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Writing to Pictures

The assemblage of images affixed to one of my office walls has always been a conversation starter. When people wander in, they usually take a moment or two to examine some of the items -- postcards, photographs, bookmarks, souvenir bags, old press passes, name badges, even my academic regalia -- to name a few. Everything is spread out over a large blue fabric-covered board, in no particular order, and individually held in place by clear pushpins. I’ve both collected and culled this visual library over the years, occasionally removing one entry and inserting another to keep the display fluid and dynamic.

I, too, enjoy looking at them, and they often provide a form of inspiration or help me in some way to focus on my work. Imagery, in fact, has been at the crux of much of my career, first as a television news producer and later during stints in higher ed communications offices, as well as at Cate School. Combining images with just the right words at just the right time produces a sweet spot of creativity for me, and generally I need to be looking at something more than a computer screen to help me get there.

By taking just a few steps out my office door, though, I can train my sights on other beautiful images -- of the living variety. The dazzle of the Mesa, set against the rocky outcrops of the Santa Ynez Mountains, greets me instantly, giving me enough of nature’s technicolor glory to set my mind in motion. And that’s worked for years -- six, in fact -- which is how long I’ve been putting together Cate’s story in words and pictures, and occasionally in video.

The invigoration required for creativity has an arc, I’ve found, and so now I’m off to tell other stories and allow someone new to step in and tell Cate’s. So I’ll disassemble my board, slowly, and put all my images into a large packet. They will find a new home at some future date -- one I can only hope will be as rich with visuals, ideas, and inspiration.

This story appeared in the Cate School Bulletin, Summer 2017. Photo by Ashleigh Mower.