Laura Christensen’s ‘Then Again’ Is A Third Radiant Thing
In the words of poet John Keats, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” On the flipside, however, common knowledge suggests that “You get what you pay for.” Works of beauty, both visual and intellectual, are worth more because of the time and hard work that goes into creating them. Laura Christensen, an artist based in Williamstown, Mass., has done the hard work. Now comes the thing of beauty. If she can pay for it.
THEN AGAIN: Vintage Photography Reimagined by One Artist and Thirty Writers is a collector’s-edition-quality book featuring Christensen’s artwork and the poetry and prose of 30 writers, both award-winning authors and up-and-coming voices. Featured writers include John Crowley, Akiko Busch, Karen and Jim Shepard, Paul Park, Mary Ruefle and Jorie Graham. Started with grants from Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the project now has moved into its final stage by launching a Kickstarter on April 2, giving it around 30 days to raise the full amount needed to print the books. (Forty percent of the $30,000 total has been raised as of this story’s publication.)
“The book involves so many color photos that I want to make sure it’s designed and printed well,” says Christensen. “So, to maintain creative control, I’m self-publishing it.” Kickstarter will allow Christensen to fund professional design by Williamstown’s David Edge and quality local printing on thick paper.
Over the last couple of decades, Christensen has developed her own technique for painting on vintage photographs she finds at antique shops. “In a way I rescue them, but I don’t conserve them like a conservator. Their individuality is restored, but I interact with them and they tell new stories.”
In the same way that adding paint to photos creates a third, entirely new thing, pairing her artwork with the words of writers has created “a third radiant thing” that didn’t exist before. “A few years ago I was in an exhibit in Albany at the public library,” Christensen says. “The curator, Judie Gilmore, helped pair artists with writers. I was paired with Hollis Seamon and she wrote a beautiful and potent piece of short fiction. Together the art and writing created a third thing, and added more meaning to both of them.”
Christensen has been working on THEN AGAIN for the last three years, giving each author a choice of artworks from which to draw inspiration. Threads loosely connect some of the stories in the book, and some characters reappear throughout the anthology.
The opportunity to participate in the THEN AGAIN Kickstarter will be offered until Tuesday, April 30, with rewards at each donation level, including the book itself, signed art prints, a commission of your choice, and other “things of beauty.”
Please Support Rural Intelligence
We want to continue delivering the entertaining, informative and upbeat stories in the inimitable Rural Intelligence style, despite a pandemic. But we need your support to keep us going. Please consider making a donation; even a small amount helps secure our future. Support us now.
(If you prefer, mail a check to: 45 Pine Grove Ave., Suite 303, Kingston, NY 12401.)
Support Now