Jeanie Katz and Frances Denny
The Story
Jennie Katz
Gladwyne, PA
@ezzgram
Survivor
Twist on Cancer: I have always been a survivor. With 14 years of hindsight, my Acute Myeloid Leukemia diagnosis in 2010 was not the most difficult journey I’ve had. Since then, I have become a parent to two wonderful children. I have found a rewarding career, and I have worked at strengthening my marriage, family relationships, and friendships. While these journeys have been notably positive, they have taken work, care, and patience. I have survived the everyday challenges of parenting, a difficult colleague, and sibling rivalry. Like surviving leukemia, each instance has taught me resilience and humility. The work, care, and patience required for joyful events certainly do not feel the same as sitting in a hospital bed, but they often come with a price. As any parent knows – how scary is it to give your tween permission to ride his bicycle down a road with no sidewalks? To start a new job? The unknowns and fear are similar. Surviving leukemia was frightening; however, along with all my other rich and varied life experiences, it has helped to enhance my coping skills and forced me to seek the positive.
@ezzgram
Survivor
Twist on Cancer: I have always been a survivor. With 14 years of hindsight, my Acute Myeloid Leukemia diagnosis in 2010 was not the most difficult journey I’ve had. Since then, I have become a parent to two wonderful children. I have found a rewarding career, and I have worked at strengthening my marriage, family relationships, and friendships. While these journeys have been notably positive, they have taken work, care, and patience. I have survived the everyday challenges of parenting, a difficult colleague, and sibling rivalry. Like surviving leukemia, each instance has taught me resilience and humility. The work, care, and patience required for joyful events certainly do not feel the same as sitting in a hospital bed, but they often come with a price. As any parent knows – how scary is it to give your tween permission to ride his bicycle down a road with no sidewalks? To start a new job? The unknowns and fear are similar. Surviving leukemia was frightening; however, along with all my other rich and varied life experiences, it has helped to enhance my coping skills and forced me to seek the positive.
Frances Denny
Pound Ridge, NY
www.francesfdenny.com
@francesfdenny
“Secrets Kept for Jennie”
Cyanotype on Arches Platine watercolor paper
Archival mat, signed on verso (22 3/8 x 22 3/8 x 1/8")
$3,500
Artist Statement: Jennie is a private person with quiet conviction. She knows who she is and what matters to her. She doesn’t often revisit her fight with cancer that occurred over a decade ago. In her words, cancer “doesn’t define me,” nor does Jennie describe herself as a “survivor.” Jennie’s ordeal was a tear in the fabric of her life- a tear that has long since mended and is now barely visible.
In our conversations, Jennie shared intimate details of her struggle with me. She also spoke with deep love about her family and faith. Because she is reserved by nature, I chose to protect Jennie’s privacy and obscure some of the memories she shared with me by making cyanotypes, an early photographic process known for its distinct oceanic blue. The ocean, and being near water, is a particular source of refuge for Jennie. Jennie often spoke in highly specific imagery that caught my attention as a photographer. In turn, I created individual cyanotypes inspired by our conversations that together form a portrait of Jennie. Some of the cyanotypes reference Jennie’s bout with cancer; some reflect her life now. The resulting piece, “Secrets Kept for Jennie,” is comprised of nine unique cyanotypes that each reflect a memory or value Jennie entrusted to me. I made the cyanotypes both from images I sourced from stock photography companies as well as from objects I placed directly on hand-painted emulsions (i.e., photograms). Every image was created in the darkroom and exposed by sunlight.
www.francesfdenny.com
@francesfdenny
“Secrets Kept for Jennie”
Cyanotype on Arches Platine watercolor paper
Archival mat, signed on verso (22 3/8 x 22 3/8 x 1/8")
$3,500
Artist Statement: Jennie is a private person with quiet conviction. She knows who she is and what matters to her. She doesn’t often revisit her fight with cancer that occurred over a decade ago. In her words, cancer “doesn’t define me,” nor does Jennie describe herself as a “survivor.” Jennie’s ordeal was a tear in the fabric of her life- a tear that has long since mended and is now barely visible.
In our conversations, Jennie shared intimate details of her struggle with me. She also spoke with deep love about her family and faith. Because she is reserved by nature, I chose to protect Jennie’s privacy and obscure some of the memories she shared with me by making cyanotypes, an early photographic process known for its distinct oceanic blue. The ocean, and being near water, is a particular source of refuge for Jennie. Jennie often spoke in highly specific imagery that caught my attention as a photographer. In turn, I created individual cyanotypes inspired by our conversations that together form a portrait of Jennie. Some of the cyanotypes reference Jennie’s bout with cancer; some reflect her life now. The resulting piece, “Secrets Kept for Jennie,” is comprised of nine unique cyanotypes that each reflect a memory or value Jennie entrusted to me. I made the cyanotypes both from images I sourced from stock photography companies as well as from objects I placed directly on hand-painted emulsions (i.e., photograms). Every image was created in the darkroom and exposed by sunlight.