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First Things Being First...a Happy New Year to all!
Several of you have asked about the movie (Virginia)
on which I was a co-writer and when it might be released. While
I still do not have an exact release date or a confidence that it
has been re-edited from the sad version I saw at a screening, I
have been told that Universal Pictures has purchased it.
So, given that the film takes place against a Christmas backdrop, my
guess it will be sometime next November and given its minimal budget, I
am predicting a DVD release...updates as they become available...either
way, it's finally out of post-production! New offerings
Also on the request list...I have given into something that I have
resisted for some time (I'm not %100 sure why)...and that is to
offer some select images in their original color
format (as well as alternative duotones).
I can hear it now...sellout! Well not so fast...as with most things
in life, there’s a catch, or in this case, a loop hole...no American
Cowboy or American Indian images, now or in the future, will be
included (except duotones) in this decision.
Aside from the requests/suggestions that I do so, I have also been
frustrated that some of the images I have been lucky enough to capture
(primarily landscapes & scenics) cry out for the color Mother
Nature graced them with. But because of my adherence to the Curtisesque
tones, they have never been seen. For better or worse, this will
change that..at least until you folks tell me it was a bad idea
altogether.
New Additions
With one notable exception, all of the New
Additions” this month are some of those older images that in
my opinion did not lend themselves to the copper tones ..that one
exception, while not technically "new", is just over a
two years old, but it is a brand new print.
More importantly, it has elicited such an overwhelmingly positive
reaction that I am sorry I didn’t print it earlier...that said,
I direct you to “Diesel” (the puppy in the picture) although I am
sure many have bought it purely on the “Outhouse” basis.
The story behind the image is that the White Mountain Apache cowboys
(Fort Apache) were heading into the mountains for a “Maverick” round-up
(wild cattle), when they stumbled upon, a litter of puppies in a
river bed...deciding one might make a good companion for the cook
during the drive, they took Diesel along.
I arrived a few days later and the first time I laid eyes on Diesel,
he was about 5 weeks old and was exiting the forest along with the
cook who he had accompanied on a hunting trip. At first glance,
I thought he was a some sort of hedgehog or porcupine type animal
(turns out he is a coyote mix)l I had never seen before as he was
covered from head to toe with what had to be over a 100 burrs. To
be honest, he was disturbing looking but it was even more disturbing
when I realized he was a puppy and so young at that.
After several trips back to the area,
where diesel would sneak into my sleeping bag at night (normally
he was left outside to fend for himself) a bond had definitely developed.
So at the end of the drive, when none of the cowboys was quite certain who would keep
diesel except for the possibility of a cowboy who had not treated
dogs quite so well, the option was but one...
I offered to find a home for him if no one else wanted him and after
a brief huddle between the cowboys, Diesel was offered to me...happily
it wasn't long before I did find him a good home...and yes, you
guessed it, he’s turned out to be a great dog... with terrible genetics.
in fact this “free” dog has racked up over $2,500 in surgery bills (
bad knees) but he’s worth every cent. besides, at $12 for a 5x7 print,
I only need to sell 185 more to break even.
December's Tall Tale
My favorite story as told to me this month comes from my good friend
and Master Hopi Potter, Mark Tahbo.
Since we met several years ago, Mark has become more and more intrigued
by the work of Edward S. Curtis (he even received a book on Curtis
for Chrtistmas) who captured so many of his wondrous images in Mark’s
backyard on the Hopi reservation.
Last month Mark and fellow Hopi Katchina carver, Aaron Fredericks
(2006 Santa Fe Indian Market Best of Show), were out on a hike in
search of clay and plants near Oraibi when Mark recognized an old
well that he had seen pictured in one of Curtis’ images.
As Aaron wandered off to explore, Mark did the same but in the area
directly surrounding the well. Not long into his search, Mark discovered
a large rock that had been displaced and upon it he saw an upside
down petroglyph as well as the word “Voth”. Mark immediately
recognized this name as that of the turn-of-the-century Mennonite
Missionary and photographer, H.R.
Voth . who had lived in New Oraibi for some 20 years.
Intrigued, Mark continued his search around the rock, when he found
an even more interesting inscription that he says, "gave me the chills"...in
what he described as having been etched in a very anglo script, were the initials,
E.C....could it have been?
Introducing the "American West Artists"
Year one of this process taught me (so humbly and appreciatively)
that my pictures move some people. Year two (in April) taught me
that how you package it (frames - matting...etc...) seems to make
a big difference in many cases as I was naive enough to believe
that only the images counted.
Now I've come to understand how important it is to find the right
audience, because no matter how solid the work is, things can go
south in a hurry in the wrong locale...as they say “location, location,
location”.
With that in mind I would like to introduce the “American West Artists”
(the website is coming soon) which will be a home for the incredibly
talented Western artists I have stumbled upon and who I believe
deserve your attention.
Details will follow in the new year, but if you know of an artist
who is deserving, please let me know....our only criteria is that
they be doing something I or one of the other founding members haven’t
seen before (or better than the rest) and have a disagreeable attitude.
Picture Frames
I have finally settled on one set of frames (with two others in
the works) for the images that I believe are truly special. They are from fine
furniture craftsman, Phil Smith of Cottonwood, Az. Phil has hit a nerve with
the public that can't be denied...his frames are truly one-of-a-kind
and show a vision I have not seen anywhere else.
He offers many styles, all of which make my images complete.Unfortunately
someone, somewhere will try to knock them off at some point as many
amateur woodworkers have dropped in to inform me that they could
"do that". The polite answer is “You didn’t!”. Now show some pride
and go create on your own.
Wild Horse updates
Readers of previous newsletters or visitors to the website know of my appreciation for
the Wild Horse & Burro adoption program, but a simple link will no longer suffice.
I will be attempting to involve myself into the process more deeply.
The following link will explain why, but any more detail at this time
might disrupt my efforts.
Disturbing images.
That is all for this newsletter and as always, Save a horse...ride
a mustang!
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