The month of October came and went. As is the case when I am in experiences that consume me, I can only be present with them. The idea that I could capture those moments in real time and document them are not something that I’ve ever been able to do. Like any good introvert, I get easily overwhelmed. So if it comes down to making the choice between experiencing or recording time, hell I’ll choose experience any day, hands down.

There were so many things about October that held great importance to me and the only thing that I can do now is go back and reflect upon it.

The show that was Murmurations opened in Raleigh at the Visual Arts Exchange on October 6th and closed on the 26th. Poof it was gone. But it was a tremendous experience to be in the company of such extraordinary talent: Heather Evans Smith, Lori Vrba, Melanie Walker, Greg Banks, Anne Berry, Addison Brown, Brooke Caudle, Heidi Kirkpatrick and curated by Tobia Makover. This show was pure energy…a melding and dance of moving parts that magically came together to weave a comprehensive narrative of memory, legacy and family. An honor to be a part of it.

And that same week was the click photofestival which was a total joy and a lot of hard work. I met insanely talented and lovely new friends as well as Keith Carter who graced my cheek with a big ole kiss. When Keith Carter tells you he loves your work and asks if he can take pictures of it for teaching purposes, you casually nod your head yes while your insides burst into flames. A honor of the highest sort.

I was juried into the first annual click photobook exhibition that opened at Horse and Buggy Press in Durham with my accordion foldout book, Names. That was a very welcome surprise since book making is a direction that I want to continue to take, learning as much as I possibly can.

On October 19th, my solo exhibit Sweeping the Graves opened in Durham at the Suntrust Gallery and will be there through December 8th. There were openly moved people viewing my work through tears and smiles…it was all any artist could ever hope for.

And my series Prancing Snowflake still on The Fence exhibit in downtown Durham through the end of November….an embarrassment of riches.

So there you have it. October. I turned 58 years old in October, six days later my grandson turned 2. This is what puts life in perspective.

Thanks for reading.

Peace and grace.