Last month I was at an art opening and
I was talking with a friend who was one of the artists in the show. A
friend and artist who I respect both personally and professionally.
We started to have a conversation about how busy life is and I
mentioned that I was going to start scaling back on the amount of
fine art work I produce. That I need a better balance in life. I
never said I was going to quit, only slow down and spend more time
with the family. I mentioned watching old movies recently from about
46-47 years ago when I was a toddler and we had a huge extended
family BBQ in our backyard. We don't do that anymore. Our families
have become so compartmentalized and we rarely meet in such grand
fashion as my family once did a long time ago with grandma, aunts,
uncles, and cousins.
This conversation lead to my friend,
maybe out of concern about my statement of slowing way down with my
art, saying “Bill, your photographs will be your legacy. You need
to continue to produce work”. I replied that I always saw my legacy
being my children and how they grew into adults. This simple but
monumental word, “legacy” has really got my mind churning since
that conversation.
I struggle with my work being my
legacy. I understand it and my ego would sort of enjoy it but as I
began to dissect this concept more deeply, my basic concept of my
legacy hasn't changed but has broadened. In the true definition of
the word, yes my personal possessions are my legacy but when I think
of legacy I think of all the things that are not as easy to measure
as an object of mass is. So what is or do I hope my legacy to be?
Positive memories of activities that
resulted in beautiful connections, discoveries, and humanity. Not the
grandiose adventures that require extensive resources but the small
little gestures that warm ones heart, make someone know you care,
extend a hand to someone in need. In need of a reminder of how
beautiful they are, how much they matter, how much you enjoy being in
their company.
I'm reminded of the walks I've taken
with my wife, the way my heart swells when I see the love connection
my wife has with the kids, the hours of conversations while teaching
my three kids how to drive, The bike rides, the hugs when life throws
you a curve, doing the dishes, the laundry, and just providing a
listening ear. Walking on the beach with my grandson or when he cups
his hands under my chin or gently presses them against my face and
says “beard”. A moment in time that I hope builds within his own
mind a legacy of Papa. All the intimate conversations with my mom,
most recently our trip to Kenosha and our long scenic drive back to
Milwaukee. What do these moments in time create? Lasting memories of
loving moments of time commitments and relationships. For me, my
dad's legacy isn't anything physical he left behind but the calm,
quiet but strong presence he provided. You always knew that things
would turn out OK. He had that effect on people.
Yes, my photographs can be a conduit to
many great moments and maybe that is what was meant by her comment.
My art has allowd me to be around many wonderful, original, and
caring individuals who make up much of the art community. Lately the
end result of my photography has been portraits but the portraits are
just a disguise for great stories. Great stories of brave, beautiful,
and caring individuals who took a little bit of time out of their
very busy lives to share their awesomeness with me. Many of these
people have become my friends. It's the connections that matter.
Positive connections lifting people up and showing that in this mad
world we live in, they matter. Their physical presence, their sharing
of the most valuable resource – time, and their ability to
communicate both verbally and physically in a very intimate way. That
will be the legacy of so many awesome individuals who graced my
studio and camera with their presence. I guess if the photographs I
leave behind create a tangible connection to the humanity we are all
capable of, then I hope that they do become a part of my legacy. In
the end, I guess it's not up to us to decide. Our actions and those
still around to remember those actions will create our lasting
legacy. I'd love to hear what you hope your own legacy to be.
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