Ofrenda for Mark

My get pushed partner, Lisa, gave me this challenge: "take a different look at autumn. Find something different about autumn to photograph, other than pumpkins and colored leaves (although you can include them)"

Each October I put together a memorial altar on the top of my piano, similar to the 'ofrendas' done in Mexico for the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), for people close to us who have died. I keep it up through November. Mark Scott, who together with his wife Donnell farmed our land, died suddenly last November. Donnell is still handling the farming. Mark was a quiet man, so nice...and a heck of a good farmer. He is greatly missed.

This was taken with the iPod, because it was movie night this evening and Frank had the movie all cued up and waiting, so I didn't want to fiddle with the right settings on the camera, tripod, etc. This shows most of the ofrenda. In my Alternates album I'm posting a snap of the whole thing.

[Dixie Goode]

This is a sweet tradition and I think maybe I’ll ffind a way to do something similar for my Mother in Law who died last November.

[Saskia Holditch]

Hi Mary, we're get pushed partners this week. I give you "church windows", are you happy with that? Option B: "culture". Cheers!

[Jenfurj]

A lovely memorial that represents all that was and is special amot Mark.

[Joan Robillard]

What a wonderful thing to do.

[Mary Siegle]

@homeschoolmom Here is something that's autumn to me.

[Mary Siegle]

@saskiah church windows sounds fine. Thanks!

[katy]

How nice. I like the edit too.

[Kathy]

I think that you have created an interesting and successful scene for your challenge. Now that I see the items a little closer up, perhaps the homey feeling isn't quite as homey as in the broader image.

[kali]

hi Mary, how about looking at the colourfield painters and doing something similar, helen frankenthaler, rothko, barnett newman etc. thats your push :)

[Mary Siegle]

@randystreat Thanks, Kathy. The ofrenda was put together rather quickly in order to get my photo, and was sort of a work in progress. After I read your comment, I looked again at it and made a couple of changes. The candle in the form of a skull that my friends gave me last year is obviously, by the detail in the decoration (and the label on the bottom), for the Day of the Dead. But it also has a bit of a grotesque quality. So I moved it to a shelf in my bedroom and replaced it with an old toy fire truck of Frank's, because I remembered that Mark had served as a volunteer fireman. I also replaced the glass skull jar with a sugar skull (traditional Mexican) a faculty member gave me last year. I liked the way it looked better. The skulls and skeleton figures used in Mexico aren't intended to be morbid or grotesque, so I don't want that to be the impression the ofrenda gives. For my part, I also like the old Celtic idea that at this time (Samhain/Halloween, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day, the veil between the world of the living and that of the dead is thinnest. And so, in addition frankly acknowledging the fact that they have died, I want to convey the idea that though they are dead, they're still with us in other ways -- especially the legacies they have left.) I really appreciate your taking the time to look and comment. Sorry I have been a bit missing in action and not good at replying.

[Mary Siegle]

@kali66 Sounds good. I'll get you a challenge shortly.

[Kathy]

@mcsiegle I like your idea and I didn't mean to offend or cause you any more work.

[Mary Siegle]

@randystreat no worries. I didn't take any offense, and really appreciated your candid response. You didn't cause extra work. I enjoyed tinkering a bit.