I’d like to recognize and commemorate a teacher who changed my life.
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A pioneering filmmaker, artist, and activist instrumental in defining the Feminist Art Movement, Susan Kleckner was my first teacher in New York City.
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I took her class “A Roll A Day” at the International Center of Photography (ICP) a couple of months after arriving in New York. I was a writer at the time. The best way to experience the city was to make something in it, and writing in Hebrew was not ideal for immersing myself in what I sensed was happening around me. Taking a photography class, I could sidestep the language barrier and participate.
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As the name “A Roll A Day” may imply, this was a long time ago.
For three months, we had to shoot a whole roll of film (look it up) every day, whether we felt like it or not. From each day, we chose one image to print, and for each week, we chose one picture to enlarge. In class, we looked at those and reflected.
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It was easy in the beginning. I was full of great ideas for beautiful, touching, clever pictures. About two weeks in, I ran out of ideas. It was still a-roll-a-day, even if it meant loading my camera at the end of the day and just clicking and advancing until the roll was done.
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It took a couple more weeks to notice, but that was when the magic happened. My author-ego tired out, and in its place, an authentic voice - and look - emerged. The pictures I just took to complete my daily roll held a raw beauty that the ones I took on purpose just didn’t.
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With the daily practice, the technical aspect of making an image melted into the background and made space for flow. The camera becomes an extension of your body, as Susanne described it. Where before I was taking pictures, now I just was. I started seeing with my hand and feeling color with my body (which I still do; thank you, Susanne, for giving me the words and permission).Simply showing up yielded results beyond any big plan I could have conceived. It was not only easier, it was more powerful.
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I recently learned Susan Kleckner died 13 summers ago. I am thankful for having had the privilege to cross paths with her and share in her light.
I did get to (couldn’t help but) thank her in person right there and then in 1997.
Her gift is as present and vivid in my life today, 26 years later.
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While I deeply value the knowledge and insights Susan often shared, the most valuable lesson she taught me (and I trust she was well aware) was not necessarily what or how to do. She taught me to JUST BE. Susan gave me flow. And she did that in an unassuming, a-roll-a-day kind of way <3
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Worlds Teacher Day is October 5.
What teacher (formal or informal) will you celebrate?
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​I took the image at the top at A Roll A Day.
​Here are some more pictures I took around that time
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When did simply being get you more powerful outcomes than trying hard?
How come? How did it feel? How can it boost your impact as a leader?
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Reply with your observations. I read and respond to every email.
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