Most Creatives I know are inspired to work on more projects than can ever be completed. To find the balance of which projects to choose, to seek those projects that are truly important, to know which call to answer (as mythologist Joseph Campbell might say), is remarkably difficult.
When it comes to choosing, I like to think of Odysseus (or “Brave Ulysses” if you listen to Cream). If you don’t recall, to return to Ithaca, Odysseus and his crew had to row past the Sirens’ island. Those who heard the Sirens’ call became enchanted, so Odysseus used beeswax to plug the crew’s ears. He lashed himself to the mast so that he could hear the song without responding. Although Odysseus wanted to answer the call, he couldn’t. His crew wouldn’t let him and kept rowing until the song faded.
Too often, we become distracted by the Sirens in our life and our journey to Ithaca is obscured. That’s what happened with my Vietnam War Memorial project.
I first became interested in the memorials around the turn of the century when I learned that one of my professors, Robert Coleman-Senghor, had founded the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Grove at Sonoma State University. Although Bob was a Vietnam veteran (I’ve since been told that Bob was not a Vietnam Veteran. My memory must be faulty), he founded the memorial because of one of his students. It’s a moving story that I’m researching further and, when he told me the story, I knew that I wanted to uncover the other stories behind these memorials.
But, as happens, I started the project, became distracted, and failed to follow through. The project floundered until Bob passed away earlier this year. His passing came at a time of transition for me and I realized that now, although late, was the time to complete this project (at least as much as I could without Bob).
So far I’ve located 52 memorials in California, though I’m hoping to uncover more. Some are modest, others elaborate, and I’ve found all that I’ve visited to be moving in their own way. When it comes to memorials, I’ve learned that size doesn’t matter: Each has its own voice and gravitas.
In the coming weeks I’ll be posting images of the memorials in this blog. I shoot black and white film and I don’t scan until I’ve made a final print, so there’s a lag between when I shoot and when I post. I’ll be interviewing the founders of the memorials or those close to them, and post excepts from those discussions, too. Finally, I’m speaking with curators about exhibiting the images in 2012, with the hope of opening on Veterans’ Day. I’ll post that information as well.
Check back here often. I’m shooting memorials and/or printing weekly.
