It's hard for me to explain a photographic concept I've been living with for a while, but haven't photographed yet. I've never been one for words, so maybe that is one reason I express myself through images. I hope that by writing and talking about this project, I'll be able to completely fulfill my expectation for this idea. I guess I'll start explaining this idea from the beginning...
About a year ago, March 2009, my family discovered that my father, Bruce Bowman, has pancreatic cancer. If you have no knowledge of this type of cancer, click this link to learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancreatic_cancer. Having known him my entire life I know what a great person he is and how many people he has helped and loved throughout his life. Needless to say, he is a very important part of my life. He has influenced my hobbies, career, and personality more than I can comprehend. However, when someone you love is fighting cancer, you feel helpless, like there is nothing you can do to make them feel or get better. Having gone through chemotherapy before myself, I thought I could help get him through the treatments, however, my experience was not near as serious or life-threatening as his. Our experiences were similar at first, but his has gone to a completely different level than mine. Feeling helpless, I searched for ways in which I could show my support and feel like what I was doing might make a difference. This is when I remembered the Japanese legend of folding 1,000 paper cranes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1000_paper_cranes I know I'm not Japanese, but I have always loved origami and the meditation associated with folding. This is where my inspiration came for my photographic project.
My current plan is to fold 1,000 white paper cranes for my dad. These cranes will also be photographed in places that remind me of my dad and represent memories I have of him. I have been working out the details of this project for a couple of months now, but I am still in the beginning stages. I hope to document the creation of this project here and work through my ideas to make this something I am truly proud of.
Crane update: #67
You can also follow my crane updates on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#search?q=%231000papercranes
I think that is a great idea Nayners and I can't wait to see the photos! And I would love to help and make some cranes if I had the hands for it but maybe I could use it as physical therapy eventually! I love your entire family including your dad soo much and throughout this past year I have been really amazed and inspired through the enthusiastic outlook that your dad has had throughout the illness. When I saw him last in the hospital he was in such good spirits ignoring the circumstances and that to me shows his strength in character and something that will get him through better than medication can. I don't think that I could pick one memory in my mind that sticks out, because I have too many. From the garage sales, to family tennis matches, to watching our dads kill themselves in marathons together, to nights in the pool, basketball games, watching your dad play catch with Oscar, and eating the yummy meals he cooked. And of course how could I forget your dad's symbol for me the "claw". Anyway your dad is an awesome person and I am sooo happy that I got to grow up around your family.
ReplyDeleteLove you Mr. B!!!
-Sara K.