Stu Jenks' Fezziwig Press: Stones

December 07, 2020

Images From The Holiday Season.

Posted at 11:22 AM in Alexa McColl Smith Jenks, Ancestors, Arizona, Art, Beachs, California, Churches, Colorado River School, Deserts, Good Folk, Love, Mountains of North Carolina, Nature, Night Photography, Nocturnal Photography, North Carolina, Prayer, Rivers, Rocks, Sky, Snow, Stones, Stu Jenks, The Road, The Sky, The South, The West, Virginia, Women | 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)

September 09, 2019

Spirals, Gods, Love & Light.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Posted at 03:14 PM in Arizona, Art, Black & White Photography, Chagford, Fire, Flame Spirals, Good Folk, Love, Mountains, Nature, North Carolina, Other Artists, People, Raleigh, Religion, Sex, Sexuality, Sky, Stones, Stu Jenks, The Arizona Trail, The West, Travel, Trees | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 02, 2019

Two things I resolve to do in 2019...

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.

"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.

Posted at 11:04 PM in Ancestors, Angel/Ghosts, Arizona, Art, Birds, Black & White Photography, Books, Canyons, Christmas and Winter Solstice, Churches, Civil Rights, Death, Earth Spirals, Emotions, Faith, Fezziwig Press, Fiction, Flora & Fauna, Forgiveness, Fun Facts, Good Folk, History, Love, Memoirs, Metaphysics, Money, Mountains, Nature, Nocturnal Photography, North Carolina, Photography, Politics, Raleigh, Religion, Science, Sepia, Sickness & Health, Snow, Spirituality, Stones, The Moon, The Poor, The Sky, The South, Travel, Trees, University Of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Virginia, Water, Women | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 13, 2013

"Scorhill Stone In Thick Deep Mist"

I read Shelagh's map. I thought I knew the way to Scorhill Circle. I did not. I got lost in Gidleigh Wood. Or rather, as Daniel Boone once said, "I've never been lost but I've been a might bewildered." That I was.

Yet sometimes when I get lost, I find wonders. I found a folly that evening, a Victorian building built for no particular use other than to employ the manor's workers. I asked around. Oddly, no one except one person knew of this folly. It seemed I wandered onto private land. Oops. One person said if was where two mad sisters lived a hundred years ago who only ate snails. The Snail Sisters. OK.

I retraced my steps and eventually found my way to the Scorhill Circle. Socked in deep mist, long exposure night photography was out for the mist coated my lens. Disappointed? Only a little. I sat on a nearby fall stone, had a smoke, and prayed in the dimming light and the thick damp mist. It was a very good walk in spite of a very large little toe blister I produced that hobbled me the rest of the trip. It was worth it.

In Tucson again. Wind blowing hard. I love the wind. But I'd be lying if I didn't say I long for mist. Thick deep mist.

Some people leave their hearts in San Francisco. I left a part of mine in Dartmoor. I may have to return to get that piece back or leave more heart there. I haven't decided yet. Leaning toward the latter.

Posted at 03:37 PM in Black & White Photography, Buildings, Chagford, Dartmoor, Megaliths, Stones | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

December 08, 2011

Now available, on the Apple IPad: The Transpersonal Papers (1861-2010) and Bozo In Love

Been a long time coming for The Transpersonal Papers (1861-2010).

Three editors, two proofreaders, two designers, four printers, and hours, days, weeks, months, years, lifetimes, (I know I'm overstating), of writing, traveling, shooting, editing, remembering, hiking, and more writing, shooting, and editing, but I'm not complaining. No, no, no.

And apologies for not having the dough right now, to print The Transpersonal Papers as a coffee-table book as I had originally planned. ($10,000, it would have cost. Maybe someday.) But you now can buy it, for $14.95, as an Ebook on the Apple IPad, and I expect it to be available within a couple days on the Nook and the Kindle as well.

I just looked at it on my new IPad. The photos, text and design look grand.

And as an extra surprise, Bozo In Love is now up on IBooks too, ($9.95), as well as the rest of my catalog: Flame Spirals, Hoop Dancing, and Dementia Blues, on IBooks, Nook and Kindle.

Just in time for Christmas.

And don't worry. All but The Transpersonal Papers can still be bought as a book book through Fezziwig Press. I have plenty. Just go to www.fezziwigpressonline.com, for the hardbounds and paperbacks, but go to ITunes, today, (and Kindle and Nook, soon) for the ebooks.

Heavy sigh from my third story apartment balcony. I look out onto the Tucson city lights in the valley below. Cold, dry air embraces me. I inhale deeply. Exhale.

A very good night in the desert.

Think I'll make a cup of coffee with egg nog and play some Angry Birds on my new IPad.

Time to celebrate.

Posted at 12:10 AM in Ancestors, Astronomy, Birds, Black & White Photography, Buddhism, Buildings, Cactus, Cattle, Civil Rights, Death, Deserts, Eastern Religions, Family, Film, Flame Spirals, Flora & Fauna, Forgiveness, Georgia, Grand Canyon, Immigrants, Infrared Photography, Louisiana, Megaliths, Metaphysics, Mississippi, Money, National Parks, Nevada, Nocturnal Photography, North Carolina, Other Writers, Paintings, Photography, Poetry, Rainbows, Science, Scotland, Sex, Sickness & Health, Stones, Surfing, Tennessee, The American Civil War, The Four Directions, The Indian Wars, The West, Trees, United Kingdom, Utah, Women | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

December 03, 2010

"Vortex at Cathedral Rock"

    Those of you who have read my essays over the years may think I’m a very Woo Woo kind of guy. Sometimes I talk to trees and I hear their voices. On occasion, I feel the presence of dead relatives and even hear them speak. I’ve had spontaneous visions of past lives. I pray often throughout the day and quiet my mind through short yet powerful meditations. My visits into the nocturnal desert shake my core in a Godly-sort-of-way. But I’m not nearly as Woo Woo as you might think.
    I don’t believe that I’m special in God’s eyes. I don’t magically believe that through my spiritual practices, harm will flee from me and light will always come. I’m just awake enough to avoid The Bad Guys. I don’t believe there is any Secret to prosperity. I believe success is a combination of hard work, good luck, what part of the planet you were born on, and what race, class and sex you happen to be. I don’t believe that I’m one of the Chosen Ones. I believe my closeness to God comes from my heart journeying into an often poor and despairing world, giving as I can, but not from any sense of religious entitlement from having sat on the lap of God or from a condescending pity for those less fortunate. It just feels good to give. I don’t believe that praying in a cathedral or making a stack of stones will cure me of cancer, cause my mother to not die a painful death, or bring back a past lover I still miss. I believe that Life is a wonderful, painful thing, and that prayer is about me getting right with The World, not God doing right by me.
    At one time, I thought God was a gumball machine: I put in the coin of prayer; I get back what I want. Those beliefs seem so much like those of a scared child now. I’m not in Spiritual High School yet (I’m still too much of a know-it-all.), but I do feel like I’m currently enrolled in God’s Middle School.
    But what does make me more Woo Woo than most is that I do believe if you go to a place, anyplace, be it a church in a square or a stream near a mountain, and you come with strong and focused intent to be closer to God, to Humans, and to All There Is, you will find a power of Love and Light there beyond what you would expect. You will be spiritually surprised. But it comes from the intent, not the place. Revelations can visit any of us at any time, whether we are surrounded by centuries-old stained glass at Notre Dame in Paris, or the weeks-old stench of piss and grease in the alley behind my favorite grill in Tucson.
    It’s about intent. Your desire to Give. Your willingness to Love. Your ability to Forgive.
    So stack your river stones high, metaphysicians of Sedona. Let the Woo Woo out. But know what you will most likely receive will be the knowledge that you are OK just the way you are. And from this new found wisdom, hopefully you will return to your loved ones in the village, bringing a grounded spiritual practice of Giving, Loving, and Forgiving.
    Chances are very slim that God/Goddess/All-There-Is will give you a million bucks.

You’ll just feel like a million bucks.

Posted at 06:26 PM in Arizona, Art, Forgiveness, Love, Metaphysics, Nature, Religion, Sculpture, Spirituality, Stones, The West | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

February 19, 2010

"Hoop Dancing" [The Audiobook]

"Hoop Dancing" [The Audiobook] can now be purchased for $9.95 at My CDBaby webpage, as well as at ITunes. I'm quite happy with it. But perhaps you ask, "Stu, "Hoop Dancing" is a photo-memoir. How come an audiobook for a picture book?" Well, since I've been traveling a lot, shooting the world and all that, I listen to audiobooks while I drive. Now most times, I'm singing along to Ben Folds, or Dave Rawlings, or Neko Case or U2 as I journey about, but when it's late, dark and I'm on a lonely Interstate, I put on audiobooks like "The Lovely Bones", "Mountains Beyond Mountains," or "Into Thin Air." So, I love audiobooks. I hope you love audiobooks too, and perhaps you'll like this one as well.

Posted at 01:39 PM in Arizona, Books, Canyons, Current Affairs, Hoop Dancing, Nature, Nocturnal Photography, Photography, Spirituality, Spoken Word, Stones, The West, Travel, Tucson | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

...but it felt like Christmas in Zion...

Posted at 03:42 AM in Christmas and Winter Solstice, Current Affairs, Flora & Fauna, Love, National Parks, Stones, The West, Travel, Trees, Utah | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

January 14, 2010

"Stu's Dolmen"

[This is where I would like to have my ashes placed after my death. (A service will be held at Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Tucson as well, even though I'm more a Buddha boy than a Jesus guy.) My remains don't need to be inside of the small dolmen you see pictured above, but near it would be nice. Craig Acorn has the lead on this. His numbers are in my cellphone. Please place my current sobriety chip, my Angel Coin, and a copy of the key to my '88 Pathfinder (if I still own it) inside of the small tomb. Also, Craig, taken a couple dozen of the small pretty stones that litter my apartment and studio, and give them to any who would like to take a rock to the summit. And everyone, feel free to add any and all mementos that you would like to place inside or around the dolmen (The little tomb isn't very big, but there is room for small things.) Please come and visit me too, or at least tip your hat to me, as you drive north of Winkelman on Highway 77. The Bighorns and Mule Deer who graze there will keep me company during the day, and the starry sky will be my blanket at night, but I could always use a visit, every now and then, from a living human being. I don't plan on dying anytime soon, but I am 55, am on the road a lot, have been ridden pretty hard much of my life, and I do live on the happily-uncertain and unexpectedly-joyous planet call Earth. (Security really is the biggest illusion of all, you know.) Anyway, know that I love you all, and I mean all of you. And thanks ahead of time for taking me to Cathy's Fault, one of the most beautiful places in all the world, at least to me.]

Posted at 04:39 PM in Arizona, Dying, Emotions, Grief and Loss, Love, Maps, Mountains, Nature, Photography, Spirituality, Stones, The West | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)