A Personal Journey of Years (Part 3)

The idea that our (Aberjhani's and mine) work fit together like puzzle pieces was accurate and marvelous. In one way, however, it was incomplete because the work the two of us have done is only part of something much larger. The greater puzzle of universal wisdom and beauty that we have strived to honor through our work includes the profound legacies of world artistic and spiritual traditions, the innate integrity of human communities where people seek to live in social harmony, and that regenerative stream of life sustained upon the earth itself as it spins through the cosmos to the music of the spheres.



It also embraces such simple and yet essential things as the psychic nourishment received from family and friends while growing up; and the welcoming kindness received from "strangers" when venturing forth into the world. I could not have known years ago as a child that my Cousin Ozena would, as of 2008, maintain a presence on this planet for 100 years and that the inspiration and motivation she inspires would one day reveal itself as an important part of the puzzle. And yet there it is, quietly demonstrating patience, love, and power through the image titled Memories, Ozena.



Over the fifteen years that have passed since that initial article on ELEMENTAL appeared in The Georgia Guardian, the project has received the blessings of many who raised their voices and exercised their influence in support of it. We gratefully identify as many of these as we can in the acknowledgments section. One of the most extraordinary pieces in the greater puzzle of the ELEMENTAL saga fell into place when the Telfair Museum committee, the Friends of African American Arts, took it upon themselves to raise the monies necessary to produce a book of this substance and quality. They did so by appealing to the public for its assistance, and the public, primarily citizens of Savannah, responded with an outpouring of compassion, recognition, and generosity. In short, the city of Savannah chose to champion two artists born of its own culturally rich soil and by doing so participated in the manifestation of a unique creative vision.



The final pieces of the larger puzzle can only be provided by the hearts and minds of those who give the book their attention by sitting down with it, spending time with the images, and reading the poems. Many, though not all, will likely discover it is not a book they will want to read through all at once but may wish to revisit many times. My hope is that as you turn from one page to the next, you will not only share in the personal journey of years it has taken two artists to reach this point. Hopefully, you will glimpse something of your own life's journey and with Elemental's Power of Illuminated Love, possibly recognize and celebrate something you had not been able to recognize or celebrate before.



Luther E. Vann