Do you love where you live? Have you thought about why? The particularities of a place—its notitia—spark the fire of our interest in the places we love. Discovering what is special about a place increases our devotion to it, awakening a love that can lead to outcomes lasting beyond our lifetimes.
In 2014, Heron’s Eye Co-Founder Sandy Long was given the opportunity to photograph the notitia of Shenandoah National Park—beloved by millions—as its first Artist in Residence. A year later, at the invitation of the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, Sandy was awarded a second opportunity to interface with place during a month-long artist residency at Lemons Brook Farm in the Town of Bethel, New York—a property beloved by its owner, Lou Barr and his family.
Lemons Brook Farm
Sandy spent the month of November 2015 at Lemons Brook Farm behind the lens, exploring the lichen-labeled stone walls, the bird-and-bug-friendly herb garden, the shady forest trail littered with thought-provoking evidence of human activity, and the neighboring cows quietly grooming the fields leased by a local farmer.
Her photographic experience was deepened on the page, in prose and poetry, through a form of conversation she engaged in with the subjects of such interfaces.
Sandy will share some of this work during the digital and spoken-word event, “Lemons Brook Farm: Lens, Pen and Place” on Saturday, May 21, from 1 to 5 pm.
Please join us at the Lemons Brook farmhouse, 120 Segar and Rosenberg Road, Kauneonga Lake, NY. Brief presentations by Sandy will occur at 1:30 and 4 pm. A guided walk on the property’s woodland trail is scheduled for 2:30 pm.
Lou Barr’s Love of Place
Click for a sneak peek at some images from Sandy’s Lemons Brook Farm residency.
Lou’s love of his childhood home led him to work with the Delaware Highlands Conservancy to protect the 119-acre property. Thanks to Lou and his family, the pristine woodlands, fields and wetlands will continue to provide essential habitat for plants, animals, insects, fungi and other life forms.
In addition, the former marine biologist has made it possible for the Delaware Highlands Conservancy to use the lovingly preserved farmhouse and grounds as the site of its New York office, where educational programming and the residency take place.
Why did Lou take these steps to preserve his land? “I have tremendous devotion to what’s wild,” he says.
Of like mind, Sandy is deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to experience the wild beauty of Lemons Brook Farm, where the trees converse with the sky, and coyotes call in the descending dusk. Artful nature speaks to the heart. The artist in us listens.
Visit the Delaware Highlands Conservancy’s event page for directions to Lemons Brook Farm or other information.
[Photos © Sandy Long]
