Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Wow!
If you've read my post for March 20th, you will know things are movin' & shakin'. Never in my wildest dreams, nor John's either I'm sure, would I have thought the tragic story of my brother would become art. A woman, whom I haven't yet personally met - Patricia Sahertian - came into mine & John's life (another "divine intervention") and as a result of her kind spirit, generous nature and artistic vision, John will be honored and remembered in a truly beautiful way. This, however, is not just about John but also Hart Island and its hundreds of thousands of current (and future) residents. My focus will remain on the Island - before I die, the dream will be realized.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
The Art of Death.........John, Hart Island & Patricia..........
Press Release
A Book About Death ~ Memento :: Willo North Gallery, Phoenix, AZ :: Show Dates: May 3 – 28, 2011
Opening Reception: May 6, 2011, 6 – 10 p.m.
Contact: Patricia Sahertian :: patricia@thestudio-ps.com :: 602.218.6046 :: http://abad-phx.blogspot.com
Phoenix, Arizona – Artist, Patricia Sahertian, is organizing an A Book About Death ~ Memento exhibit, following the tradition started in 2009 at the Emily Harvey Foundation in New York City, which inspired a long list of international ABAD exhibitions subsequently. This show, at Willo North Gallery, owned by Kristin Shears, will not only highlight postcards from artists around the world, but will also ask the participants to include an added feature: small mementos. “Each person participating in the ABAD show has a story to share; they may have experienced a loss, or have a profoundly felt sympathy towards death. The work is very personal and the mementos extremely touching,” said Sahertian.
Sahertian’s own work turned to the topic of death when she collaborated on an artists book that expressed the plight of those buried on Hart Island – potter’s field for New York City. That work focused on the sadness behind the stories of thousands of unknown, unclaimed or indigent infants.
During her research, Patricia learned of Julie S. Lantz whose brother died in 1972 at the age of 24 and had also been buried, without the opportunity of family consent, on Hart Island. Patricia was deeply moved by the story of this Honorably Discharged Air Force Veteran, John S. Turner AF 18844546, and his sister’s efforts to have his body exhumed and brought home to Southern California. Initially Julie had been told that her brother’s remains, buried for nearly 38 years, were found, however, to her profound disappointment, a bureaucratic mistake had been made.
In addition to the long-overdue military burial Julie was trying to obtain, she wanted to include John’s personal items (his mementos) with his body. Unfortunately without John’s remains, no plot or niche could be used to bury only his things. Julie contacted the Veteran’s Administration seeking authorization to bury her brother’s items in a designated Veteran’s cemetery, but she has been rejected, citing “no remains”. She has written to Senators, Congressmen, and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs in Washington, D.C. and, as a final effort, to President Obama, all to no avail. Julie did receive authorization for a military ceremony at the Riverside National Cemetery in Southern California – these arrangements have yet to be finalized.
With the upcoming ABAD ~ Memento exhibition approaching, Patricia contacted Julie with the proposal that she would like to base her postcard entry for the show on John’s story. In addition, Julie agreed to loan all of her brother’s personal items to Patricia, who will display these mementos, in a special area of the gallery, telling the unique story of a long forgotten soul, an Air Force Veteran and a beloved brother.
For every story shared, there are millions more untold. The A Book About Death ~ Memento exhibit is dedicated to respectfully presenting these uniquely interpretive postcards and mementos from artists around the world.
###
A Book About Death ~ Memento :: Willo North Gallery, Phoenix, AZ :: Show Dates: May 3 – 28, 2011
Opening Reception: May 6, 2011, 6 – 10 p.m.
Contact: Patricia Sahertian :: patricia@thestudio-ps.com :: 602.218.6046 :: http://abad-phx.blogspot.com
Phoenix, Arizona – Artist, Patricia Sahertian, is organizing an A Book About Death ~ Memento exhibit, following the tradition started in 2009 at the Emily Harvey Foundation in New York City, which inspired a long list of international ABAD exhibitions subsequently. This show, at Willo North Gallery, owned by Kristin Shears, will not only highlight postcards from artists around the world, but will also ask the participants to include an added feature: small mementos. “Each person participating in the ABAD show has a story to share; they may have experienced a loss, or have a profoundly felt sympathy towards death. The work is very personal and the mementos extremely touching,” said Sahertian.
Sahertian’s own work turned to the topic of death when she collaborated on an artists book that expressed the plight of those buried on Hart Island – potter’s field for New York City. That work focused on the sadness behind the stories of thousands of unknown, unclaimed or indigent infants.
During her research, Patricia learned of Julie S. Lantz whose brother died in 1972 at the age of 24 and had also been buried, without the opportunity of family consent, on Hart Island. Patricia was deeply moved by the story of this Honorably Discharged Air Force Veteran, John S. Turner AF 18844546, and his sister’s efforts to have his body exhumed and brought home to Southern California. Initially Julie had been told that her brother’s remains, buried for nearly 38 years, were found, however, to her profound disappointment, a bureaucratic mistake had been made.
In addition to the long-overdue military burial Julie was trying to obtain, she wanted to include John’s personal items (his mementos) with his body. Unfortunately without John’s remains, no plot or niche could be used to bury only his things. Julie contacted the Veteran’s Administration seeking authorization to bury her brother’s items in a designated Veteran’s cemetery, but she has been rejected, citing “no remains”. She has written to Senators, Congressmen, and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs in Washington, D.C. and, as a final effort, to President Obama, all to no avail. Julie did receive authorization for a military ceremony at the Riverside National Cemetery in Southern California – these arrangements have yet to be finalized.
With the upcoming ABAD ~ Memento exhibition approaching, Patricia contacted Julie with the proposal that she would like to base her postcard entry for the show on John’s story. In addition, Julie agreed to loan all of her brother’s personal items to Patricia, who will display these mementos, in a special area of the gallery, telling the unique story of a long forgotten soul, an Air Force Veteran and a beloved brother.
For every story shared, there are millions more untold. The A Book About Death ~ Memento exhibit is dedicated to respectfully presenting these uniquely interpretive postcards and mementos from artists around the world.
###
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
First, I'm found.......... then I'm not..............
Well folks, it's now my turn to speak.............from the grave. So let me ask you? Is Hart Island the place you'd want as your final home? Is it your intention, once you've left this earth, to never have anymore human contact? To never have any flowers lain upon your head? To never celebrate a holiday, your birthday? To never have someone walk past you and recognize your existence? I sure as hell didn't and for many, many years that is how I lived my death. My sister, although I had long thought she had forgotten about me, knows my pain, and that of thousands of others. She knows what it's like to be forgotten in death, not to mention in life, and she's doing her best to rectify that.............for me and so many others. Is she out of her mind? No! Is she so full of herself that she thinks she can make a difference? No! Is she dead serious about what's doing? Absolutely!
I've been on this Island now for 39+ years, more years than I was when I found myself in this long forgotten place. Here I will stay, "ashes to ashes and dust to dust", that's what I am now. I fly around in this afterlife, along with many of my neighbors who have now become my "family", and we ask, "what the hell?". I haven't given up hope, as my sister is quite the pistol, and if I have to wait another 39 years before I can feel at peace and actually enjoy my well earned rest, that's what I'll do. I'll be back.
Remember, the dead do speak.................. and tell the truth - they've nothing more to lose after all.
John S. Turner
10/23/47-1/19/72
Hart Island, NYC
I've been on this Island now for 39+ years, more years than I was when I found myself in this long forgotten place. Here I will stay, "ashes to ashes and dust to dust", that's what I am now. I fly around in this afterlife, along with many of my neighbors who have now become my "family", and we ask, "what the hell?". I haven't given up hope, as my sister is quite the pistol, and if I have to wait another 39 years before I can feel at peace and actually enjoy my well earned rest, that's what I'll do. I'll be back.
Remember, the dead do speak.................. and tell the truth - they've nothing more to lose after all.
John S. Turner
10/23/47-1/19/72
Hart Island, NYC
Monday, March 7, 2011
You gotta start moving for movement to happen..............
Well, I'm happy to report I have finally heard from Councilman James Oddo's office regarding his continuing efforts on my behalf. Sometimes, I guess you gotta push, in a not-so-nice-way, to get results - in short, you gotta be a pain in the ass. Hopefully, the matter of John will be looked into, and the DOC will be investigated as to their irresponsible actions. So, now I wait again.
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