Stu Jenks' Fezziwig Press

A deep dive into my hard drives, and a few new images as well...

"Council Rocks Flame Tower, Dragoon Mountains, Arizona" (c) 2021 Stu Jenks.

So recently I've been doing deep dives into my hard drives, to perhaps find some images I had overlooked, or reprocess some photos from the past that I can make better. It's been fun.

Here, is a Zippo lighter image, shot at dusk at Council Rocks in Arizona a few years back. (I may need to do more flame tower images here in North Carolina. Hmm.) I popped the color a bit and sharpened the photo a little. I really like this image and this place. It is the place where the Apache chief Cochise lived, and where he made peace with the Americans in the 1870's. I miss Arizona so.

Other old and a few new images are below. If you want a print of anything, reach out.

And may you all have a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.

Love y'all.

Stu.

"Shiprock at Dusk, New Mexico" (c) 2021 Stu Jenks.

"Washington Monument 1961, D.C." (c) Image capture Stu Jenks 2021, photographer unknown, from a postcard.

"Pamela's Baby Rocking Chair, Jesse Brown's Cabin, Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina" (c) 2021 Stu Jenks.


"Pamela's Baby Rocking Chair, Brown's Summit, North Carolina" (c) 2021 Stu Jenks.

"Pamela's Baby Rocking Chair (with pelican), North Topsail Island, North Carolina" (c) 2021 Stu Jenks.

"A Dartmoor Stream, UK" (c) 2021 Stu Jenks.

"Scorhill Stone Circle, Dartmoor, UK" (c) 2021 Stu Jenks.

"The British Oaks in Wistman's Wood, Dartmoor, UK" (c) 2021 Stu Jenks.

"Crowned Buddha, Ackland Art Museum, Chapel Hill, North Carolina" (c) Stu Jenks.

"Parvati, Ackland Art Museum, Chapel Hill, North Carolina" (c) 2021 Stu Jenks.

"Little Copper Dome, Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia" (c) 2021 Stu Jenks.

"Mossy Creek Church, The Valley of Virginia" (c) 2021 Stu Jenks. (The place where my fourth great-grandmother Polly is buried, in an unmarked grave)

"Rodin's Burghers, In front of City Hall, in Calais, France" (c) 2021 Stu Jenks.

"Acis and Galatea, Luxembourg Gardens, Paris, France" (c) 2021 Stu Jenks.

"Portrait of a woman, outside of Chartres Cathedral, France" (c) 2021 Stu Jenks.

"The Blue Virgin, Chartres Cathedral, France" (c) 2021 Stu Jenks.

"St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Cheyenne, Wyoming" (c) 2021 Stu Jenks.

"The Blue Mary, Parroquia de la Purisima Concepcion, Nogales, Sonora, Mexico" (c) 2021 Stu Jenks.

"Flame Spiral atop Tumamoc Hill, Tucson, Arizona" (c) 2021 Stu Jenks.

 

Dia De Los Muertos at the Jenks family plot in Lancaster County, Virginia.

I live here in Greensboro, North Carolina now, but I'm really from Tucson, Arizona.

Part of the border culture, is the annual Dia de los Muestos celebrations. In Sonora, Mexico and Sonoran Arizona, many families on the nights and days around November 2nd, go to their family cemetery plots and clean the graves. They also bring favorite foods and beverages of the deceased, and fresh marigold flowers to decorate the graves of their loved ones. Many stay throughout the nights, drinking and eating, telling funny stories about the deceased, having a good time with friends and family, both living and dead. It's a big deal. Some towns in Sonora, Mexico will have parades honoring the dead. In Tucson, we have the All Souls' Procession, where many thousands of people march through downtown, dressed as the dead, or with placards acknowledging their dead loved ones. A large steel urn filled of written prayers is taken to a site near the Santa Cruz river, where the urn is set ablaze, sending prayers skyward. It's a big deal. (I've been lucky enough to be one of the All Souls photographers over the decades.)

Having moved back to the South, I realize that I had an opportunity to go full-on Day of the Dead with my ancestors. On the way to the Jenks family plot the other day, I visited my grandparents and my great-grandparents in Richmond, along with visiting the grave of my murdered great aunt Bertie. The story of Aunt Bertie's murder and what happened to her two young children can be found at this link. After visiting my folks and my sister, I placed flowers and candles at my great-great grandparents and my great-great-great grandparents graves in Oak Grove Cemetery in Lexington, Virginia. It was kinda-sorta on the way home.

But the main event was at Mary's, Stuart's, and Pamela's graves at St. Mary's Whitechapel Episcopal Church, in Lancaster County, Virginia, near the shores of the Rappahannock River.

Some background regarding St. Mary's Whitechapel and my mother's religious life:

My mother Mary was a big deal in the Diocese of Virginia, being on the Standing Committee and committing her life to service in the Episcopal Church. The rector at St. Mary's in the late 90's and early 2000's was a delight. Loved Mom. Loved trains. However, the rector after him, was an ex-divorce attorney who became a priest late in life. She was frankly horrible, a control freak, pushing mother out of her roles at St. Mary's. Granted, my mother was a force of nature and was a pain in the neck on more than one occasion, but that priest could have fired my mother with a bit more empathy and grace, given she is working with an elderly woman who is doing all this for free. It broke my mother's heart. The current priest at St. Mary's is a very nice woman who I've only met once. Seems very grounded, sweet, and genuine.

Some background regarding on the St. Mary's Whitechapel Graveyard:

The church and the graveyard have been around since 1669. Yeah. 1669. There have been in the past a lot of rules and regulations regarding what you can leave at the graves. No potted plants. No toys. No plastic flowers. No this, no that. They used to enforce this rigidly, but from what I saw the other night, not so much. Potted plants are there. Small figurines are there. A recent burial from a few months ago still had its wilting flowers and the cardboard photo of the deceased. The current priest I believe is doing the right thing, being more flexible. Then again, when she sees the mess I made she might think differently.

I looked all over for marigolds and only found a few late in the process. Trader Joe's sunflowers did just fine.

The food for each person consisted of these:

For Mom, cottage cheese. She loved her cottage cottage.

For Dad, a can of tuna, a can of collard greens, and a single tuna wrap from Trader Joe's. (I ate the second tuna wrap.) Dad loved his tuna fish.

And Pamela, it's bagels.

Many of you have heard me tell the Pamela Jenks Bagel Story. Of her yelling at the Harris Teeter clerk in the frozen food isle in Raleigh.

"Excuse me sir. Can you tell me where the fucking frozen begals are?!!!" Clerk running toward us. "Madam, please don't use that kind of language." Pamela yelling, "Why the fuck not!!!" Clerk's brain going into vapor lock. Him, slowly walking away. Me, just standing there smiling. Not my first Pamela Jenks rodeo.

Pamela yelled and cussed everywhere she went. She wasn't crazy crazy, but she was Southern crazy.

As far as drink goes, that was problematic. All the beverages would have been alcoholic. Me being in recovery, driving with three liquid rattlesnakes in the back of my truck was not a good idea. I went with cans of Arizona Ice Tea, with what they liked to drink written in sharpie on the side of the cans. "Pamela liked scotch." "Dad liked beer." "Mom liked wine." It worked just fine. (Throughout the night, I actually drank Pamela's iced tea. It was very good.)

I placed the food, drink, flowers and candles at each of my loved ones' graves. Put one single flower on my grave, just to include me in all the fun. The Virgin of Guadalupe candles really brought it all together.

I arrived around 5 p.m. and stayed throughout the night, only leaving around 3 a.m. so I could make it to Lexington to place flowers and candles at the Beeton's and Jenks' graves. I place a towel on the "OK God Let's Do It" bench to keep my butt warm, and I played a little woo-woo music on my phone, specifically Steve Roach and Kevin Brahany's "Western Spaces". Hearing that music made me miss Utah and Arizona terribly, but it was still very nice to hear it softly echo throughout the forest.

It's hard to put in words the powers of those few hours. Sometimes if you say too much about a spiritual experience it lessens it resonance in your life. This is one of those times. I felt like crying but I didn't. Just felt sad, mostly because Mary is gone. I miss Mom.

At one point, I walked down to the road to see if I could see the burning candles. I could see the one on top of Dad's headstone. 'Man,' I thought. 'If you are driving down Lively Road tonight and looked up at just the right time, you will see that candle. Won't that be delightfully spooky.'

It was a very good night. Next year, I will return again to honor the dead.

I hope the priest doesn't feel mad at me about all of this. My guess is she will roll with it. But I did leave a candle burning, many flowers and food lying around. My guess is the deer and other wildlife will make short work of the cottage cheese, the tuna wrap and the bagels. The raccoons will have a tough time though, getting into the tuna fish can and the collard greens can, but those little guys are pretty resourceful. You never know.

Rest in peace, Mom, Dad, and Pamela. You were not always the best family, but you are my family.

There is an old metaphysical saying, that our parents did a shitty job, but they did the best they could with the skills they had, and in that paradox, can be find peace and compassion.

I found peace and compassion the other night, in the dark, at my family's graves.

I'm blessed.

#allsoulsday, #diadelosmuertos, #thejenks, #stujenks.

"The Tree of Life"

"The Tree of Life Stained Glass Window, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Wilkesboro, NC" (c) 2021 Stu Jenks.

“Father, Son & Holy Ghost, Saguaro Ribs, Arizona” © Stu Jenks 2020 [Extended Family Series]

“Father, Son & Holy Ghost, Saguaro Ribs, Arizona” © Stu Jenks 2020, 7 feet 6 inches tall.

Price: $495 (or free to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church), shipping included in the price. Simply contact me via my email address at [email protected] or Facebook message me, if you would like to purchase one of my pieces. Payments can be made with Paypal, Venmo or credit card with Square. All pieces are signed with its title, and can be hung from the wall. Love y'all, Stu.

I’m Episcopalian by birth, but I believe The Risen Christ is a spiritual metaphor not a physical reality.

That being said, my mother’s progressive Christian teachings: of freely giving to the poor, the sick and the lonely; of honoring an Always-Loving-God-That-Loves-You-No-What-Matter-You-Do-Or-Don't-Do; of the communion of good people trying to make a better world; of the power of prayer and meditation to help me makes the best decisions throughout my day; of a God that is simply the powers of Goodness, Light, and Love, those beliefs she taught me have resonated throughout my life, starting from when I was a small boy. Thank you Mom for putting me on a healthy spiritual path. It was a very big deal that you didn't teach me to fear God.  

As a child, I had a hard time wrapping my head around a Loving Father (didn’t really have one of those,) and a Risen Son (didn’t really see how Jesus rising from the dead was possible or even necessary,) but The Holy Ghost? I was down with The Holy Ghost. An invisible loving spirit, moving through the world, helping little boys like me. I liked that. A lot. Still do.

I made this piece specifically for Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Greensboro, North Carolina in 2020, as I was recovering from my radical prostatectomy surgery. They are very good people over there at Holy Trinity. I'm not going to force them to take it, and better yet, if they want to buy it, sweet; but it's not about the cash. It's about appreciation and gratitude.

Really, more than anything, I'm grateful that my mother Mary taught me that God is not scary, and that The Holy Ghost is a mysteriously wonderful thing that can love a little boy like me. A little boy who lives inside of this 66 year old man.

And heck. The church is called Holy Trinity after all. Seems like the perfect place for this wall piece to live.

Love you all. Namaste.

#fathersonandholyghost, #stujenks, #extendedfamilyseries

"Virgin Of Guadalupe by Luis Berrueco, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Virginia" Image capture by Stu Jenks 2021

"Virgin Of Guadalupe by Luis Berrueco" Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Virginia" Image capture by Stu Jenks 2021

All images on this website can be printed by me on my archival printer, using archival paper, then signed, boarded, glassine-bagged, then mailed to you

8 1/2 by 11s are $45, plus S & H. 13 x 19s are $95, plus S & H. (Image rights are also for sale. Cost of those are specific to the client and the job.) Shipping runs between $10 and $20.

Contact me via email at [email protected], through Facebook Messenger, or by text at 520-343-5596 if you want to buy something. Stay safe. Love y’all.

 

This painting is enormous, maybe 6 feet by 9 feet. A recent acquisition by the VMFA.

Seeing it made me both miss the desert, as well as feel like a part of Sonora was here with me right now.

“Mary Magdalene, Saguaro Rib, Arizona” (c) Stu Jenks 2020. [Extended Family Series]

“Mary Magdalene, Saguaro Rib, Arizona” 42 inches tall, (c) Stu Jenks 2020.

Price: $125, shipping included in the price. Simply contact me via my email address at [email protected] or Facebook message me, if you would like to purchase one of my pieces. Payments can be made with Paypal, Venmo or credit card with Square. All pieces are signed with its title, and can be hung from the wall. Love y'all, Stu.

 

 

I can easily go into a long rant about the treatment of Mary Magdalene by the Church, but I will simply say this:

I believe she was Christ's lover.

I believe she was not a prostitute.

I believe they should have put The Gospel of Mary Magdalene into the New Testament during the Nicene Convention.

Like Levi said, when one of the other Disciples criticize Magdalene, "You know full well that Mary knew Jesus better than any of us did."

(I feel angry about how the misogynistic early Church and the latter Church treated her. Can you tell?)

I believe in Mary Magdalene and in all of her holiness.

I don't believe in the Risen Christ but I believe that Jesus was a great holy man.

And I believe Mary Magdalene was very important to Christ, and he was to her.

That's what I believe.

The sources of my beliefs? The Gnostic Gospels and my own intuition. That's why they're called beliefs.

I'm trying not to type angry here but I can't. What happened to her memory and her place in history is majorly f-ed up.

And I just did the long rant I didn't want to do. Shoot.

#stujenks, #marymagdalene, #extendedfamilyseries

 

Images From The Fall of 2020.

"Angel in Surry County, North Carolina" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

Well, I finally made it into the loving arms of my wife in Greensboro, North Carolina. Looking for part time work. Loving the people and the food. Even the mosquitoes are biting me too bad. Wish I had more money than I have right now, but I am truly rich in love. 

Got behind on putting images up here but I have some time tonight. Alexa sleeps downstairs. I'm typing from my new studio in the garret of our house. I mowed the yard today and I actually enjoy that. I'm hiking in the deep woods, only downside is you don't hike alone on the weekends. Working on some new walking sticks/wall pieces. Newest one is a piece in honor of Ruth Bader Ginsberg. I've been visiting with some old college friends and making new ones here too. 

Botton line: Except for the thin checking book, I couldn't be happy. 

Hope you dig the new images.

Stu

"Bighorns at Cathy's Fault, Arizona" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

 

"Spiral on the Yadkin River, North Carolina" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

 

"Seven Saguaros, Cathy's Fault, Arizona [Colorado River School]" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

 

Religious images, in Nogales, Sonora; Tucson, Arizona, and on the T.O. Reservation, Arizona & Mexico.

 

Pamela's Baby Rocking Chair and a curtain in a window, in Henry, Virginia.

 

Black lives do matter now, on Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia.

 

"St. Jude's Cemetery, T.O. Reservation, Arizona" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks. 

 

Pamela's Baby Rocking Chair in Lancaster County, in the Rappahannock River in Virginia; on a wall in Bladen County, NC; on the tracks at the Bean Shoals, along the Yadkin River, NC; more tracks at Brown's Summit, NC; by the Tin Man wall in Greensboro; in front of a movie theatre in Yanceyville, NC; surfing at Wrightsville Beach, NC, near the Blue Ridge Parkway, NC; and at Table Rock at Linville Gorge, in North Carolina.

 

 

"Pet Milk (with PBRC), Goldsboro, North Carolina" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

 

"A Cabin, Blue Ridge Parkway, Virginia" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks. 

 

"The Rapids Below, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks. 

 

"Legs For Days #2 (A Portrait of Alexa Jenks), sculpture made with batik fabric, eye bolts & a crab pot buoy, our back yard in Greensboro, North Carolina, [Colorado River School photograph]" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

 

Prism Red Maple, our front yard, Lindley Park, Greensboro, North Carolina. (c) Stu Jenks 2020.

 

Portrait of me by Tom Whittington, with Looking Glass Mountain in the distance, North Carolina. 

Images from the time of the Coronavirus

Been a little behind on getting recent images up on my website, with my pending prostate surgery pre-op stuff, my recent employment and money challenges due to the Coronavirus, and I'm missing the living crap out of my wife too, but that's no excuse really. I just haven't made the time to upload until now.

So on this Easter Sunday, here are some images from the past few weeks. And as always, prints and images rights are for sale.

Much love to you all. Stay home, stay safe and be well.

Love, Stu.

"Red-Tailed Hawk & The Full Moon, Oracle, Arizona" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

"Abandoned Factory, Hiatt & South Lindell Street, Greensboro, North Carolina" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

"Green Doors, Lowell, Arizona" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

"Abandoned Shell Station, Lowell, Arizona" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

"Beware The Ides Of March Spiral, Tohono O'Odham Reservation, Arizona" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

"The Sun & The Moon Pictograph, Cochise Stronghold, Arizona" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

"Manzanita Flowers, Cochise Stronghold, Arizona" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

"Pamela's Baby Rocking Chair, Tehachapi Loop. California (New Version)" (c) Stu Jenks 2020.

"Two Billion Year Old Rocks, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona (New Version)" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

"December Lightning, Road to Sonoita, Arizona (New Version)" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

"A White Sycamore Tree From Above, Cathy's Fault, Arizona" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

"The Virgin Mary, The Church Of The Immaculate Conception, Nogales, Sonora, Mexico" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

"St. Barnabas, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Greensboro, North Carolina" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

"The Road To Magdelena, Sonora, Mexico (New Version)" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

"A Grave Decorated In The Topowa Cemetery, Tohono O'Odham Reservation, Arizona" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

"Topowa Crosses, Tohono O'Odham Reservation, Arizona" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

"A Milagro On A Wooden Cross On The Old Sonoita Highway, Arizona" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

"Norman Smith, Saguaro Ribs, Arizona" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

This wall piece and other walking-stick-inspired pieces are part of an ongoing series called 'The Extended Family'. Along with these sculptures, I have more traditional walking sticks for sale for $80, made from aspen, saguaro, agave and other natural materials. Just send me a email and I can shoot you some jpegs of what is currently in stock. And I will ship.

"Abandoned Ranch Building, Tohono O'Odham Reservation, Arizona" (c) 2020 Stu Jenks.

 

Spirals, Gods, Love & Light.

"Rainbow Virga Over The Catalinas, Tucson, Arizona" (c) 2019 Stu Jenks.

Some new images are in the post, some old and a couple of my beautiful wife, just because. And yes, in the summer, it rains in Tucson and if we are lucky, we see rainbows.

"Alexa Jenks at Sunset at my Casita, Tucson, Arizona" (c) 2019 Stu Jenks.

It hurts to be temporarily away from my sweet wife. She lives in North Carolina, but I have to make a living and so does she. Just the way it is for now. But I'm grateful beyond words that I got to spend a week with her at my little casita here in the Tucson Mountains. Love you madly, baby.

"Catalina State Park, Arizona" (The Ikon) (c) 1998, 2019 Stu Jenks.

An old image that I recently fiddled with, using new technology. Originally printed in a chemical darkroom.

"Three Spirals, Three Stones, Avebury, England" (c) 2019 Stu Jenks.

Was clearing up some space on an old hard-drive and I found this RAW file. Made it all fancy and new and spiritual and shit. A magical night on the plains of England in 2013.

"White Sandstone Hoop Dance, Coalmine Canyon, Arizona" (c) 2019 Stu Jenks.

Nope. I wasn't in any danger of falling while photographing this. Not really. But my tripod bag blew over the edge into a hole that night. I thought of climbing down to get it, then realized I may not get back out. One of my rules: Don't die dumb.

"Old Meg, Scorhill Stone Circle, Chagford, England" (c) 2013, 2019 Stu Jenks.

Got lost in the fog that day. Found my way home but it was a little tricky. Another rule: Don't wander on the moors when it's fog as shit.

"Little Man at The Singing Rocks, Ironwood Forest National Monument, Arizona" (c) 2019 Stu Jenks.

Bad road of mud and sand. A long hike from the truck, but worth it to see this little man petroglyph and a Gila Monster off to my left. The pudgy little fellow ran away before I could take a photo of him. Gila Monsters are fast.

"Smoking Pot On The Railroad Tracks, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina" (c) 2018 Stu Jenks.

These students are too far away to identify, which is exacted what I wanted. Don't want to get anymore in trouble. Marijuana is illegal in North Carolina, don't you know. I just thought it was a sweet photo of an activity I used to do. Hmm. How many times did I do drugs along the railroad tracks? A lot.

"Becca Painting, East Of Downtown LA, California" (c) 2019 Stu Jenks.

I used to hate LA with its traffic but no more. It's the land of 1000 villages. You just have plan your visits to the villages. Highland Park is one of my favorites, and Downtown LA too. This image makes me said. Not sure why. I hope Becca is OK.

"Rainbow In Mist, Iceland" (c) 2019 Alexis Helms.

One of my favorite young emerging photographers is Alexis Helms from Raleigh, North Carolina. She has chops. And I feel blessed to call her my friend. Keep seeing, Alexis. Keep shooting.

"Pamela's Baby Rocking Chair, The Arizona Trail, Oracle, Arizona" (c) 2019 Stu Jenks.

I still take the PBRC out and about. It was a lovely little hike last weekend. Good place to watch the light fade. RIP Pamela, Mary and Stuart Jenks.

And if you are interested, there are two Pamela's Baby Rocking Chair books out there: Pamela's Baby Rocking Chair (The Deaths of Pamela and Mary Jenks), Fezziwig Press, 2013 and Cherry Picking Leviticus, Fezziwig Press, 2018. You can purchase them at the usual places online or from me at www.stujenks.org. 

"Sta. Rosa de Lima, Nogales, Sonora, Mexico" (c) 2019 Stu Jenks.

A few times a year I travel an hour south to Mexico, to get my teeth cleaned, to buy my medications for half price and to pray at this humble Catholic church a few hundred yards south of the border. I love Mexico and its people. They remind me of my southern brethren: Polite, kind, humorous and religious. Via con Dios. Go with God.

"Wooden Cross On A Hill, The Old Sonoita Highway, Arizona" (c) 2019 Stu Jenks.

Another place I go to pray. I tell people often that you don't have to believe in a God to pray. Just think loving thoughts about the people you cherish, and maybe throw in a few prayers toward the people you have problems with. I can promise you, you'll feel better for it. 

"Above the Saguaros, A Hill South of Gate's Pass, Tucson Mountains, Arizona." (c) 2019 Stu Jenks.

We don't really need another photograph of saguaros in the world, but the light was awfully nice yesterday, the angle was great and yes, they are kind of magical plants, aren't they. Fun Fact: I first hiked to this spot in December, 1982, soon after moving to Tucson from North Carolina. Yep. That's almost 37 years ago. I was 28 I think. I'm 64 now. And not much has changed, at all, on the primitive trail heading up to this hill. Most people go across the road, to walk, kiss, screw, drink, and lollygag about. Not over here, and that makes me happy. I try to find gratitude in many things, both big and small. This is both a big and a small blessing to me, the peace and beauty of this place.

 

 

Love, light and luck, y'all. Keep the faith, however you do that, and keep your lamp trimmed and burning. Your light in the world matters. More than you know.

Stu

Two things I resolve to do in 2019...

"Pamela's Baby Rocking Chair (flying), The Green House, Uwharrie Wilderness, North Carolina" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.

 

Two things I resolve to do in 2019.

Stay sober. Stay alive.

Other things are of course important in my life: gainful employment, producing more income so I can support myself and my family; gradually getting out of the hole of debt; being sweet and loving to my beautiful wife; continue to make art, music and books; being kind and compassionate to my friends and family and even to those I do not like; being of service to my community and to the world; bringing social justice to my country, in my own small ways.

But without breath in my lungs, a heartbeat in my chest, and a head clear of mood-altering chemicals, none of the above is possible.

Stay sober. Stay alive.

It's really that simple sometimes.

 

 

"O Little Ball of Bethlehem (in my front yard), Greensboro, North Carolina" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.

"The Path Home, Ashe County, North Carolina" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.

"Beech Trees Across The Water, North Carolina" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.

"Red Door, Henry, Virginia" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.

"Nannie's Mirror, Henry, Virginia" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.

"Nannie's Mirror, Jumping-Off-Rock Trail, Uwharrie Wilderness, North Carolina" (c) 2019 Stu Jenks.

"Pamela's Baby Rocking Chair, The Green House, Uwharrie Wilderness, North Carolina" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.

"Nannie's Mirror, The Green House, Uwharrie Wilderness, North Carolina" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.

"Nannie's Mirror (after Hurricane Michael), Erect, North Carolina" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.

"After Hurricane Florence, Eastern North Carolina" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.

"Nannie's Mirror, Lake Townsend, North Carolina" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.

"Nannie's Mirror, Moore's Knob, Hanging Rock State Park, North Carolina" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.

"The Tops Of Trees, Ashe County, North Carolina" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.

"Young Holly Tree In Hardwood Forest, Uwharrie Wilderness, North Carolina" (c) 2019 Stu Jenks.

"Nannie's Mirror, Ashe County, North Carolina" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.

"Alexa at Pilot Mountain, North Carolina" (c) 2019 Stu Jenks.

"Nannie's Mirror, Badin, North Carolina" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.

"A Singer at The Poor People's Campaign Watch Night Revival, Dec. 31st, 2018, Pullen Baptist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks and The Poor People's Campaign.

"The Rev. Dr. William Barber II of the Poor People's Campaign, during the Watch Night Revival, Dec. 31st, 2018, at Pullen Baptist Church, in Raleigh, North Carolina" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks and The Poor People's Campaign.

"Rachel Blythe's Grave, 1897, Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh, North Carolina" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.

"Pamela's Baby Rocking Chair, Pinnacles of Dan, Virginia" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.

"The Blue House, Bellemont, North Carolina" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.

"Pamela's Baby Rocking Chair, Pilot Mountain, North Carolina" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.

"Moravian Star, Kernersville, North Carolina" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.

"Pamela's Baby Rocking Chair, Brown's Summit, North Carolina" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.

"Nannie's Mirror (in my backyard in a foot of snow), Greensboro, North Carolina" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.

"Waving Plastic Santa and A Mothershead Neck Weather Vane (in my front yard in a foot of snow), Greensboro, North Carolina" (c) 2018, 2019 Stu Jenks.