When Vic and I decided last May to pursue our mutual interest in photography more seriously we signed up for the Saucon Valley Conservancy Barn Photo workshop with Frank T. Smith in June. Frank is a wonderfully talented local photographer and no slouch as an instructor. His seminar on composition and the challenges presented by barnyard architecture (my words, not his... he's far too refined to call it that) was the first class Vic and I attended together, and it not only sparked our passion for shooting old barns, but also provided an opportunity to submit photos from last September’s Barn Tour for consideration for their Heller Homestead Gallery exhibit this month. When the gracious folks at Saucon Valley Conservancy actually selected a few of our images, we were thrilled. It's the first time we've ever had anything in a gallery exhibit, and we’re humbled to have a few images on the same walls as Frank T. Smith and other more worthy photographic artists.
Within just a few days of being notified regarding our selected images, I heard through Facebook that a friend and classmate from High School lost her husband to cancer in August after 13 years of marriage, leaving her widowed at 48 with two young boys, the youngest of whom has Down Syndrome. I'm told Jeff Dunbar never smoked or drank. I haven’t seen or spoken to Dawn in 30 years, and didn’t know her husband from Adam, but none of that matters, really. Dawn was, and remains, a member of our tribe.
Vic and I talked about what we might do beyond purchasing tickets for the Memorial Fund raffle that was already under way. My first thought was to donate our proceeds from the sale of prints at the Heller Homestead Exhibit this month to Dawn’s benefit. We’re blessed but still have bills we can't pay, and yet I was struck by the coincidence that this need comes at a time when we've also been provided an opportunity we wouldn’t otherwise have, allowing us to use whatever gifts we’ve received to serve Dawn and her boys in a way not otherwise possible. My second thought was how well and good that is if there are any proceeds from sales at the Heller Gallery. But there's no guarantee we'll actually sell anything.
That said, the proceeds from all sales of any image on our website are being donated to the Dawn (Butler) Dunbar Memorial Fund until October 14th. Old barns may not be your thing, but we’ve updated the website this week and will continue to do so. Please browse our galleries, share our link within your own tribes, and help us come alongside Dawn and her boys at a time in their lives when they desperately need more than just our prayers.
Turns out Dawn’s husband was a farmer. We didn’t know that when we decided to donate sales from the Barn Tour exhibit to her benefit. You may call it coincidence, if you choose… and heck, I might have even agreed… if it were the only one.
Sincerely,
Greg & Vickie
Within just a few days of being notified regarding our selected images, I heard through Facebook that a friend and classmate from High School lost her husband to cancer in August after 13 years of marriage, leaving her widowed at 48 with two young boys, the youngest of whom has Down Syndrome. I'm told Jeff Dunbar never smoked or drank. I haven’t seen or spoken to Dawn in 30 years, and didn’t know her husband from Adam, but none of that matters, really. Dawn was, and remains, a member of our tribe.
Vic and I talked about what we might do beyond purchasing tickets for the Memorial Fund raffle that was already under way. My first thought was to donate our proceeds from the sale of prints at the Heller Homestead Exhibit this month to Dawn’s benefit. We’re blessed but still have bills we can't pay, and yet I was struck by the coincidence that this need comes at a time when we've also been provided an opportunity we wouldn’t otherwise have, allowing us to use whatever gifts we’ve received to serve Dawn and her boys in a way not otherwise possible. My second thought was how well and good that is if there are any proceeds from sales at the Heller Gallery. But there's no guarantee we'll actually sell anything.
That said, the proceeds from all sales of any image on our website are being donated to the Dawn (Butler) Dunbar Memorial Fund until October 14th. Old barns may not be your thing, but we’ve updated the website this week and will continue to do so. Please browse our galleries, share our link within your own tribes, and help us come alongside Dawn and her boys at a time in their lives when they desperately need more than just our prayers.
Turns out Dawn’s husband was a farmer. We didn’t know that when we decided to donate sales from the Barn Tour exhibit to her benefit. You may call it coincidence, if you choose… and heck, I might have even agreed… if it were the only one.
Sincerely,
Greg & Vickie
