Eleanor

The late, landscape photographer, Harry Callahan said, the two favorite moments in his life were when he bought his first camera and the day he met Eleanor.Right off the bat he was smitten. So smitten, that he quit school because he couldn’t stand to be apart from her.
In one cityscape, Eleanor and their daughter Barbara were standing right in the middle of a convergent of stairs, paths and road. When asked about it, Callahan replied, in life there are many roads you can take with twists and turns, but your family is always right there in the middle of it, like a rock. I’d like to think that I incorporate my family into my work, the way Callahan did. Even when he taught at the Rhode Island School of Design, he placed emphasis on the significance of family and artwork.
When researching landscape artists in my early school years I came across Callahan’s work and was baffled at all the images of Eleanor. Landscapes are typically void of people. His photographs of Eleanor conveyed a complete adoration and affection from a man who was crazy about his wife. One could argue that Eleanor is the greatest Muse of all time, she and Barbara were in countless landscapes of Callahan’s. Upon reading about the two, I fell madly in love with Harry and Eleanor’s love story. Having failed love myself, I have always yearned for a love like theirs. Fantasizing about their relationship, I wrote a song titled Eleanor, and then created this re-photography series to accompany the song. Here’s to you Harry Callahan and your undying love for Eleanor. I sent the song to Eleanor. Barbara received it at Eleanor’s passing and weeks later she corresponded with me, thanking me and told me she received it at a very poignant time in her life. I am so honored.