Four years ago, I applied to Ragdale, this artist and writers colony in Lake Forest, IL and by some miracle, they accepted me. I was intimidated as everyone else seemed so accomplished. Nevertheless, I had a blissful two weeks. I photographed all the time and felt what it was like to be a real artist - one who gets up and creates every day. I had my own studio and great conversations with people at dinner and went for long walks on the prairie and really got into the swing of things, into flow, as they call it, when the creativity is just moving through you. When I left, I was practically kicking and screaming, it had been such an amazing experience.
Now, here I am four years and three residencies later, a lot closer to my ideal life of being a real artist, and yet it is still magical to be here surrounded by so much creativity. I love having my own studio with a loft bedroom and endless hours to shoot and contemplate my work, and I love even the little things here - hearing the screen doors slam and seeing the chipmunks scurry under trees and the pears fall on the path when I go for walks. It really is a wonderful place and one that has become part of my life.
I will be giving a talk about my work on Friday, which scares me, but I know it will go fine and I have been asked to shoot inside the main house for a book the Director of Ragdale is writing and I feel so honored and excited. I feel like I embraced Ragdale and it embraced me back.
