Last night, Matt the boys and I went to a gallery show. It was the work of one of Matt's friends from years past. Debra McClinton. I met her a couple of times and she was sweet, attractive and extremely talented. Her photography has always moved me. She has a quirky yet classic style and I compare the feeling I have when viewing her photographs to that of Diane Arbus.
Unfortunately things in her life must not have been manageable or I don't know what, but she took her life last year. She left behind a daughter, Frankie Ray, friends and family.
When we walked into the gallery last night, it was all I could do to hold back the tears. It was an interesting space energetically for both Matt and I. It wasn't somber and it had that feeling that openings have, excitement and chatter, food, networking. But, for us, it was a time to be remembering Debra. We had a hard time seeing familiar faces and socializing when all around us were images reminding us that she was no longer here.
I'm so glad that her friends gathered her work and took such time and care to display it for people to enjoy. They even offered the prints for sale. A short window, for friends and family only, to purchase her work. Matt and I are deciding between our two favorites.
One other element to the room was a table with postcard size images of Debra. Photographs of her, living her life. The intention was to allow people to write a message on the back of a card and place it in the box so that years from now, when her daughter is older, she'll be given the cards to read and remember her mother. I was compelled to write a card and share my thoughts with Frankie. How her mother's work inspires me to take photographs. How real and honest her work was and how sad I am that she is no longer here but that her spirit lives within her photographs and within her daughter.
Debra, you are missed. Your work is an inspiration to me and I will think of you with gratitude for your contribution to this earth each time I see your photograph on our wall.
it's taken me a little while to comment i think because it's just so hard to know what to say. it's just so sad really. i see the photo of a beautiful woman smiling and then wonder about the demons she battled from within. we all have them, but maybe some more than others. her work- hauntingly beautiful. i love the pieces you are looking at...i really love the man hunched over it really grabbed me off the page. i am sorry for your loss, sorry for her daughter, sorry the world won't have a chance to experience more of her work...
ReplyDeletewishing you all a nice long Labor Day weekend full of lots of sunshine and laughter~~
wow. so, i just spent the better part of an hour flopping around the internet looking for stuff about debra. her photography is amazing. seems like such a sad story. thanks for writing about this...i would have never heard of her. take care...
ReplyDeleteAs I was looking over a notebook from 1999.I was studying yoga in San Francisco studio It's Yoga.
ReplyDeleteI was introduced to Debra by Larry Schultz. I kept her card glued in my notebook to remember the photo shoot.
I am shocked and sad to learn of her passing.I am happy to see her work.