From the preface by Elizabeth Opalenik

 

Each teacher was asked to tell a workshop story that influenced or inspired them personally—involving colleagues, peers, or students—whether funny, poignant, profound, or sad. These authentic stories are universal, and in them we find ourselves. More broadly, the goal of this book is not only to preserve memorable workshop experiences, but also to share the varied and unique images of the photographers who contributed their talents and expertise to these institutions. 

 

I am honored and humbled by how the connections and threads of workshops were spun to create a community that shared, laughed and learned together. People were hungry for knowledge in the early days of workshops. There may have been masters and students, but there were no divides when it came to sharing. 

 

The first request on Valentine’s Day 2020 soon became a tenacious undertaking in the middle of a pandemic as everyone’s life became upended. 

 

Who knew how quickly our world would change? Perhaps it was symbolic of the way workshops often altered people’s lives in the course of a single week.

 

As a visitor to this site, you may have been a student of one of these teachers and were inspired and changed by the experience! We hope that you will decide to include this volume in your personal collection and consider it as a gift for friends and family.