Altered Horizons 38

Altered Horizons 38 Robin Botie of Ithaca, New York, photoshops fabricated landscapes in dealing with depression and coping with grief and loss.

In the next year or two I will move away from my house by Moonbeckon Pond. The thing I will miss most is my view of the sparkling pond right outside the large south-facing windows. A hundred times each day, my eyes rest on that sight; from the early morning light until the darkness of nighttime, the sight of that pond calms me. The place I will move to has no water features. The landscape consists of row upon row of attached houses and parking areas. When I no longer have my pond to gaze upon, in order to soothe my sore eyes, I will need to have created landscapes to hang on my new walls.

Although this scene was collaged in Photoshop using items of sentimental value—a foreground made up of several shots of my kids’ old dog-robot toy, a sky crafted from grillwork in Australia’s Old Melbourne Jail, a moon that is from the bottom of a bowl of my mother’s that’s been with me over half a century, and a frame pieced together from drainage strips on the doorstep of my current beloved home—this is not the landscape that will settle my soul.

Altered Horizons 38

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8 thoughts on “Altered Horizons 38

  1. Lynne Taetzsch

    Robin, you sound very sad at the thought of leaving your home. I hope there will be other benefits to your move that make it worthwhile.

    I think about moving from my present home every winter, but I’m still here. Ambivalence.

    Reply
    1. Robin Botie Post author

      Well, Lynne, after much thought I realized that it wasn’t the house or the space that I’d miss. It’s the land, and specifically the pond. I’ve always lived near water. I’ve built three ponds now. There’s something bigger than I understand about this pull to be by the water. There isn’t even a water fountain where I’m considering. Hopefully I could build a small coy pond on the patio where I’m thinking of going, hopefully that would be enough. But the benefit of community seems to outweigh the pull of the pond. This time I really want to be among people. However, I could be like you and still be here every winter. Will know more as we get to springtime. I hope. Cheers!

      Reply
    1. Robin Botie Post author

      Hi Suzanne. I’m still hanging on to the option of living out my days here. But recently I heard, from a couple I’ve hiked with for years, words I’ve been longing to hear, “Why don’t you come along with us when we move?” Since giving up my beloved job and workplace community, I have long been craving community and more presence of people in my life. Not just once or twice a month type of people encounters. After taking a few tours of Kendal with my friends, I decided that finding a peopled place in Ithaca (rather than moving south) would allow me to keep my friends and support groups here. Also, as a single person living here, keeping up the grounds, and the house, and the garage apartment rental, is getting harder all the time. Especially during a winter like this one where my tenant decided to spend the season in Florida and I’ve been working hard to shovel snow up after the plow and keep pipes from freezing. Living in Kendal is looking more and more attractive to me. But first I’m going to see how it all goes for my friends who will make the move much sooner than I would. They will also be giving up their big beautiful house and grounds and pond. It might be different if I had a big amazing family coming and going around here. Today community is winning over pond. But nothing will be set in stone until I’ve had three more summers at Moonbeckon Pond. I think I can hold out until then.

      Reply
  2. Lucy Bergström

    Dear Robin,
    What a good idea to concentrate on making soothing images if you have to leave your pond house. Your post-industrial art won’t cut it. Maybe some of your old Silk Oak prints will make it onto the walls of your new home, along with photos of nature and water.
    Love, Lucy

    Reply
    1. Robin Botie Post author

      It’s a real challenge, Lucy. I’m gonna focus on water this spring for my new fabricated landscapes. But yes, I already have chosen a few of my most cheerful Silk Oak posters to hang in my new place.

      Reply
    1. Robin Botie Post author

      Still in Ithaca, Susan. If I were to move to Florida you’d be one of the first to know about it. As it is, I hope this move will allow me to spend a month in Florida or some other nice warm place every winter once I no longer have to monitor and tend to frozen pipes and driveway needing plowing. Maybe this will be the summer YOU get to come visit me here. I’m expecting to have three more summers here before I give up the pond and place. So come soon. Hugs!

      Reply

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