Playdate with a Wedding Dress
A treasured object, unbounded, in the elements
So my wedding dress and I went out to play.1
We both needed some air…2
…and a chance to pay attention to the shape of things, seen…but not really…until the twisting flow of my aunt’s and mother-in-law’s buttons could shimmer in the afternoon sun…so full of character and wisdom.
Details emerged and when I zoomed in, breathing in the energy of the fibers, I wondered whose hands gave them life.
And how is it that my grandmother and mother’s names are just above the stained lace? What’s up with that?
And how odd to see a wedding dress next to a drainage pipe, even an elegant one.
She lead me farther down the path, asking to hang from this place and that.
And the more time I spent with her, the more connections between it and the earth presented themselves…
Blue-Green River. Green Words.
Colors play in a still monochrome landscape.
And my mother and grandmother keep showing up.
Are they speaking with the wind.3
This playdate hadn’t been on my calendar or list of things to accomplish today, but the dress beckoned.
The my camera and I obliged…and got lost in light, texture and points of view…as one does when cultivating relationships with objects and place…
Memories in fiber.
Meaning in making.
Magic.
Thank you for sharing your time and this space with me, again, today.
With gratitude for you being you,
Lyn
Hi. It’s me, Lilly. What do you think of Lyn, and her wedding dress? She wouldn’t let me come on her photo walk…
…because we already had lots of fun earlier in the day. At least she shares her walks with all of us.
Thinking of sharing 13 Tons of Love? You can, right here!
Lilly and I are glad it’s spring…almost.
Last weekend we made one last batch of mushroom barley soup. It was a perfect ‘shoulder season’ meal.
If you’ve been reading 13 Tons of Love recently, you’ll know that I’ve been hanging out with my wedding dress as part of the #The100DayProject - - And have written about it a few times: Boundaries & Women’s History and Embodied Fiber.
As part of the Kinship Photography Collective, I’ve been thinking a lot about Air of late. We are starting a new “Call for Engagement” focusing on the Elements - - Air, Fire, Water and Earth. During Air, I’ll be leading a “practice group” called Objects Embodied: Portals, Memory & Meaning. It will on Tuesdays, 12:30 - 2:30 PM EST on Zoom. If you’re interested, check out the Kinship Photography community and join the Kinship Circle! I’ll have a link for the practice group next week…or sooner in Notes.
Frances Randall Williams Chanler, 1910 - 2000; Shiela Lawrence Chanler Swett, 1935 - 2022.
I am so grateful that I knew my grandmother…lived next door to her for more than a decade, in fact…and was able to introduce my three week old son to her just a few days before she died. The circle of life, in action.
I’m curious if I’ll be able to embody that spirit by encircling my wedding dress with the names of the women who came before me and made my life possible. Letting the dress play in the elements yesterday shifted the energy in an exciting way.
Just glorious play. I love what you're doing.
Geez but that dress is an amazing model. You and she have become friends in the most wonderful new way. Love these pics.