"Bard, New Mexico" (c) 2008

"Bard, New Mexico" (c) 2008 Stu Jenks

    [These two images are from Bard, New Mexico, a 21st Century ghost-town, along Interstate 40.
    And if you are looking for the post "Argument Against Photography" on my blog, I've taken it down. I don't have a thick enough skin to take anymore of the vitriol sent my way. I know, I know, you reap what you sow--I'm judgmental, I get judgment back. But I'm just a guy, one man who's making his way as best he can, making a little art, playing a little music, writing a few things down and full of shit about half of the time. Yet after all, I did put my views in the public domain and I was hurt and angry and I probably should have just said what I said to a few of my friends rather than to the entire digital world. I'll think twice about doing that again, but knowing me, I'll probably think a third time, think wrong and put it on my blog anyway, fool that I am.
     Bottom Line: I love what I do and I love the people I do it for. I love seeing the wonder in other eyes. I love giving a little visual magic to those I've never met, hence the blog and the website. I love seeing joy in my own eyes, seeing other people's beautiful creations and hearing other folk's wondrous songs. And I love feeling the circle of goodness created by good yet imperfect people. And I love giving love, light, and compassion to others, with a kind word, a good melody or a pretty picture.
    Sorry for the rant about the Art World from last month. I was just hurt and angry about the injustices of the world of Commerce. That's all. It was just about the coin or lack thereof. It's no big thing. I'm really a pretty grateful guy. Really. I know ingrates and I ain't one of them. I have reasonably good health, an OK day-job, a fun night-job, an safe apartment, a old truck, a half a tank of gas, an inexpensive art studio, really good friends, a faith in Loving God and a strong hope for the future of us all. By world standards, I'm a extremely wealthy man, in love and in riches. 80% of the planet would just like to have enough food for their children, a safe place to rest their heads, and a government that doesn't want to hurt them. I'm grateful to my full refrigerator, my day job where I make a small difference, my night job where I make a little magic and the loving touch of my family and friends. I've frankly got it made.
    Life could be worse. Much worse. I could be living in the devastation of that old abandoned country store, in Bard, New Mexico, pictured above. No money, no job, no food, no love, no hope. A lot of people in the world live like that, you know. And I'm lucky that I don't. And a lot of it has to do with luck, I believe. Having been born into middle-classed American family, whose father had a good job with the railroad, gave me a hell of a leg up. And I know it. If I were born into a poor African family or into a poor Afghani family or into a poor Chinese family or into a poor Native American family or into a poor white Appalachian family, AND I was still poor and struggling there, I probably wouldn't be concerned about the Commerce of Fine Art and my perceptions of its injustices. I'd be concerned about feeding my family and keeping them safe. Very lucky I am.]