return to that state of vibrancy. For me, still alive and with lots of energy, I look at them and wonder what happened? I am blessed with good health and I'm greatful, but one can't help but see the road signs ahead.

My sister has been going through chemo for the past three months and although there is improvement, it's taking it's toll on her. I say this with surety even though we are not speaking at this time. When I visited last, she ended up in an outrage, prompted by the illness I'm sure, and all the things in life that have made her angry, me included. Her disappointments in life all came crashing down and continued to rain and although I was angry and hurt, I was peaceful while driving away towards home. A proper ending to a messy, never-to-be-resolved relationship. Why would I want to be in someones' life who doesn't want me there? So through the rain falling in the Gila Mountains, I drove home, cleansed in a sense from the ugliness and anger.

My regret...that I cancelled my two weddings.

Fall is here and the weather is changing and hopefully the news will be better, too. We all have our challenges and our triumphs and somewhere-in-betweens. And what goes on in a human life and why cannot ever be answered completely. It's a drama unfolding minute by minute, action by action, choice by choice. My period of silence has been good for me, a time for contemplation of these events and how they all fit into life. More importantly, I've seen more clearly the other people and events in my life that are not affected by this dark cloak. They shine all the brighter and remind me that the duality in life continues, moment by moment.