Westward Ho!
As the month of July comes to a quick end, we have(in New England) been met with temperatures north of 107F, old mills burning to the ground, and landscape-leveling tornadoes. Despite all this, it is with a bitter-sweet feeling that I move on from the place that I have called home for my entire life.
I was born in Rhode Island and remained there until college. I attended the Art Institute of Boston and remained there a few years post graduation. While at AIB, I met the gal who would become my cherished wife. We moved to her hometown of Ridgefield, Connecticut where she and I attended Western Conecticut State University. Me to obtain a Masters degree in Illustration and Erica a bachelors in Painting. She is quite a successful photographer now so the lesson here is to never take a narrow path in life. She didn't, she inspires me daily.
I Saw several of my books published and produced an ungodly amount of illustrations for various periodicals while here--mainly the beloved Ridgefield Press. I have shown my works in numerous galleries and exhibitions, held book signings and lectures up and down the map and genuinely enjoyed where my career has gone. Also, we had a son, Oliver. He's better than anything that I just wrote about...I'm just not talented enough to put it into words.
My 31 years in New England will be looked back on with a warm smile followed by a nervous shiver--how can things get any better than this?
Writing this reminds me of a quote from my dear friend and mentor, Maurice Sendak. "There has to be more to life than having everything." Knowing you Maurice, I could write volumes of inspirational, stunning, poetic and perfect things that have drifted from your mind during our late night studio visits, or mid-day walks. Be it discussing the works or Blake or Mozart by a dim light with the giant beast Herman curled at your feet or walking atop a frozen earth in the winter, making our way to your favorite waterfall...you have given my life a new source of meaning. My work has more personal worth now than it ever did. It is part of the "more in life than having everything". Thank you friend.
In mid-August Erica, Oliver and I will load up the U-Haul and set sail for Frostburg, Maryland where I will begin a professorship at Frostburg State University. I'll be teaching Illustration and Drawing to the next generation of brave souls who choose the life of an artist. As I pull out of the driveway, I will look at Ridgefield in my rear view mirror, knowing full well that Objects in The Mirror May Be Closer Than They Appear. It will remain closer to me than it appears on any map--I plan to keep it that way.
I have gained several lifetime friendships while here. I planned to focus on my art and writing when we decided to move to Connecticut at the very end of 2003, and I did do that. It has been a productive many years. I never expected to meet so many good people but life is what happens to you when you are making other plans... Some other famous guy said that.
Maurice, Marc, Rocco, Susan, Jack, Sally and anybody that I may have left out in the moment before I hit "send". Thank you all. I'll still stop by the Press building on Bailey so that Oliver can say hello to Jack and Sally...just not every Friday.
Westward ho!
Fondly,
Jamison
I was born in Rhode Island and remained there until college. I attended the Art Institute of Boston and remained there a few years post graduation. While at AIB, I met the gal who would become my cherished wife. We moved to her hometown of Ridgefield, Connecticut where she and I attended Western Conecticut State University. Me to obtain a Masters degree in Illustration and Erica a bachelors in Painting. She is quite a successful photographer now so the lesson here is to never take a narrow path in life. She didn't, she inspires me daily.
I Saw several of my books published and produced an ungodly amount of illustrations for various periodicals while here--mainly the beloved Ridgefield Press. I have shown my works in numerous galleries and exhibitions, held book signings and lectures up and down the map and genuinely enjoyed where my career has gone. Also, we had a son, Oliver. He's better than anything that I just wrote about...I'm just not talented enough to put it into words.
My 31 years in New England will be looked back on with a warm smile followed by a nervous shiver--how can things get any better than this?
Writing this reminds me of a quote from my dear friend and mentor, Maurice Sendak. "There has to be more to life than having everything." Knowing you Maurice, I could write volumes of inspirational, stunning, poetic and perfect things that have drifted from your mind during our late night studio visits, or mid-day walks. Be it discussing the works or Blake or Mozart by a dim light with the giant beast Herman curled at your feet or walking atop a frozen earth in the winter, making our way to your favorite waterfall...you have given my life a new source of meaning. My work has more personal worth now than it ever did. It is part of the "more in life than having everything". Thank you friend.
In mid-August Erica, Oliver and I will load up the U-Haul and set sail for Frostburg, Maryland where I will begin a professorship at Frostburg State University. I'll be teaching Illustration and Drawing to the next generation of brave souls who choose the life of an artist. As I pull out of the driveway, I will look at Ridgefield in my rear view mirror, knowing full well that Objects in The Mirror May Be Closer Than They Appear. It will remain closer to me than it appears on any map--I plan to keep it that way.
I have gained several lifetime friendships while here. I planned to focus on my art and writing when we decided to move to Connecticut at the very end of 2003, and I did do that. It has been a productive many years. I never expected to meet so many good people but life is what happens to you when you are making other plans... Some other famous guy said that.
Maurice, Marc, Rocco, Susan, Jack, Sally and anybody that I may have left out in the moment before I hit "send". Thank you all. I'll still stop by the Press building on Bailey so that Oliver can say hello to Jack and Sally...just not every Friday.
Westward ho!
Fondly,
Jamison
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