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Anne Silver Mondinot's avatar

So much of what you write here resonates with me. We are all an anthology of stories, those that we share and those we hold close to our hearts. Tapping into beauty, turning pain into art, is a way of making sense of what we went through. It can become a sort of survivor mission. That's powerful medicine! Those are the reasons why I feel compelled to make art and to write and why I'm drawn to other artists who do the same. I'm driven by a need to make meaning and to create something beautiful from loss. It's a way of achieving wholeness.

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Manuela Thames's avatar

Your eloquent words express my thoughts exactly! Thank you, Anne!

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Andrea Chapman's avatar

I love this Manuela, you write beautifully. I've just finished a piece of writing on art and healing so it was really lovely to read your thoughts on a similar topic. Thank you for sharing.

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Manuela Thames's avatar

Thank you so much! I would love to read your thoughts on this topic if you ever want to share.

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Shital Morjaria (she/her)'s avatar

Beautiful Manuela. Deep, thought provoking and heart warming.

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Manuela Thames's avatar

Thank you so much!

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Juliette's avatar

I am absolutely sharing this. I wanted to restack almost every sentence! Beautifully written, Manuela and your photos are stunning! This kind of post is so important and represents for me all what I try to impart when I write. Thank you for putting it so eloquently.

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Manuela Thames's avatar

Thank you for saying so.

Can’t wait to catch up with your writings. I am a bit behind.

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DWIGHT HOLDEN's avatar

Manuela, I am definitely one of those who connects deeply with your images and words. I found you through Santa Fe Workshops. It has been an honor to meet you, learn from you, and be inspired by you.

I’ve been through devastating illness, loss, and pain. I have worked hard to come far with my healing. Photography has been my most intense passion to find my voice and share with others. It has been essential to share my darkness and despair, but that is not my sum total. It’s where I start, but I’m on a journey. Even in the darkness, I always search for hope and light. Darkness and light cannot exist without both.

Coming from my workshop with you, and other meaningful photographers, and my fellow students, I learn. All that I feel stirs deeply within me. It will encourage and enhance me to create art that I need to be real and raw and honest and growing.

Thank you for your gift that you share.

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Manuela Thames's avatar

Dwight, it has been an honor to meet you, too! You have a lot to share through your art.

Your words mean a lot.

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