THOMAS, W.Va. – Standing on one leg and hanging onto his tripod on a hillside in Canaan Valley, local photographer Joseph Henry told the story of how he captured the image titled, “Spring at Wildlife Refuge.”
“I nearly lost my equipment,” he said with a laugh.
Henry’s photograph along with 13 other scenic images was unveiled during a ceremony held at the Blackwater Short-term Rehabilitation Center of Cortland Acres on Wednesday, Oct. 10. More than 35 people attended the event.
“These 14 photographic art pieces depicting the scenic beauty of the local region will be on display during the next year for our residents, staff and community to enjoy,” said Cortland Acres Administrator Beth Clevenger. “Next September Cortland Acres will again collaborate with the Tucker County Photography Club and ask artists to donate images. At that time these existing 40×60 canvas prints will be auctioned off with all proceeds benefiting the Cortland Foundation.”
Other winning photographers include: “Keepers of the Health” by Ed Rehbein, “Autumn at Blackwater Falls” by George Fletcher, “Heading Home” by Jay Gartenhaus, “Douglas Falls” by Bobbie Swan, “Elakala Falls” by Vernon Patterson, “Bear Rocks Sunrise” by Arthur Harvey, “A Burst of Autumn – Bear Rocks” by Frankie Kenneth, “Autumn Glory” by Kevin King, “Second Falls on Shay Run” by John Willson, “Big Run” by Brian Peterson, “Sand Run Lake” by David Miller, “Blackwater River” by Sarah Hampton and “Seneca Rocks” by Jeremy Chapman.
Cortland Acres Development Director Bucher said it was Foundation Board Member Sherm Jarrett who came up with the idea.
“We invited local photographer and Tucker County Club President David Miller to tour the new facility,” Bucher said. “We looked at all the blank wall space and David had all kinds of ideas. That was really the catalyst and what got us started on this project.”
Miller said as he talked with Jarrett, Bucher and other members of the photography club, it was decided to broaden the efforts and invite other photographers to consider donating images of the local region.
“I was thrilled by the outcome and with the number of entries,” Miller said. “We knew we couldn’t be the ones choosing the winners so we asked professional photographer Randy Sanger to judge the 111 entries from 30 photographers.”
Sanger said that narrowing down the choices from 111 to 14 was a very difficult task.
“They gave me a few guidelines but it boiled down to ‘dang I wish that image was mine,’” Sanger said. “I went with what I thought best represented the region and would look good on canvas. I wish there was more wall space.”
Sarah Hampton of Princeton took the first print unveiled by Bucher and Sanger during the ceremony. She said she took the Blackwater River photo nearly two years ago.
“I had passed that spot on the bridge three times that day,” she said. “On the fourth time I decided to stop and take the photo. I had just completed Randy’s photograph workshop and was on my way out of town.
“I consider it to be a huge honor to have one of the 14 images choose for this display.”
The community is invited to stop by the new Blackwater Short-term Rehabilitation Center of Cortland Acres and view the art pieces.
Other photographers who submitted entries include: Toby Werthammer, Jason Lemley, Gerri Wilson, Mary Ann Honcharik, Jesse Thornton, Sharon Dalton, Wanda Crossland, John Krout, Beth Spencer, Kathryn Davis, Shirley A. Carr, Jo Gingras, Sandra Miller, Dan Sved, Shane Holsclaw, Rick Morrison and Teresa D. Mason.
The Cortland Acres campus includes a 94-bed long-term care facility, a new short-term rehabilitation center, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation programs, rental apartments in Pineview and townhouses in The Pines. For more information call 304-463-4181 or visit www.cortlandacres.org.
