Stu Jenks' Fezziwig Press: Spirals

October 17, 2022

"Mr. Zippo (George Blaisdell), Red Cedar, North Carolina" (c) 2022 Stu Jenks

As some of you know, the Zippo lighter was paramount in the development of my artistic vision. In simpler terms, I was a night photographer in the late 1990's, and I was looking for an organic light source to create my flame spirals. The Zippo was it.

George Blaisdell invented and produced Zippos from 1932 until his death in 1978. After his death, his two daughters, Sarah and Harriet, took over the company. I made this sculpture to honor him and them.

Truly, if it wasn't for the Zippo lighter, my life would have been very different. Its tall, beautiful, bright flame was the perfect light source for many of my photographs, for over ten years.

I still have one of those two Zippos I owned back them, one given to me as a birthday present from my good friend Micheal Doll. (Thought it would be sweet to give Michael a shout-out)

Enjoy some of these flame spiral images from that time. Photo image rights and prints are always available. And the book Flame Spirals: Journeys Through Nocturnal Photography is available wherever you buy books.

Flame on, y'all. Have a blessed day and a peaceful night.

Posted at 10:35 AM in Arizona, Art, Canyons, Coalmine Canyon, Fezziwig Press, Flame Spirals, Hardwood, Love, Night Photography, Nocturnal Photography, Spirals, Spirituality, The Moon, The Rez, The West, Tucson, Virginia, Walking Sticks, Wall Pieces | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 28, 2022

Circles and Spirals: Stu Jenks' Newsletter #7: 6/28/2022

1) Just horrendous. You know what I'm talking about. The over-turning of Roe v. Wade. So much has been said already, and perhaps the last thing we need is a man bemoaning what I believe is a woman's primary right to her own body. Or maybe more men do need to speak up. I don't know. But I will say this. The steady march to a New American Theocracy, a nation ruled by religious beliefs rather than by laws, worries the fuck out of me. Vote in the Fall for all Democrats, no matter how wimpy or conservative they are, and register others to vote as well, so we can hold onto state houses and perhaps hold the U.S. Senate and U.S. House as well. All this makes me so angry and sad. That being said, I have to remind myself that America has only been a 'true' democracy since 1964, since The Civil Rights act.

So Rest In Peace, American Democracy (1964-2022). Adios muchachos. Hopefully a New Democracy will be reborn in the future.

One outside hope I have is that corporations will be less willing to invest into anti-abortion, anti-women states, not sending new offices and factories to those places. That along with the slim hope that Democrat politicians will eventually grow a pair and learn how to fight. I pray for the former to happen but have little hope for the latter. I just feel awful for all the women and girls in my country right now. Just awful.

2) My radiation oncology has begun on the salvage/killing of the little bit of cancer that remains in my pelvic floor. Not fun. The feeling of having to pee all the time, not every day, but many days, sucks. But truly, the hardest thing about this daily process is walking from the parking lot to the cancer center on my bad left leg, and then the massive fatigue that hits me an hour after treatment. But I don't want to die before my time. The docs seems hopeful that this will kill the cancer that's still left. I sure hope so.

3) I tried to sell some of my walking sticks and photographs at my local farmer's market last Saturday. Had very few sales but I met some very nice people, mostly the other vendors and a few shoppers. And of course, like my other Open Art Studio type events over the years, I had the odd person who said really weird things to me (I'll leave it at that). I may come back in the Fall after my radiation, when I have more energy. The people were quite sweet, but this really isn't my crowd where my art will sell, I'm afraid. People are there for the fruits and vegetables, not the rocking chair photos and high end walking sticks. But they were still very nice people.

4) I went to my nephew Will's high school graduation a few weeks back. It was a hoot. I hadn't been to a high school graduation since I graduated from Sanderson High School in 1973. Got a couple of good shots with the long lens. So much fun. Congrats Will McIntyre, and good luck in the fall as you attend the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

"Harriet Tubman by Arron Douglas, Ackland Art Museum, Chapel Hill, NC" (Image capture by Stu Jenks 2022)

5) I've been to some fine local art shows lately, and I'm still trying to get into other art shows, here and in Tucson, but it's been slow going. Both having a bad leg that's not healing very quickly, and this fatiguing oncology radiation and I'm a bit hobbled. I'm not liking it at all. But it is what it is and it ain't what it ain't. Acceptance is the key and all that good shit. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers, to heal up from this cancer and this torn leg muscle, and that I sell more art, music and books so I can continue to keep the wolves away from the door. Love you all. Stu. P.S. Alexa says hey.

Posted at 10:38 AM in Arizona, Art, Cactus, Circles, Fezziwig Press, Flame Spirals, History, Love, Nature, North Carolina, Other Artists, People, Politics, Relationships, Social Justice, Spirals, Spirituality, The Ocean, The South, Trees, Tucson, Virginia, Walking Sticks | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 23, 2022

Circles and Spirals: Stu Jenks' Newsletter #5: 5/23/2022

1) First things first. I got COVID, probably on the plane coming back from Arizona. Yeah, shit. Thank God for the anti-viral medication Paxlovid and having been vaxxed four times. Still was a rough 4 days, fever, chills, coughing, really bad sinus headaches, but today I still have a bit of brain fog, some congestion, a little bit of a cough and a mild headache. Really glad I'm not in the hospital. Really glad I'm not dead.

2) Went to visit Tucson on the 4th of May. Came back on the 12th. It was wonderful, to see old friends and to simply walk the land I know so well. Went to Coalmine Canyon at sunset, a personal spiritual place I've visited for over 35 years. It's changed some with many tourists now, many meaning any. (Back in the day, I would see no one at all.) That day, I ran into a pair of irritated German tourists who didn't know how to behave, and selfishly had to get their shoots right away, ignoring the fact that there was a guy right there, me, who might have given them some history and some warnings about the place (There are wild dogs there from time to time that will tear you up), but I didn't let them ruin the moment too bad (OK. A little). I took my shots and then I just soaked in the space. It's an amazing space. Feel free to visit, just be respectful. Included here are a few of the best shots I took. By the way, the tall massive hoodoo in the distance is called The Ghost. The place is haunted, say both the Hopi and the Navajo and me. Over the years I have felt the spirits and it's no joke. They are mostly friendly ghosts. Mostly.

3) I miss my home in the desert. A lot. From the baked eggs at The Cup Cafe to the tortillas at Le Estrella Bakery. But mostly I miss the people, my art community and my recovery community and my friends. All the above. Here in Greensboro, I'm getting to know a few people, but I lived in Tucson for over 35 years. You make a lot of friends in that time, if you're not a jerk. I can be a bit much at times but I'm not a jerk. Thanks everyone who showed me such love and kindness during my time in Tucson. Means the world. Hope to be back soon.

4) I still have a bad left leg but I was able to walk a bit in Arizona. Walking the flats near the Mustang Mountains south of Tucson was a joy. Hiking up Cathy's Fault, north of town, just hurt like a son of a bitch, but I had to go up it anyway. At the Mustangs, I drew an spiral on an anthill, for me sure, but also for two people I know who are dying of cancer, and for their friends and family. One has died, the other close to passing. It's very sad. Both are way too young. Both are way too sweet. I'm not praying for their souls. No need. In my belief system, everyone is going to Heaven or a Heaven of sorts. But I do pray for their loved ones who are left behind, grieving, sad. May all of you feel held by God, by me and by all who love you.

5) One of the most memorable moments of my trip was when I was sleeping in my car on the Hopi Rez, along the side of the road one night. It's not a big thing. No one will bother you if you nap in your car. Just lock your doors. Anyway, in the middle of the night I got up for a minute and went outside. I gazed to the south and saw the Milky Way. Not unusual to see it if you are out in the boonies, but what made me say 'wow' out loud, was seeing our galaxy stretch all the way from the Southern horizon, almost all the way to the Northern horizon. I had never seen it stretch that far north. The sky seemed both close enough to touch and a billion miles away. Marvelous. The next morning I thought of dropping in on my Hopi friends but it was way too early to do that. I took an image of their village instead. The Youvella and Kinale families and all the others, may your days be blessed. Hug the kids for me.

6) Again, got back from Tucson, safe but not sound. Pretty sure I got COVID on the plane when I sat next to someone who I believe may have been sick. Frankly 2/3 of the plane were unmasked. WTF. Anyway, I'm out and about again. Took a pic of Pamela's Baby Rocking Chair along a little-traveled train track in rural North Carolina. Went up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, to get my fix of looking-far-into-the-distance. It's good to be home in NC. It's a little odd to feel at home in two places, one in Arizona and another in North Carolina, but it's certainly better than not feeling at home at all. A lot of people are homeless too you know, and just as bad, many people don't feel like they have a home even though they have a place to live. Alexa and I am truly blessed.

7) Alexa got the COVID too, from me don't you know, but she is much better now too. We are both grateful that we didn't get that sick. She says hey.

8) So that's it for now. Thank all of you who sent prayers and good wishes on the social medias, texts, IMs and phone calls during our illnesses. Alexa and I are very happy to be on the mend. One last thing: Alexa's dad, Norman Smith, lives just down the street. Over the past week, he has dropped off fresh strawberries from his garden. As the wise man said, that does not suck. Alexa and I do live in a lovely part of the world. I know I may be overusing this word today, but we feel truly blessed. And you too. Have a blessed day. Saying that doesn't mean you are religious. It just means you are grateful.

Love, light and luck,

Stu

Posted at 11:46 AM in Angel/Ghosts, Arizona, Art, Blue Ridge Parkway, Clouds, Coalmine Canyon, Current Affairs, Faith, Flowers, Greensboro, NC, Hopi, Love, Native People, North Carolina, On The Rez, Other Artists, Prayer, Recovery, Sickness & Health, Spirals, Spirituality, The Rez, The Road, The Sky, The South, The West, The Woods, Travel, Trees, Tucson, Wildlife | Permalink | Comments (0)

June 04, 2021

"Ancestors' Circle, Arizona" (c) 1999, 2011, 2021 Stu Jenks.

A postcard with an image of "Catalina State Park, Arizona" printed on it is mailed to a friend in Prescott, Arizona, who then puts the postcard on his refrigerator door. Steve Roach, renowned ambient musician, visits this mutual friend, sees the image, and excitedly says, “That’s the image for my next album.” Steve shoots me an e-mail. A few weeks later, I’m sitting in his studio east of Tucson, talking about his new album and about how much he likes the image that he now calls 'The Ikon.' Steve asks would I like to shoot some flame spirals in his backyard sometime. Being a fan of Steve’s music for years, I’m trying to be cool, but it’s hard. I’m talking way too much. Hush, Stu, Hush. I see a row of a half dozen brightly painted didgeridoos leaning against his studio wall. Holy smokes. As calmly as I can, I say, “Sure, Steve. I’d love to come and shoot at your place.”

On the next Full Moon night, I’m in Steve’s backyard, with my Rollei medium format camera and my Zippo lighter. He has a circle of Anasazi pot shards in his deep back yard that faces the Catalina Mountains. His next door neighbor, a retired archeologist at the University of Arizona, gave him the shards and Steve has made a five-foot diameter circle out of the old pieces. I draw a spiral in the dirt and proceed to light-paint the night away in the soft moonlight. The music of the newly mixed tracks of Atmospheric Conditions plays from little waterproof speakers hanging from his back porch roof. I shoot a roll of 12 exposures, often thinking it doesn’t get much better than this.

“Ancestors’ Circle” is on the back cover of Steve Roach’s Atmospheric Conditions. The Ikon is on the front. Steve and I have lost touch over the years, but I hear he lives happily with his wife on horse property near Sonoita, Arizona. I bet he’s recording a new piece as we speak.

Bottom line: It just goes to show that if you send a postcard out into the world, you never know what opportunities will fly back your way.

The cover of Steve Roach's Atmospheric Conditions album.

From June, 2021: Steve and I hadn’t seen each other in years. We ran into each other at the 2019 All Souls' Procession in Tucson, where he was the music for the night and I was one of the photographers of the event. We first saw each other at rehearsal the day before. We hugged hard and laughed loud. It was really nice to see him.

We are both old men now. I'm just happy we are both still alive and still making stuff. It's a good thing. That Sunday night in 2019, Steve did a wonderful job filling the sonic space and I got a few good photographs for the powers that be.

Steve and I do what we do, make what we make. We are both compelled to do so.

I've often said, "If I didn't make art, I would commit crimes. Misdemeanors mind you, but crimes nonetheless." I'm not really joking.

I listened to Atmospheric Conditions recently. I holds up. So do these photographs I think.

Thanks Steve for what you did 20 plus years ago. You buying the image rights for your album was no small thing. It truly helped my art career. And it was a blessing to photograph in your back yard that night in 1999. Thanks, man.

Keep your lamp trimmed and burning.

#stujenks, #steveroach, #flamespirals, #nightphotography, #spirals, #goodfolk.

Posted at 10:35 AM in Arizona, Art, Film, Flame Spirals, Good Folk, Love, Murder, Night Photography, Nocturnal Photography, Spirals, Spirituality, The West | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 16, 2020

Pamela's Baby Rocking Chair Renewed & Preserved.

The PBRC was looking a little torn up from the floor up lately. Since the photographic series began almost 10 years ago, my deceased sister's toddler chair has been from coast to coast: from New York to San Francisco; from the high desert of Arizona, to the low country of South Carolina; from the snows of Utah to the shores of Virginia, North Carolina, California and The Gulf of Mexico. It's that 'getting wet' part that has really bruised the chair. So I sanded her down smooth, leaving some of the patina to show her long history, then oiled her with teak oil, then polished her with 00000 steel wool, and finally buffed her with a soft cotton rag. She has never looked so shiny and pretty. The chair hasn't be fully restored but renewed and preserved, so that perhaps someday my step-daughter will inherit it, and then she do what she will do with her dead step-aunt infant rocking chair. Bottom line: she's good to go, and ready for her closeup.

"So will you be putting the chair in the water again," said my wife Alexa with a smile.

"Yes, ma'am," I said, "I'm pretty sure I will."

Also, in this post, are images from recent days, both with and without a chair in them.

Merry Christmas, everyone,

Stu

Posted at 09:54 AM in Air & Gravity, Angel/Ghosts, Art, Buildings, Fezziwig Press, Forgiveness, Greensboro, NC, Love, Mountains of North Carolina, North Carolina, Snow, Spirals, The Road, Trains, Travel, Trees, Windows | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 12, 2020

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.

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

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.

Posted at 12:45 PM in Angel/Ghosts, Arizona, Art, Buildings, California, Churches, Circles, Current Affairs, Death, Deserts, Emotions, Faith, Family, Flowers, Forgiveness, Good Folk, Grand Canyon, Greensboro, NC, Hope, Love, Marriage, Moon, Mountains, North Carolina, Pamela's Baby Rocking Chair, People, Photography, Prayer, Public Art, Relationships, Religion, Spirals, Spirituality, Stu Jenks, The Border, The Moon, The Road, The South, The Sun, The West, Tucson, Walking Sticks | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 25, 2019

As the Holidays approach...

[Some new images for y'all as we approach the Holidays. By the way, if you want any fine art prints from me, it's best to order them before Dec. 16th. 8.5 x 11s are $40 plus shipping (around $50) and 13 x 19s are $80 plus shipping (around $100). All images on this website are for sale, they're signed, and printed to order. Just give me the title and I'll print them up for you.

Hope your weird uncle Charlie behaved himself at Thanksgiving, and I pray your Christmases and Holidays are filled with wonderful times with family and friends, and many joyous mysteries and blessed certainties.

P.S. I'm having an open house at my studio, where I'll be showing my wall sculpture/walking stick series "The Extended Family." Sunday, December 15th, 2019. Email, message, text or call me for directions.

Ho, ho, ho...

Stu

Posted at 07:24 PM in All Souls' Procession, Arizona, Art, Cactus, Christmas and Winter Solstice, Current Affairs, Earth Spirals, Fezziwig Press, Flora & Fauna, Home, Hope, Love, Marriage, Mountains, My Grandmother Nannie's Mirror, Nannie's Mirror, Photography, Prayer, Sky, Spirals, Stones, The Arizona Trail, The Border, The West, Travel | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 19, 2019

Earth Spiral at the Shoals of the Yadkin River.

Posted at 02:18 AM in Earth Spirals, Love, North Carolina, Public Art, Rivers, Sand, Spirals, Spirituality, Stu Jenks | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 13, 2019

Spiral Along The Osprey Trail, Guilford County, North Carolina.

Getting back to mo' roots.

Posted at 11:01 AM in Art, Earth Spirals, Greensboro, NC, North Carolina, Photography, Spirals, Spirituality, Stu Jenks | Permalink | Comments (0)

September 09, 2018

Elvis is leaving the building... (and cherry picking Leviticus)

Come late September, I will have relocated myself, my wife and my business to North Carolina. My P.O. box here in Tucson will still be the snail mail way to get in touch with me. (P.O. Box 161, Tucson, Arizona 85702). My email, phone, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, my store, my bandcamp, my patreon, will all be the same. Ordering prints and books will be iffy for a while but I'll do my best during the time of transition.

And look for my 14th book for sale in November.

Cherry Picking Leviticus (Pamela's Baby Rocking Chair, Vol. 2).

It'll be available as a premium trade paperback and as a affordable e-book. Below is the preface to the book.

Anywho, see you on the flip side from the Piedmont of North Carolina. Wish me luck as I drive a Penske truck across the country. And don't forget to register to vote and cast your ballot in November. It's the most important election of our lifetimes.

Resist. Impeach. Pray. Renew.

Stu Jenks, Sonoita, Arizona (c) Alexa Jenks 2018

“Let’s All Be Sweet.”
- Alexa McColl Smith Jenks

Preface by Stu Jenks

Cherry Picking Leviticus is my fifteenth book. Like my previous tomes, there are some semi-iconic photographs and such, but unlike my other books, this one is purposefully funny. And political. And spiritual. And a little sad. But funny is what we are mostly going for here, like a raspy chuckle in the night from a wounded man while the civilized world burns down around him.

Dark stuff. Fun stuff. Good times.

The dedication for Cherry Picking Leviticus is a quote from my good friend Karen Hardy who lives in the Northern Neck of Virginia. We were talking on the phone a while back, mostly about how her mother Victoria was doing, when I mentioned how I perhaps care too much regarding what other people think, and that I'm more than a little sensitive to snarky art criticism from strangers on the internet.

Then Karen spoke this chestnut:

"They talked about Jesus Christ, Stu,” she said. “They are going to talk about you and me, too."

Posted at 02:01 AM in Arizona, Art, Black & White Photography, Cactus, California, Coalmine Canyon, Current Affairs, Earth Spirals, Emotions, Faith, Fezziwig Press, Good Folk, Highways, Love, North Carolina, On The Rez, Pamela's Baby Rocking Chair, People, Portraits, Spirals, Spirituality, Stu Jenks, The Border, The Four Directions, The Road, The West, Travel, Trees, Women | Permalink | Comments (1)