I Will Remain

I must not Fear.
Fear is the Mind killer.
Fear is the little Death that brings total obliteration.

I Will Face My Fear

I will permit it to pass over me and through me.

And when it has gone past me,

I will turn to see Fear's path.

Where Fear has gone there will be nothing.

Only I Will Remain

The Scream by Edvard Munch

Words by Frank Herbert

Depression and Fear Are Gone

What Now?

I was devastated when they said my depression had lifted. What shall I do now, I wondered, when opportunity accosts me in the street?
Depression had always been my escape route. ‘I can’t do that’ I would mournfully sigh, reaching for my bucket of Prozac ‘I’m depressed’, and opportunity would bother me no more. But the depression has lifted. The ace up my sleeve has been ruthlessly removed. I am completely fucked! .....Andre Jordan

‘I’m leaving’ said The Fear, dragging his suitcase into the hallway.
‘Does this mean I shall be fear-less?’ I asked.
‘Not quite’ said The Fear, ‘Apprehension has decided to stay’.
I smiled, wished The Fear well, and watched him nervously open my front door.
‘Maybe see you again’ he almost smiled, as he headed for the waiting taxi.
‘Maybe’ I said, not wishing to be rude.
 And then he was gone.
I closed the door, took a deep breath, and smiled [apprehensively]....Andre Jordan

What I've learned

I know how you feel Andre! But I guess it is like the alcoholics say, One day at a time. Sure Fear is gonna come visit every now and again, but at least he won't be the doubtful guest he always was; staying too long, eating your food, reading your books and ruining your art with his ever watchful stare. Even when you tried to avoid him or tried not to see him, there he was, like the person you never want to sit next to on a plane. And though you held your breath and tried not to stare as Fear made his way down the aisle, deep in your heart you just knew - you just knew - a matter of course, that he’d sit next to you. But now you realize that you can get up and change seats, and leave Fear behind.  Fear will wave at you from where he is, sitting with his best pal Depression, but they won't join you, not unless you wave them over and invite them to be by your side. Fear and Depression will be there, but only for the next poor soul who wants to take comfort in their company.

Simon Kenton Cemetery

One of my first cemetery pictures.

Simon Kenton Cemetery, OH

I just love the way the dog is looking up at him with such reverance and loyalty.

Simon Kenton tombstone, the epitaph is amoung one of my favorites;

In Memory of Simon Kenton,

His Fellow Citizens of the West

Will Long Remember him as

The Skilled Pioneer of early times,

The Brave Solider and

The Honest Man

Happy Birthday Micol

Happy Birthday Micol....Have some cake! Hope your day is great!

Your birthday's a time for careful reflection

  About your life, and its future direction.

You see where you've been when you look at the past;

Most of it's great; you had quite a blast!

You wonder what's coming, what life has in store;

Will it be just the same? Will there be a new door?

Remember this, as you blow out the last candle:

Life holds no challenge that you cannot handle.

By Joanna Fuchs

It’s your birthday time again;

It’s true; there’s no denying,

Another year has come and gone;

You know that I’m not lying.

So for you, the birthday person,

Here’s what I want to say:

I hope this birthday’s the best one yet,

In every delightful way.

So happy birthday to you.

Have lots of birthday fun!

May your birthday wishes all come true,

Even if you have a ton.

By Karl Fuchs

WOMAN

She wanted to be a blade

of grass amid the fields

But he wouldn't agree

to be the Dandelion

She wanted to be a robin singing

through the leaves

but he refused to be

her tree

She spun herself into a web

and looking for a place to rest

turned to him

but he stood straight

declining to be her cornor

She tried to be a book

But he wouldn't read

She turned herself into a blub

but he wouldn't let her grow

She decided to become

a Woman

and though he still refused

to be a man

She decided it was all

right

Poetry by Nikki Giovanni

Photos by me

Damien Echols Defense Fund Art Benefit

DAMIEN ECHOLS IS INNOCENT & WE NEED YOUR HELP

On October 25th an exclusive silent auction of artwork will be held with work from 30+ prominent artists from the NYC contemporary art scene. The goal of this benefit is to raise much-needed legal funds for the final push to free Damien Echols.


Echols is an artist and writer who, at 18 years old, was wrongly convicted of murder in 1994 along with Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, and all became known as the West Memphis 3. Echols was merely a goth-metal kid in a conservative small town who was targeted for being different. Both the trial and investigation were characterized by egregious misconduct on the part of the authorities. Echols alone received the death sentence. The 1996 HBO documentary on this case,Paradise Lost, calls this miscarriage of justice a “new Salem witch trial.”
We—a cross section of artists, museum curators, gallery directors, musicians, and actors—believe in the innocence of Damien Echols. We have put this benefit together as a group of individuals with a common purpose. Unlike other fundraisers that raise money for blanket causes, or institutions, this benefit seeks to save the life of one person, a fellow artist. After 16 years on death row and as many denied legal motions, the Arkansas State Supreme Court will again consider Damien's lawyers' latest motion for a new trial.
  Crucial new evidence of the WM3's innocence has been uncovered, including crime scene DNA that absolves Damien, Jason and Jessie and points to other persons. Some of the country’s leading pathologists have found that much of the forensic evidence presented to the juries that helped convict the West Memphis 3 was false and not consistent with the cause of death or wounds found on the bodies. And recently, sworn affidavits were presented to the ASSC detailing serious misconduct during Jason and Damien's original trial by the jury foreman.

Date: October 25, 2009 6-9PM
Place: Maccarone
630 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10014
http://www.maccarone.net/

PH: 917-753-6187

Your Extraordinary Mind