Saturday, March 29, 2008

Crozet, Virginia

Place and identity. Every time I return to Virginia, I'm reminded of who I am. I'm grateful to the landscape – the mountains, streams and open spaces that have continually given me the peace of mind to think and be still. I'm enriched by a sense of community from family, history and familiarity that exists no where else.

During this last trip home, I recognized the importance of place and place-making more then ever before. The longing to feel connected in today's increasingly isolating human environment is visceral. I too, want to be part of and participate in community. Crozet, Virginia is an inspiration.

A documentary project proposal I have in the works, called A Race to Smart Growth, will share the efforts and aspirations of the Community of Crozet to ensure its own survival. In the face of extreme growth, Crozet is vigilant in its pursuit of a new approach to and vision for community development.

Growth and patterns of development have the ability to promote community, respect place and identity or destroy it. We've all seen the destruction of place with big-box commercialization strips and sprawling subdivisions and now it's time to understand and support an alternative. Crozet, Virginia can be that case study – illuminating a dedicated community political process that insists on fundamental changes to existing sprawl policies and seeks the revitalization of healthy, sustainable, connected communities where we all want to live, work, play and protect our natural heritage.






Sunday, March 9, 2008

Tara and Montey

A sweet,intimate affair on a snowy, sunny Sunday afternoon in March. Weddings always seem extra special with the surprise and beauty of the elements in Santa Fe.






Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Believe in yourself

I entered the apartment of Gaston Lokvig, and he turned to me as if he'd been awaiting my arrival. I introduced myself, sat down and he promptly said, "Now, can I tell you about me?"

Born in 1912 in Copenhagen, Denmark, his long life is full of story, history, award and acclaim. But, one of the first things he wanted to share was his fascination and love for animals. Listening and feeling, senses paramount to the survival of animals in the wild, offer a knowing sometimes stronger than thought.







I wondered, in this stage in life, what he felt he had left to learn and he answered,

"Patience. Have time to listen. First of all, you only learn by listening, and looking and thinking. Use your own brain to the best."

It's so amazing to be around someone who has an undying, overflowing love and reverence for life. If you're ever questioning, worrying, doubting, he would be the perfect person to sit with as he tells you,