Stu Jenks' Fezziwig Press

"STS-124 Mission" (c) NASA

"STS-124 Mission" (c) NASA 2008

[A couple of amazing high-def images from the last Space Shuttle mission: STS-124. Thanks to Ms. Parker for sending those to me and to NASA for everything else.]

"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.]

"The Gold Tone at Owl's Head" (c) Cathy Spann

"The Gold Tone at Owl's Head" (c) 2008 Cathy Spann

[Many thanks to Cathy for taking this shot and for her expert use of fill-flash, something I have little talent in doing myself. One of the mountains of Owl's Head is behind me, and yes, I am wearing a Krispy Kreme Donut baseball cap, beautifully salt-stained (if you ask me) after years of hiking in the desert.]

"Celebrating The Summer Solstice" (c) 2008

"Celebrating The Summer Solstice" (c) 2008 Stu Jenks

[Images from top to bottom: "Pipes and Flames: Flam Chen with the Seven Pipers, University of Arizona Campus, Tucson, Arizona", "Polly Graf: Jammer for Vice Squad, Tucson Roller Derby, Bladeworld, Tucson, Arizona"]

"An Argument For Making Pictures" (c) 2008

"An Argument For Making Pictures" (c) 2008 Stu Jenks

[The image of Dun Carloway on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland is by Colin Baxter from his postcard. For more of Colin's work go to his website. Apologies to Colin for using this without permission but hopefully this blog entry might send some business his way. Apologies to "Surf's Up" too, for using their jpegs, but I'm guessing they are doing just fine. And good for them.]

“Best place to be is in the tube. Better than winning” - Big Z, “Surf’s Up”.

1) Marcel Duchamp quit making art at some point and just played chess instead. So he said. After his death they found a bunch of art work he had made during those years, but it never got shown while he was alive.

2) Who am I kidding? I love making pictures, making Art. Just the way I’m built. Been doing it since I was a kid in my little bedroom in Raleigh, North Carolina.

3) And who cares if I make any money at it? I’d be nice but it’s not necessary.

4) I found the above postcard of Dun Carloway yesterday while looking for some of my Art postcards. Lovely image, isn’t it? What hit me, seeing it again after a number of years was a) I want to go back to the Isle of Lewis and shoot again, and b) it was shot with a long lens like the $1300 one I want to buy. That I need to buy.

“This is supposed to be fun.” - Big Z.

5) I lost my way for a while, I think. Getting caught up in the commerce of it all. And don’t get me wrong. Capitalism is fine, as long as it's regulated, but more importantly, as long as Money doesn’t become God, I think we are OK. I think I was getting close to it being God for me. Again, nothing wrong with making money but it’s the joy of shooting, of walking in those desert places, of seeing the beauty of the Night and the Day and capturing it, of giving or selling my images to someone, of receiving or buying others’ work, of the building of community,... that’s what it's really all about.

“I go lost for a little while, but that kid Cody pointed the way back” - Big Z.

6) Funny how a little heartbreak and just the right movie can make all of the difference. See y'all out there, buckaroos. The Tucson Art Cruise is tonight. I got a piece at Dinnerware and a piece in the Hotel Congress lobby. And I'm excited about seeing what other great work is being done by Tucson artists. I couldn't be happier. OK. Maybe a little happier, but you know what I mean.

“I’m kinda bored talking about myself. You got what you need?” - Cody Maverick.

"Saguaro Heart" (c) 2007, 2008

"Saguaro Heart, Near Owl's Head, Arizona" (c) 2007, 2008 Stu Jenks

"Baby Snakes"

[From a friend of Cathy Spann's mechanic, some pictures of baby Rattlesnakes near Oracle, Arizona. Aren't they cute? I think so. Thanks to Cathy and especially to her mechanic's friend for taking this pictures.]