Photography and spirituality | The Inner Path of Photography

“Peace and Grace”

hstraube_2014_Peace_and_Grace

Sometimes the comforts of
Peace and Grace
come upon us from unexpected places.

Be open to your gifts.
Softly embrace…Surrender.

Image: “Unexpected Grace”
2014, Heidi Straube

Photographer Note:

I created this image at a time when I was sad and lonely, walking the shoreline thinking I was done with this particular location – for living as well as making photographs. The sea had not held the magic for me in the way I had expected, and that had been a disappointment.

I basically gave up – surrendered to the fact that it just wasn’t the right match for me and there would be other places…and then the light shifted and this sole fairytale house on the island was illuminated, the tree form embracing.

My world shifted – the strange beauty seduced me – my heart opened to peace, grace, love.

I know Spirit – Love – Beauty of Life – is always there, waiting for me.

Heidi

If you need some nurturing today, perhaps you’ll find grace in my reading of my photo-poem, “Surrender.” The poem and photograph, with the audio link at the end, can be found here. Other photo poems and mini-meditations here.

July 2, 2014

My Scroll Hanging at Peter T Brown Gallery, Houston, TX

I’m pleased to share with you my latest scroll wall hanging,
“As if in a dream…seaside contemplations”

in the inaugural exhibition
“Over Time: Photography from the Advanced Photography Workshop”
Peter T. Brown Gallery, Houston, Texas.

I’m enjoying integrating my love of meditation, Japanese sensibilities, and beauty of the sea in my current work, and am happy to share this special hanging with you.

* * * * *

“As if in a dream…seaside contemplations” is my contemporary interpretation of the art and intention of traditional scroll wall hangings created by Japanese Zen monks.

In Zenga (Zen art) the scrolls come from an act of meditation. The monk/artist immerses himself in the essence of Spirit, then expresses it visually, to share and inspire a similar experience in the viewer.

Hangings such as these are placed in a contemplative space in the home, to remind and reconnect the viewer to the ever-present inner bliss and beautiful outer manifestations of God.

* * * * *

I believe deeply that we all deserve to be connected to our joy…whether we call it God, inner peace, or Spirit.

Life challenges us, and we forget about this beautiful essence within. My work, in the spirit of Zenga, is to bring that spiritual experience to people, and to feel it myself as I create my photographic images and the forms they take.

I invite you to the experience of meeting your soul through photography.

(Click here for enlarged detail, purchase information)

* * * * *

The scroll: I chose three images from my contemplative series, “Sea Dreams,” printed them on archival velvet-style paper, and designed a hand-stitched silk Jacquard scroll wall hanging to complement their peaceful presence. While the front of the scroll highlights the images, the back also radiates it own beauty with hand-stitching, a subtle golden Japanese leaf print on green silk, and a small signed contemplative seaside image gracing the top.

* * * * *

The Peter T. Brown Gallery, located in the Anderson-Clarke Center at Rice University, is open Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Thursdays until 8:00 PM. Enter Entrance #8, at University Boulevard and Stockton Drive. The Anderson-Clarke Center will be on your left. There is free 15-minute parking behind the building.

More about the Peter T. Brown Gallery & the Glasscock School of Continuing Education, Rice University

More contemplative images from Heidi Straube

* * * * *