Image of the Week: Community
© Durga Yael Bernhard
This illustration was originally commissioned to represent a religious community. Interestingly, it was licensed a second time to be used on the cover of a CD – a compilation of life stories told by the elder members of a community here in the Catskills. In a unique intergenerational project, the recordings were done as a series of interviews conducted by local high school students. I loved the idea, and in order to help support the project I charged very little for use of the art.
Community, whether faith-based or not, is about people gathering together who share values, walk the same forests, breathe the same air, drink from the same watershed. Each person has a story, and each story is a thread in the fabric of the community. The elders who told their tales on this CD painted a picture of the history of the central Catskills, and how the communities here formed. Certainly religion played a vital role, as the entire region was predominately Christian when these old folks were growing up. The teens who interviewed them learned what it was like to grow up in WWII, to immigrate from a foreign country, to move upstate from the city or vacation in what was once known as the "borscht belt." They learned the native American origins of the names of local towns. They learned about early 20th century industries in the region. Tanneries abounded, as hemlock bark from Catskill forests were used to tan leather. Bluestone quarries provided cobblestones to pave the streets of Manhattan. Land was cleared for farming and timber was sold for construction. Hunting, ginseng foraging, and recreation brought tourists to these mountains renowned for their pastoral beauty and shimmering afternoon light. All these stories are embedded in the Hudson River school of painting; in old architecture left behind from a century ago; and in the memories of the people who lived out their lives here.
I've often heard people say religion has done more harm than good in this world, being the flashpoint in conflicts that have led to devastating wars. I beg to differ, for in between those wars have been long stretches of peace – good times in which faith communities have flourished, enabling collectives of people to cooperate and thrive. What a beautiful thing, and what an abiding positive contribution to the world! Whether it's a cultural tradition, a passion for protecting the environment, or a belief in a code of ethics, commonly-held values bind people together.
I tried not to reveal what characterizes the community shown above. The people's faces aren't filled in, nor are their occupations – other than raising children and dwelling on the land. Diversity and tolerance were also important themes – to both clients who used this illustration.
At its best, a community is like an enlarged family. It's something we yearn for and strive to share, which is why such a simple representation of the concept can speak to so many different people.
I had fun with this illustration! Who knows – maybe someday it will be licensed again for a whole different purpose. It can also be printed as a poster or greeting card. See links below.
A good week to all,