Week Two
Community
Friendship
The hands are open, showing respect and warmth.
It relates to me because I work with indigenous communities. It is a part of me. It is part of my contribution.
Driftwood
This hobby started many years ago.
My late husband and I were up in Long Beach and we were fascinated with the driftwood that comes in. He helped me, and we brought a good collection home and started this business of polishing and sanding them.
The texture of the wood gives me a lot of comfort. I associate happy memories with it. Very tactile. Many hours and days are spent working on each piece.
I cannot sell the driftwood pieces; they are very difficult to part with. Every piece is unique in its individuality.
Near, Not Far
My daughter was on this plane. She was coming from her bustling community in Vancouver over to my smaller, quieter community.
We see how communities come together when distanced from each other. Her community then becomes mine.
How grateful we are for the speed and convenience of float planes linking the mainland and Vancouver Island.
Spirituality: the Precipice
The neighbourhood church was my first exposure to community outside of the family unit. I consider it to be the beginning of my spiritual path.
The unknown, the mystery. Everybody's spirituality is different, and very personal.
This photograph evokes a warmness for the child I was and for those in the community that helped shape who I am today.
Family
Of all the communities I'm in, family and friends are the most important to me. This photo shows shelves in my living room with photos of family, a Chanakya, Sabbath candles, and my wi-fi access point.
My little family of three, immigrated to Canada in 1974, leaving a large, close family behind in England. Other siblings moved away from England, but none came here; the family is scattered. So, family gatherings are precious. Three group photos are from annual gatherings, two are from our son's wedding.
The Jewish paraphernalia, that I rarely use, represents my childhood community where I met my husband. I'm not at all religious, but the synagogue congregation that I was part of under protest, were my extended family and provided stability in my life. It also provided my wonderful husband (the man on the right in "Dog Walkers").
My Apple Airport, the wi-fi access point, represents the internet that connects me on an almost daily basis to the family that is an ocean and a continent away.
Dog Walkers
This photo shows two things that create community, although that's not their primary purpose: community mailboxes and our dogs.
They bring people together informally, without creating any expectations.
Online Community
I have a big online community.
I am a member of 69 groups on Facebook, including writing, gardening and social networking, and I have a lot of friends there that are important to me, but there are also many friends I have never met.
My kids don't live near me, so technology keeps me in the loop. Facebook is one of the largest communities I belong to.
Community Bulletin Board
Community is a variety of things. It is determined by the sum of its members, their shared goals, standards, values, and participation.
A community is like a large circle, and you can hop on and off any time, or give and take as needed.
Coming Together
Once a week we come together to share food.
Creating community, we laugh, feel joy, our hearts sing.
Farmers Market
A place to connect.
Connecting with where the food comes from, connecting with people, sharing stories and building community.
This is where I find my home.
Fellowship
One definition for 'community' is: a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.
I had a rough transition into retirement and found my salvation in volunteering in a 'community' I love: Art.
The volunteerism through the art community lead to exploring other fields of interest and volunteerism; the most recent is the Nanaimo Ambassadors Program. Since I enjoy meeting people it is a good fit for me.
The Art of Slicing Bread
This second affiliation I include reflects my passion: The Art Community.
I took a photograph of a painting I completed in 2016 that depicts my interpretation of an exhibition reception held at the Nanaimo Art Gallery. Members of the art community congregate to celebrate the artwork on exhibit.
Busy Days
We have all heard the saying, "if you want a job done, give it to a busy person."
Once I became a member of a community I knew I was committing to work with others in that community to attain common goals, and that I would become one of those 'busy people' who are valued for their input; a need that becomes more important as I grow older.
If you are part of a community, or if you are a leader in some other capacity, there are commitments that you make in becoming a member within that community to help with others to attain their goals.
The photograph represents the fulfillment I feel in this life of "retirement."
A Community in Distress
I wanted to show a community in distress, a community that does not fit anywhere.
As we imagine possible solutions, there are people that need a change. Housing is the main issue, but mental health, addiction, distress and failing to fit within a community play large roles.
These are complex issues that every city has.
There is a sense of urgency, but it is not a simple matter.
It relates to my life because I work a lot with people on the streets in Vancouver and in South America. I care about these issues. I feel as though I have contributed through my previous work.
Community Periphery
The Blues Festival has an inner community of music lovers. It's interesting because you pay to enjoy it, but also to feel like you are part of this music community.
The funny thing is, they had a limit on the height of the chairs — eight inches off the ground — but most of the crowd were seniors. So, the juxtaposition is that you must be able-bodied enough to get in and out of these chairs or you have to sit on the periphery.
Disability makes you an outlier.
Corporate Corpse
The 1% are one of my pet peeves. With a monolithic look, this photo spoke to me more than any of the others.
It is a corporate religious world where we all are being flushed down the toilet.
There is only one world we live in, the human community. We all tend to make community human, but it can be whatever goes together.
Downtown Down
This photo is community to me; the plaza, benches and people.
I have lived here long enough to say that it is my community.
It wells up nostalgia in me.