20221107_105830

pushed to the side like this….as if they are talking

 


Screenshot_20221107-093738_Facebook

a screen shot from FaceBook.     there was no credit to a photographer.   i thought for sure it would be Annie Liebovitz but i don't think so.     it's such an incredible photograph.   Everything about it,  so so BeautyFULL.   just as Art.   But then ,   who he was.   I thought about how he might have decided what to wear.   How to wear it.    I wondered if he had input in the "surround".   The choice of chair.   I look long at his face.     What does he want us to see.   The longer i look,  the more the sense that he is looking back…directly at me.   i look long at the wall behind him,  the floor,  him against and of the perfect backdrop.  What does he want us to Know?  with this photograph?????      and then long into the day,  long into the looking,  i thought about his

Courage    

maybe that's what he wants me to know.    I'll keep looking.     

 

 

Posted in

13 responses to “indulging in Long Looking”

  1. Mo Crow Avatar

    It’s a beautiful portrait of James Baldwin by Dmitri Kasterine
    https://kasterine.blogspot.com/2012/09/james-baldwin.html

    Like

  2. grace Forrest Avatar

    MO!!!!!! how did you know this? like, already, or
    find it? I searched best i could James Baldwin photographs and was at a loss
    is just so stunningly Perfect. Everything about it.
    THANK YOU x a million. Somehow i NEEDED to credit the
    photographer…i’ll think about the meaning of that
    tomorrow as i continue to look long.

    Like

  3. Mo Crow Avatar

    (((Grace))) I cropped the image so it was just the photograph dropped it into Google Images (which I use whenever I come across an image without provenance) it came up in an article about James Baldwin crediting the photographer so I googled James Baldwin by Dmitri Kasterine and his blog came up with that page! I am a bit of a pedant and always try to seek the provenance of any images shared when they aren’t credited….

    Like

  4. Cynthia Avatar
    Cynthia

    Oh Grace.. and Mo. . .. so much joy here.. I have been watching the eclipse. .. it had just gone behind my hills. ..so despite the crisp clarity of this night I probably will not see the amazing end.. unless I get an unexpected glimpse on my drive down the hills.. I am finally in cardiac rehab.. like everything else Covid related there is such a backup.. and I leave three times a week.. to drive through the beauty of Vermont autumn.. and today I will have your pictures in my head along with the shooting stars that just blazed across the sky and the pure unexpected reply and answer from Mo.. you are all so often in my thoughts..sooooo satisfying and complete..take care.. gentle day.. Cynthia

    Like

  5. Marti Avatar
    Marti

    I posted this on Dee’s blog today and wanted to also put it here:
    On this day of the blood moon, and supposedly you could see it from about 2:20 am until 6 am here in New Mexico. I was out at 3 am but too much cloud cover where I am living so I came inside and performed a ritual. Rituals embrace us and help us during times such as these. I have a very old, heavy recycled round green glass container from Spain. The container has 7 indentations and in the center, I placed a tiny beeswax candle. On folded strips of paper, six of them, I wrote the following words: Democracy, Women’s Rights, Mother Earth, Equality, Respect, and Hold Center. The candle is lit, I have chanted each word and we go forward…

    Like

  6. CatherinE Avatar

    I have missed checking in here during my sojourn in Connecticut/New York. I came back here today, after viewing the eclipse early this a.m. And found a new view of your quilt-to-be and a stunning photo of James Baldwin. Both – wow – so worthy of long looking.

    Like

  7. Cj Avatar

    The boots! And jewels! But still comfortable. A bit tired maybe! May be sad or resting! Handsome.

    Like

  8. Peggy McG Avatar
    Peggy McG

    So Interesting, I will be at the Library tomorrow to use Wifi and will look up Krista’s bookread group. The eclipse was very visible here in Quartzsite. I kept setting the alarm to every hour to observe. Very stunning.. our great events in the universe.

    Like

  9. grace Forrest Avatar

    O! to find you here….O! and
    rehab.
    they know so much….but 3 times a week is a LOT, considering all else in your home space
    but maybe soon, twice. and then…once. and then
    STRONG
    i put this hope on the altar here.
    and yes…the pure unexpected reply
    so Great, just so so Great.
    oh…take such Good Care, Cynthia and every day, Gentle
    Day back….
    LOVE LOVE to you and your world there Thank You for this
    message

    Like

  10. grace Forrest Avatar

    it’s Friday, 11-ll as i type this. Your words were
    heard. We hold place.

    Like

  11. grace Forrest Avatar

    he. such a brilliant mind and how much we could
    need him now
    love to your return from you journey

    Like

  12. grace Forrest Avatar

    he wanted us to Know something

    Like

  13. grace Forrest Avatar

    Ahhhh!…you are THERE! oh…you are There! i am so
    excited to hear of this 2022 year!

    Like

Leave a comment