Absent Friend

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Friday’s ago I woke up determined to take myself on an Artist date, a term coined by writer and creative practitioner Julia Cameron. An artist date is a creative solo date you do with yourself. The destination is up to you. You could take yourself somewhere obvious like an art gallery or a museum or a visit to a part of town or the country you never get to visit.

Today in particular I was on a mission. I wanted to catch the last day of the exhibition of a former coaching client, Reen Pilkington who sadly passed away in November 2012.

I wanted to pay my respects to a gentle soul whom in our two periods of working together really brought together the different elements of her creativity and life purpose.

Reen Pilkington was a passionate photographer. In 2000 she shot a series of photos of me from which one particular image I’ve used in the last 12 years as my signature photo publicity shot. I love that image Reen took of me which captured a happy and more playful part of my soul.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we started our coaching work together Reen’s goal was to raise her profile and share her work as a photographer. She explored different ways of bringing her work to a wider audience and it was during this period that her work and involvement with the South London gardening and ecology centre for young people with learning difficulties Roots and Shoots took off.

Today as I walked through the small exhibit of Reen’s photos and drawings at Morley College it was affirming to see Reen’s work publicly displayed. I hadn’t quite remembered just how significant was her love of the environment, a passion we both share. I smiled when I viewed the several images of trees in her exhibition – we had the same nature soul.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taking in her exhibition also got me thinking about the legacy we leave behind. I’ve always thought that questions like: How would you like to be remembered? – really felt quite cheesy. But now standing in front of some of Reen’s work I am appreciating just how important it is to consider what we will leave behind that will be a tribute to our life and our contribution.

Do you have a body of work that will capture your essence, your contribution or that will tell a story of what really mattered to you? If you are unsure of your response why not use the following prompts to begin that inrquiry.

• If a short film was made about your life, what would the story be about?
• If a book was written about your life what would it’s title be?
• If you had to pick 12 photos that tell the story of your life in pictures what would 12 photos be?
• If you had to pick a photo for each year of your life that tell the story of your life in pictures what photos or images would you choose?
• What music tracks would you choose to be the soundtrack of your life?
• What is your body of work? How would you like to be remembered? What and how will your contribution be remembered?

Do spend a few moments writing down your responses to some or all of the questions above. Once we start answering these questions for ourselves we can then more easily create a space to explore similar or the same questions with our coaching clients.

In the meantime do enjoy a few images from Reen’s exhibition, Absent Friend and a short film clip.

After my time spent viewing Reen’s images I went and found an empty classroom and sat down and started to write. The quiet was only interrupted by the noise of the outside traffic. I realised how much I needed this quiet space.  How easily and quickly I return to myself when I give myself this kind of quality of time and space.

I recognised just how much I needed to find an oasis of quiet and calm in what has been a hectic two months.

I realised how content I feel sitting in my own space and spending moments of my day alone. How replenishing it is not to be sitting in front of a computer reading emails.

My levels of satisfaction and conbtentment rise significantly when I write.

Right now I am smiling. I have gotten my creative fix and now I am more than ready to face the rest of my day.

Thank you Reen for being part of my creative medicine and sharing my Artist date with me.

Reen Pilkington Retrospective 10th February 1954-3rd November 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All images copyright of Reen Pilkington