Thursday, October 10, 2013

Here we go, Thanks to you!!

self injury


Before anymore time passes, I want to say Thank You to everyone who came out to Farrington Place last Friday night. The financial support was enough to assure the exhibit will be completed as scheduled, on film, printed in the darkroom and professionally presented. Also, the moral support and encouragement is and was greatly appreciated. 

I am always afraid that I will leave out an important name when I list people in a thank you. PLEASE, let me know if I do. Nice thing about a blog is that I can always edit my mistakes. 

We had volunteer help from Sarah Andrew and friends, Stephanie Carey, Sally Cohick, Anna Henley, Brian Spies, and Dina Wascher. 

Great music by Kristin VanValin Ivers on piano provided by Robert M. Sides, Zak Johns, Doug McMinn, Mallory Scoppa and The Backwoods Experiment. 

The art auction was a huge success thanks to artists Chad Andrews, Juan Arata, Lynne Becker, Stephanie Carey, Andy Cohick, Sally Cohick, Tommy Grieco, Allison Hirsh, Joan and Stephen Hoff, Ann House and Wendi M. Wilver, Cris Knell, Kim Wachter-Lutz, Vaughn Mallery, Owen Mcdonald, Curt Miller, Tim Miller, Lauren Murray, Sue Nichols, Verra Pfaffli, Roger Shipley, Brian Spies, Deb and Dave Stabley, Terry Wild, and Patti Winters. 

Businesses also jumped in on the auction that include Blair Brothers Goldsmiths, Franco’s Lounge, Liaz Salon and Day Spa, Neville’s Flowers, Red Lobster, Williamsport Symphony Orchestra. 

None of this would have ever happened if Anna Henley and Eric Winters had not come forward in the beginning and said “What can we do?” By offering Farrington Place as a venue and helping with planning we were able to pull this off. Eric’s staff of Lance Falkowski, Richard (Ski) Falkowski, Nikki Murray, Lee Sauers, Merek Hronowski, Andrea McEntire and Steve Bailey provided the hospitality and ran their butts off serving everyone there. At the end of the night they handed us the tip jar with their thanks and support of our efforts. They are a great group of very committed people. 

The food and drink was awesome and again, Farrington Place had a part in it along with Chef Hosch and Ann, Riepstine’s Pub along with the cake by Jessica Welch. 

So, up next . . . we hit the ground running and shot another pose last Sunday. Our new order of film came yesterday and we will have at least one shoot this coming weekend. I have also ordered some sample papers to test before I choose the final look. I’m scouring eBay for an easel that will let me print 16x20 inch prints properly and we have some props to track down. 

Shooting will be done before Thanksgiving and then I will become a mushroom and live in the darkroom til spring.

We have the gallery booked in the Pajama Factory for next April and will do a preview before the exhibit heads to Harrisburg in May.

Out of all the Thank Yous I have to give, the most important ones go to all of you who have poured out your support to what we are doing. It seems like every time I discuss the project I meet someone who is personally touched by the subjects. I am proud of them for  sharing and I am proud to give a voice to the struggles that most of us have shared.