(All images are portions of the painting ‘Art Heart’. Copyright Greg Spalenka)

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”
~Thomas Merton

One early Friday morning in June of 2006, the 23rd to be exact, I awoke early and posted a Friday Favorite on artist Greg Spalenka. I had long admired his art and was especially enamored of the image that I opened the profile with, his collage/painting Art Heart. I didn’t have any particular reason for choosing to feature Spalenka’s work that day, it just felt right. Little did I know how right that feeling would turn out to be.

I published the post and then headed off to work. Soon after arriving I checked to see if anyone had seen the post yet and then spent a few minutes cruising around the (then few) sites I frequented daily. My first stop was the community blog of Jenn See, Mysfit, and Old Ben: Following My Fish. It was at that moment that the internet world changed for me. Jenn See had passed away suddenly and inexplicably the previous night.

The trio at Following My Fish, Jenn See and Mysfit in particular, had become an instrumental part of my blogging life and thus my life in general. I stumbled across their site at an early stage in my blogging, one in which I was contemplating letting it all go. This was the first non-author, non-famous-person site that I had come across that was doing the kind of things I wanted to do with my blog. I found three kindred spirits that day.

From that time on, Following My Fish was a part of who I was as a blogger. Jenn See in particular was very inspirational for me. Her photography (found on Tourist of Everything), her writing, and her view on life and the common interests that we all shared was refreshing and enlightening and, as I mentioned, inspiring. Jenn See and Mysfit both exhibited the courage to express themselves artistically and it meant so much to me to see them doing that. They were both very encouraging to me all along the way.

And then suddenly that was all gone. I had not known how strongly the bonds of friendship could be forged through an electronic medium. I learned that day. I went into much more detail about this in these posts that first weekend (here and here). I encourage you to read both of those posts to get a better idea of my thoughts on this loss and the nature of internet relationships in general.

I lost three people that day. Jenn See (Jennifer), of course, but I also lost the relationships formed with Mysfit and Old Ben. Understandably their loss was much greater and more tragic than mine and a return to the blogging community has proved too painful even now.

Last year, at the one year anniversary of Jennifer’s death, I posted a tribute for her that included a handful of her amazing photographs. Around that same time the Philadelphia Inquirer posted an article about Jennifer that also delved into the nature of relationships formed online. You can read more about that here.

On this second anniversary of Jennifer’s passing (which was Sunday, June 22nd…computer problems and a planned trip home necessitated I postpone this one week) I wanted to do something different, something more proactive…something in the spirit of the inspiration that Jennifer gave to me.

After Jennifer’s death her family and friends got together to create a scholarship in her honor.

Jan-Ai: The Jennifer Cakert Scholarship Foundation “provides financial support through scholarships, mini grants, and simple on-the-spot cash awards as incentive for other young artists—especially those constrained by financial or other barriers—to pursue their dreams in their creative fields, offering formal recognition of a young individual’s worthwhile goals.”

“Art is much less important than life, but what a poor life without it.”
~Robert Motherwell

Jennifer Cakert was an artist and approached life that way, gathering inspiration from all that was around her…from life itself…and she used the avenues at her disposal–photography, poetry, her blog–to express her thoughts, dreams, desires, etc. It is something I believe we all have the ability to do in some form or other. Some have a passion to go beyond, to pursue their art through schooling, and those of us who went to college know just how expensive that can be.

The Jan-Ai Scholarship Fund does its small part to encourage and assist young people to follow the path of their creative dreams.

For those of you who have been with me over the past 3 years, you know I don’t fund raise. I believe in many great causes and do my part and always work under the assumption that you all do as well. I say this to inform you that you won’t find me here later asking for money for another cause. It is sacred ground that I choose not to touch.

One of the things I love most to do with my site is to promote artists and authors whose work inspires me. These authors and artists started at the same place that many of our young people are today–they had a passion that they just had to pursue. To honor that spirit, which lives on strong even after Jennifer’s passing, I want to spend this week holding a fundraiser for the Jan-Ai Scholarship Fund.

All throughout the coming week I will feature artist interviews and artist profiles. Many of these artists have donated items expressly for this scholarship drive, including Greg Spalenka.

When I learned of Jennifer’s passing I instantly associated the Art Heart image of Greg Spalenka with her–firstly because I had only moments ago posted about his work, but secondly because ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ and that image so perfectly represents what I think of Jennifer’s life and the creativity that lies in the heart of each and every one of us.

When I decided to do this fundraiser I emailed Greg Spalenka and he donated two signed Art Heart prints (a third I purchased for myself). It is an incredible 24 X 36 poster that looks great framed:

Ours decorates our bedroom. These two signed posters are two of several items that will be given away at the end of the week at random for those who donate to the scholarship fund.

I don’t care what you give! If everyone who reads this site gave a dollar we would raise a few hundred dollars for the fund. I am not going to high pressure sell you or twist your arm. You don’t owe me anything at all and if you cannot give, choose to direct your giving elsewhere, or in any way feel guilty or obligated then please don’t feel bad. It is okay, really.

And let me make this clear, if you do give I don’t want to know how much you individually gave. It doesn’t matter to me. At the end of the week I hope that all the donations, whether it be a couple of dollars, five dollars, or more, end up to a nice amount that can give at least one young person a helping hand in pursuing their creative dreams. That is what this is all about.

“The secret of life is in art.”
~Oscar Wilde

You can give in one of two ways:

Via Paypal to the scholarship’s account: cak8473 (at) comcast (dot) net [using the at symbol and period in place of the words in quotes, of course]

or via snail mail at:

Jan-Ai Scholarship Fund
P.O. Box 8068
Atlantic City, NJ 08406

You can also send Jennifer’s mother Cynthia an email at the same address as the Paypal account if you would like to pledge something at this time but cannot give during this fund raising week. I would only ask that you set a deadline for your pledge to be sent and give that to Cynthia in the email.

100% of your donations will go towards the scholarship fund and you will get receipts for your giving if you need them for taxes.

Cynthia asked me to mention that the current website is a placeholder. A new website that will include, among other things, a donation button that will allow online donation to be a much simpler process, will be up and running soon.

(Jennifer Cakert)

If you choose to give, please send me an email at cvincent68 (at) comcast (dot) net to let me know you have given/pledged. Doing so will add your name to the list for the random prize drawings at the end of the week.

In addition to the autographed posters from Greg Spalenka there will be personalized/autographed works from previous Etsy Week artists (and upcoming interviewees) Jennifer Gordon, Anne-Julie Aubry, Rachael Direnna, and more.

“Art is not a thing; it is a way.”
~Elbert Hubbard

I look forward to this week of honoring the memory of Jennifer Cakert by interviewing the kind of creators that remind me of her and the work that she did. I also encourage you to spend time on the Following My Fish site during the week randomly checking out some of the trio’s wonderful posts.

From her last post: “…so i will spend the next few days reveling in the past & in memories, collecting myself in the present, & looking to the future…which promises many new things & much Change, along with all that comes with these things.”

Jennifer Cakert: March 20, 1980–June 22, 2006