CHERYLE ST. ONGE

Calling The Birds Home

When my mother left her body, I left her bedroom,

both of us changing quickly.

I set out on a long run, sucking down air and blowing out tears.

Did I think that I would see some semblance of her

 in the blurred cadence of sky and trees? 

Certainly, and I have been looking ever since.

My mother was also an artist, first a painter, and in mid-life she began carving sculptures of birds from wood.  As the dementia

advanced my mother’s capacity declined, but aspects of her enthusiasm remained.  She knew every bird call, every feather, and

could recollect the feeding and flight patterns of her native New England species.  The myriad sketchbooks, maps, and atlases in

her studio gave little aid to navigation once her words and sentence structure fell away.  Alas her exquisite final offering of love

was her collaboration in the making of these photographs.  She gave her best, I gave mine; it was an excruciatingly beautiful

exchange of emotional currency.  By sharing our evolving relationship and the ethereal nature of birds, the pictures became our

call to the universe, and joyful sightings of birds, its response.

These twelve 20x16 inch gelatin silver prints were produced by Ross Kiah in collaboration with Cheryle St. Onge at Palm Press, Inc.

in an edition of 25 plus six artist proofs and one printer proof. Each archivally processed print is signed verso by the artist. These

images are printed on Ilford Glossy Fiber-Base paper and boxed in a handmade folio by Hope Bindery. Designed by Ben Walker.

Published in 2023