Click on first image to view this series as a slide show.
The Happy Baby, '03
Bubba Holding Ostrich Egg, '03
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Christina and Baby, 2011
[Christina at age 7 in photo below.]
[Christina at age 7 in photo below.]
The Newsome Children, '97
[Christina, far left.]
As published in "Appalachian Legacy," '98.
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Father and Son, '82
Pistol City
[Published in "Appalachian Legacy,'98"]
Wayne and Family
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Lloyd Dean's Last Photo, 2011
[With grandson William]
Noble's Porch, '99
[Lloyd Dean located in middle of composition behind grandson.]
Published in, "Appalachian Lives," 2003
Published in, "Appalachian Lives," 2003
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Eddie Wayne in Living Room, '10
[Nora's son]
[Nora's son]
Nora's Bedroom, '95
[Eddie Wayne, Nora's son, photo made in Living room of mother's home 15 years later.]
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Martha and Kizzie with Recycled Water Bottles, '09
The Purse, '05
The Joseph's Porch, '94
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Leddie and Children, '90
[Cover of first book, "Appalachian Portraits," published in 1993.]
[Cover of first book, "Appalachian Portraits," published in 1993.]
Dan, Cassy and Leddie, '93
[Leddie on far right.]
Dan, "Driving Straight To Hell," 1998
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Tyler and Sheba, '01
Sheba Asleep, '07
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Dillon, Oct. '07[Standing in front of Great Grandfathers Civil War saddle.]
Belinda and Martha, Oct. '07
Girl's in Onion Patch, '04
Freddie's Place, '04
Fess with his Lemo, '09
Vanessa, Oct.'07[Standing in front of Great Grandmother's Photo]
Leslie, Oct.'07When you come from the head of the hollers and leave for whatever purpose, you eventually gravitate back to your starting place, to observe and study finding a more all encompassing perspective, moving forward; from what some deny. That world may be inhabited by the shunned, neglected or even arrogant; that rumble with contradictions and self deceptions, but that is your home, your true voice and your vision. Your strength lies within your recognition of these people, the ignored who speak, cry, lament, love and beg you to say - I exist, even when they deny you.
Shelby Lee Adams
August 2007
Attention
We need an unprejudiced mind to see what-is; we cannot see what-is and respond to it if the mind is trying to change or suppress it. We resist what-is because we are afraid of the unknown, or because what-is contradicts what we have been conditioned to believe, or because it threatens us. The resulting fear prevents from us accepting what-is. Resistance to what-is may look like strength, but actually arises from fear, whereas it is powerful and freeing to accept what-is.
Surrender means allowing life to happen rather than opposing the flow of life, accepting the present moment without resistance. The necessary action will then arise, but when we act out of acceptance rather than resistance, we act without negativity or judgment. Action that arises out of acceptance is different from action that arises out of rage and hatred. Action that arises from a state of surrender is less contaminated with judgment and the need to hurt others. We simply do what needs to be done without labeling the situation as good or bad according to the ego’s criteria.
Lionel Corbett
Psyche and Sacred
Adam Dean with Horse and Bike, '07
Wasp, 05
Wasp, '10
Violet, '05
Teresa and Family, '03
Rosa Lee with Family and TV, '06
Ester, Oma Jean and Baby, '06
Coon Creek, '03
Billy Ray, '03
Brenda, '04
4x5 Polaroid studies made with Brenda before exposing film.
Polaroids damaged by rain.
James and Clapper, '06
Halloween Twins, '06
Amanda with Dolls,'02
Frankie with Shucky Beans, '02
Charity Baby, '06
Lawrence's Porch, '06
Lloyd Dean with Family and Coal Truck, '02
Lloyd Dean with Grandson's and pool table, '06
Robbie and Tyler on Wrecker, '03
Stephanie and Brittany, '06
Jimmy's Mantel, '08
Barwick, '03
Eagle's Nest, '04
Eagle's Nest, '08
Hardburly Porch, '04
John, '06
Alma Gail and Children, '03
Cindy Rena, '04
Mitchel and Dallas,'08
Donnie and Aunt Sally, '04
Hazel and Mimie [twins], '05
Leairon, '05
The Jacobs and Collins Boys, 2003
Big Hort, 2003
Brother Ish, 1994
Troy, '03[96 years old]
Published "salt and truth"
Truth
“The Stories get past on and the truth gets passed over. As the sayin goes. Which I reckon some would take as meanin that the truth cant compete. But I don’t believe that. I think that when the lies are told and forgotten the truth will be there yet. It don’t move about from place to place and it dont change from time to time. You cant corrupt it any more than you can salt salt. You cant corrupt it because that’s what it is. It’s the thing you’re talking about. I’ve heard it compared to the rock-maybe in the bible-and I wouldn’t disagree with that. But it’ll be here even when the rock is gone.”
“You were doin something for folks that couldnt do it for theirselves.”
“I think the truth is always simple. It has pretty much got to be. It needs to be simple enough for a child to understand. Otherwise it’d be too late. By the time you figured it out it would be too late.”
Cormac McCarthy
No Country For Old Men
© Shelby Lee Adams, 2010-12
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