Drawing Out Spirits

I started this woman's portrait the day before yesterday, and will return to my studio to resolve it today. This is my Great Great Grandmother, circa 1899 or so, my mother's mother's mother's mother (!)

My husband and I are having no luck resolving my camera problem, though. Frustrating!! We'll figure it out soon. Meanwhile, no pics of works in progress.

Boo. (Hoo, and Hiss...)

Speaking of boo, and ghosts, and Mything Persons and things, I am planning to print this little headstone on my title labels. It's from a headstone at a local cemetery - I thought it would be a good logo of sorts to tie together the show. I also potted up a bunch of marigolds that I had planted outdoors this summer, and plan to put them on a table at the gallery along with an album of prints of all the old photographs I've used to create this body of work. Marigolds are used in Day of the Dead and All Souls Day celebrations. I've read that their pungent odor draws the spirits out, so I am going to scatter some blossoms on the door sill as people enter the gallery on the night of the opening...

I guess that's what I've been doing, too, literally and figuratively. Drawing out spirits. When I was at work in my studio recently I was listening to Bob Dylan's version of Rollin' and Tumblin', and this apt line came ringing out and made me stop what I was doing to write it down:

I've been conjuring up all these long dead souls from their crumblin' tombs...