Stu Jenks' Fezziwig Press

"Many Bones, One Heart": An All Souls Procession film.

My friend Leslie Epperson is making a documentary. She needs cash. Give as you can. The Indiegogo link is at the bottom of this post. And below is her pitch. A very worthy artistic venture. Again, I know it's hard time but give if you have a little extra.

Thanks,

Stu

Many Bones, One Heart is a documentary in progress about the All Souls Procession in Tucson, and the artists struggling to produce the event, despite conflicts brought on by its growing size. I want to explain why this project is so dear to my heart. When I saw the All Souls Procession in 2004, I was dazzled by the imaginative artwork on display, and pleased by the unusual mixture of sobriety and joy. The participants were a wonderfully diverse group, composed of many ethnicities and all ages.
  
I soon noticed that some people were carrying photographs of dead loved ones. Still others were rolling carefully constructed shrines honoring the deceased. I began to understand that something important was happening here; something I had not seen before. People were opening up, publicly sharing the loss of a loved one. I began to feel a roller coaster of emotion. One moment I would laugh with delight at some outrageous invention, or find myself moving to irresistible drumbeats, and the next, my eyes would fill with tears as a participant passed by with carefully arranged photos of a dead wife, or a father, or a child. 

I have also experienced loss. I lost my health in a car accident, and a long marriage after revelations of betrayal. But the most significant loss was the death of My Mother, Jeanne, in 1968.  When my sister Nora died a few years ago, I lost not only my best friend, but also my strongest connection to my Mother.  I am dedicating Many Bones, One Heart to their memory.
   
"Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. Meanwhile the world goes on." Mary Oliver, from Wild Geese. This documentary is not about me. I hope that presenting the stories of loss and recovery from the characters in the film will encourage those still suffering from the fresh wounds of grief. In this time of cynical pop culture and ongoing wars, I feel called to offer an alternative view of humanity. Depicting the beautiful art and compassionate behavior evident at the Procession and even more apparent at the Procession of Little Angels will offer clear examples of the kindness dwelling in most human hearts. And it is a challenge and an honor to portray the generosity of spirit that underlies the determined efforts of the artists that bring Tucson the All Souls Procession, year after year.  
 
I want to acknowledge the example of author Laura Hillenbrand as the inspiration for this undertaking. She wrote the NY Times Bestsellers SeaBiscuit and Unbroken, despite struggling with severe chronic illness. In an interview, Hillenbrand says that writing about her characters allowed her to experience their resilience and courage. After reading this, I decided to ignore my own health problems and return to documentary filmmaking. It might be the best decision I ever made.

We have over a month to reach our goal on the IndieGoGo crowd funding site. We will use whatever we raise to enable production this fall. I have uploaded 2 new videos since we started the campaign, and Kathleen Dreier and Emily Ann Jones have added several new photographs. Here is the link to the campaign page:  www.indiegogo.com/Many-Bones-One-Heart?a=123972

The great thing about crowd funding is that every little bit counts--small donations grow to form a big pool of funds. $10.00 pledges are welcome! If you like what you see, please forward the link to friends.

I will write again soon and keep you updated on our progress.

All my best,
 
Leslie Ann Epperson
Director, SmallWheel Films

 

All 8 1/2" x 11" A/P archival pigment prints by Stu Jenks for $25, shipping, handling and taxes included...

Image: "Queen Esther Baptist Church, Lancaster, Virginia" (c) 2011 Stu Jenks (Just down River Road from Victoria's house. Love that luscious red carpet. And for you nocturnals out there, it was handheld. Rare for me.)

In this time of making photos on iPhones and Macbook Pros and only looking on screens, I forget I'm a old-school guy. I make a 8 1/2 x 11 work print on archival paper of EVERY image I make. EVERY one. It's the only way, for me, to accurately check for color shift, density, composition, etc. I really like my iPad screen but it's no way to make a good print.

And I have hundreds, if not thousands, of work prints artist proofs at my studio.

If you see an image of mine on The StuBlog or on my old website or on the Fezziwig Press Store or in any of my books, there's a beautiful small print in a box somewhere, perhaps with your name on it. And since I'm organized, I can find it.

Many of you can't afford my larger prints. I understand. I don't have an extra 50 or 100 lying around either. But I do have an extra $20 for stuff I really like.

So if you see an image of mine on any of my sites or in any of my books and you want it, it's yours for $25, shipping, handling and tax included. (I believe in paying taxes, sales and otherwise.)

Just email me at my facebook page or through the StuBlog or at [email protected], and tell me what print you would like or just pull the jpeg and send that to me.

I was just watching the Tarhells lose today in basketball, working on images at my computer when I thought, 'I bet people don't realize I have boxes of work prints here.'

You all do now.

Love and light,

Stu

p.s. Ignore the catagories belows. The computer went wacky. Another reason why I prefer a print in the hand as opposed to an image in The Cloud.

Tucson's All Souls' Procession: 2011

"Tucson's All Souls' Procession: 2011" (c) 2011 Stu Jenks

I didn't take that many photographs at this year's ASP (All Souls' Procession), but that was more than OK with me. I was helping managing the photographers backstage and around the Grand Finale site, and I walked with the Urn, as well, through much of downtown, just because. Then the bagpipes called like me they always do and I walked with the Seven Pipers until I got to the Finale site.

What makes the ASP so powerful to me, among other things, is it's both a very large public event and a very private personal one, all at the same time. I can be surrounded for tens of thousands of people, but a single tear may fall from my eye when I hear Amazing Grace on the pipes, or when I think of my dead mother and sister, all while drummers, dancers and celebrants in dead face walk through my hometown.

Anyway.

To see some amazing work by the MMOS (Many Mouths One Stomach)/ASP photographers that had special access, just go to my Facebook page and to the ASP FB pages and browse around. You'll be bedazzled. The photogs you'll see on my Facebook (and at other FB pages as well) break the stereotype of the obnoxious photographer. Talented, wonderful folk all, besides being great imagemakers, they are also some of the most respectful, kindest artists you'll find anywhere. Thanks, everyone who had a photo pass (and many of those who didn't have passes,) for being such wonderful photographic ladies and gentlemen.

And below of my images from All Souls' Procession. I was going for grainy yet sharpish. And I seem to have been drawn to the faces of those around the Urn, and the faces of those who worked so hard to make this all happen. Thanks, Alphonso, Jefe, Paul, Heather, Moises, Nadia, and on and on and on. Literally, too many to name.

And I had to take some pics of fire too. I am a Zippo man, after all.

"Skull"

"Skull, American Indian Museum, Washington, D.C." (c) 2011 Stu Jenks

Happy All Souls' Day, everyone.

Happy Halloween & Happy Birthday

"Wrightston Fog, Arizona" (c) 2011 Stu Jenks

Happy Halloween and Happy Birthday to Mary Jenks. She would have been 85 years old today, but she died on July 7th.

Rest in peace, Mom. Maybe I'll see you floating above the streets tonight, or maybe I'll feel your spirit in the days and nights to come.

Know that you were loved, Mary.

From Tucson Photographer Jeff Smith

[This image by Jeff Smith of Tucson's All Souls' Procession burns off the screen, or the print or the page. Jefe is hands-down, my favorite photographer in all of Arizona. And he is a friend, and a very standup guy. He knows the meaning of 'Cowboy Up.' Check out more of his work at his website: Jeff Smith USA.]

All Souls' Procession: The Last Three

 

"I'm not afraid of The Blur" - Jeff Smith.

Nor am I trying to be.

I took a second look at the images I took last Sunday and found these three, which at first glance didn't seem to measure up. I was wrong. These blurry images work just fine.

And again, heartfelt thanks to all the souls who participated in last weekend's sacred event.

 

All Soul Procession Photography Rebirth this Saturday

For those of you who have the IPhone, your own jpeg via Jeff Smith. Hope to see you all this weekend for any and all of the All Souls Procession events. Love and light, Stu.

All Souls' Procession: Jellyfish Crane Rehearsal: October 29th, 2010

All Souls' Procession: Jellyfish Crane Rehearsal: October 29th, 2010 (c) Many Mouths One Stomach & Stu Jenks

 

Simply go to the StuTube (my YouTube page) and select All Souls' Procession: Jellyfish Crane, and you can watch a little video, shot yesterday, of the All Souls' Procession Finale: Jellyfish Crane Rehearsal, in the Hook Crane Company's yard. This is just to give you a taste of what will transpire in a little over a week, in Downtown Tucson, on November 7th, 2010.

What struck me, during the rehearsal, was the perfect blending between the solidity of Rome's powerful drumming with Aurelia's floating silk work, and the performers in-between creating a visual bridge between the earthiness and the airy. But isn't that what Death and Dying are all about: The polarity between losing this grounded existence and the hope, afterwards, of flying with our angels? It is for me.

This Earth can be both wonderful and horrible, sometimes in the same day. I visit a dying mother. I watch dancers in the sky. And that was yesterday.

I can always use a little air.

I hope this little video whets your appetite for the visual, spiritual and emotional feast that will occur a week from Sunday.

Love and Light,

Stu.

p.s. Don't forget to choose the HD drop-down on the StuTube. It'll make the video extra-special sharp, you know.

4th Annual All Souls' Procession Photography Competition

Here are the flyers for submission into the ASP Photography Competition. And just to make it easy, click right here and it'll take you to the online submission page. I'm one of the worker bees involved in this and I would love to see your work. [Terry Etherton will be this year's juror.] And nothing is too small or too insignificant. The last three years I've been pleasantly surprised by some of the winners in the Show. Hope you will submit.

Love, and Light, Stu