Home Page Updated May '09
"Eagle's Nest, Summer 2008"On Seeing
In ancient China before an artist began to paint anything-a tree, for instance-he would sit down in front of it for days, months, years, it didn’t matter how long, until he was the tree. He did not identify himself with the tree but he was the tree. This means that there was no space between him and the tree, no space between the observer and the observed, no experiencer experiencing the beauty, the movement, the shadow, the depth of a leaf, The quality of color. He was totally the tree, and in that state only could he paint.
Krishnamurti
Freedom From The Known
He Raiseth Up
When people are treated with the utmost respect, they learn to feel worthy of reverence; they realize that they have absolute value. I have learned that in order to establish myself, I must help others to establish themselves. Bridging difference requires some emptying of self-importance.
How we look and gaze upon each other at the onset of every single day is an important exercise and discipline, suspend judgment-yet many still only seeing themselves. My people in spite of having less, they have not lost themselves, in fact they have developed more compassion for all.
Seeing and participating in our shared humanity, understanding differences, interconnecting, transforming and transcending – all of these inspire change and encourage acceptance. This is the healing and redemptive power of art. Opening our visual perceptions to truly experiencing each other can help unify people creating the flow of authentic language that can defeat stigmatization. But many still resist accepting... the “all” of humanity and have lost their heart.
Stability can only be achieved and maintained by all recognizing mutual equality.
The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust… to set them among princes and inherit a seat of honor.
1 Samuel 2. 7-8, King James Bible
Shelby Lee Adams
May 2009
Visura Magazine - April 2009
http://www.visuramagazine.com/vm/shelby-lee-adams
Tammy in Culvert,'08A Viewer's Response
We live in a world where clean, rich, well-spoken, going to the right places and being seen with the right people is valued far beyond anything else. And here, right in front of my eyes are your photos - so obviously a world and a people who have no thoughts of these things. They are untouched and untouchable by those things - not because they aren't attainable to them but because those things aren't them. They know themselves better than we will ever know ourselves. They are defined by Family, Land and Soul not by car, job or friends.
And maybe that's the heart of the matter for me - maybe that's why at first I turned away, I felt embarrassment with the photos - I thought I was embarrassed for them and their lack of. No, I am embarrassed for ME and my lack of. I have lost who I am along the way.
Nandi Boliek
Interview With An Artist - Jan. 2009
http://interviewwithanartist.com/?p=323
Camera Arts is also carrying this interview, you can down load the PDF Interview and Portfolio.
http://www.cameraarts.com/EditorialFashionFineArtCommercialPhotography.htm
YOU TUBE Video - Scotty Stidham
Video of Scotty was made in 1993 in S-VHS format. The quality of video suffers here, but the culture and life style is apparent. Scotty lived to be over 100 years old. He lived and farmed his land in Barwick, Ky. He shares his music, views on religion and politics in video. He was and is still endeared and loved by many.
Vimeo Video Format- Scotty Stidham
http://www.vimeo.com/3507045
Click on images to enlarge.
Photography with the Slone's, Summer 2008
Jimmy's Mantel, '08
Cecil, The Woodworker,'92
Topmost Halloween,'08 "It don’t take a well knowledged person to understand the feelin’ of love and kindness, when you see it in someone and their works, you feel it.”
Terry Riddle
Lewis Hollow
Artist StatementTerry Riddle
Lewis Hollow
Every summer, traveling through the mountains photographing, I am somehow able to renew and relive my childhood. I regain my southern, mountain accent and approach my people with openness, fascination, and respect; and they treat me with respect. My psychic antennae become sharpened and acute. I love these people, perhaps that is it, plain and simple. I respond to the sensual beauty of a hardened face with many scars, the deeply etched lines and flickers of sweat containing bright spots of sunlight. The eyes of my subjects reveal a kindness and curiosity, and their acceptance of me is gratifying. For me, this is rejuvenation of the spirit of time past, and I am better for the experience each time it happens. These portraits are, in a way, self-portraits that represent a long autobiographical exploration of creativity, imagination, vision, repulsion and salvation. My greatest fear as a photographer is to look into the eyes of my subject and not see my own reflection.
My work has been an artist search for a deeper understanding of my heritage and myself, using photography as a medium and the Appalachian people as collaborators with their own desires to communicate. I hope, too, that viewers, will see in these photographs something of the abiding strength and resourcefulness and dignity of the mountain people.
Shelby Lee Adams
Attention
We need an unprejudiced mind to see what-is; we cannot see what-is and respond to it if the mind is trying to change or suppress it. We resist what-is because we are afraid of the unknown, or because what-is contradicts what we have been conditioned to believe, or because it threatens us. The resulting fear prevents from us accepting what-is. Resistance to what-is may look like strength, but actually arises from fear, whereas it is powerful and freeing to accept what-is.
Surrender means allowing life to happen rather than opposing the flow of life, accepting the present moment without resistance. The necessary action will then arise, but when we act out of acceptance rather than resistance, we act without negativity or judgment. Action that arises out of acceptance is different from action that arises out of rage and hatred. Action that arises from a state of surrender is less contaminated with judgment and the need to hurt others. We simply do what needs to be done without labeling the situation as good or bad according to the ego’s criteria.
Lionel Corbett
Psyche and Sacred
All photographs and text copyrighted - © 2009 Shelby Lee Adams, legal action will be taken to represent the photographer, the work taken out of context, subjects and integrity of all photographic and written works, including additional photographers published and authors quoted. Permissions - send e mail request.
My work has been an artist search for a deeper understanding of my heritage and myself, using photography as a medium and the Appalachian people as collaborators with their own desires to communicate. I hope, too, that viewers, will see in these photographs something of the abiding strength and resourcefulness and dignity of the mountain people.
Shelby Lee Adams
Attention
We need an unprejudiced mind to see what-is; we cannot see what-is and respond to it if the mind is trying to change or suppress it. We resist what-is because we are afraid of the unknown, or because what-is contradicts what we have been conditioned to believe, or because it threatens us. The resulting fear prevents from us accepting what-is. Resistance to what-is may look like strength, but actually arises from fear, whereas it is powerful and freeing to accept what-is.
Surrender means allowing life to happen rather than opposing the flow of life, accepting the present moment without resistance. The necessary action will then arise, but when we act out of acceptance rather than resistance, we act without negativity or judgment. Action that arises out of acceptance is different from action that arises out of rage and hatred. Action that arises from a state of surrender is less contaminated with judgment and the need to hurt others. We simply do what needs to be done without labeling the situation as good or bad according to the ego’s criteria.
Lionel Corbett
Psyche and Sacred
All photographs and text copyrighted - © 2009 Shelby Lee Adams, legal action will be taken to represent the photographer, the work taken out of context, subjects and integrity of all photographic and written works, including additional photographers published and authors quoted. Permissions - send e mail request.
posted by Shelby Lee Adams at
11:10 AM
