As my spring break comes to a close =[ I wanted to share some photos from my trip to the FDR Presidential Library in Hyde Park, New York. I found a lot on my project, which was spread throughout multiple boxes containing homestead propaganda to personal correspondence of the president himself. I spent the day in the archives boiling my brain in search of the right material to answer a few open ends I had concerning the project--Almost all of which I was able to locate.

I also came across something that raised my interest a great

deal

that could make for a topic of exploration for a master's Thesis. It is perhaps a bit early to say that though. Aside from slaving in the archives for hours we took advantage of the many exhibits at the library.Special thanks to my Co-pilot for hanging in there, and knowing how to run a copier machine.

More on what I found in the archives to come. I'm in the thick of writing the main body of the thesis now.

My spring break started Wednesday, it has been more or less than I have imagined. I got home Thursday to find my father and grandfather at work cleaning up after a bad wind storm. I got my work boots on after my 11 hour car ride home to help the work effort. This was a multiple day task, and is still in progress today.. The backyard was a complete mess.

After working to cut up and feed the brush into a chipper I smelled like lysol, which wasn't a bad thing. I also remember the smell from playing in the 'pine forest'-as I called it-as a kid.

This weekend I drove to Charlottesville to look for an apartment for next year. My mother and I looked at several examples houses, apartments, condos, garages...There were multiple living situations both with and without roommates. Some good possibilities were found. I also was able to update the decals on my car.

Tomorrow I am leaving for Hyde Park, New York. It is home to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and has all of the FDR and Eleanor paper collections. These are especially going to be important for my thesis and will hopefully provide me with the last threads I need to complete my thesis. I'll keep you updated. I plan to be back in WV by midweek to finish out my Spring Break. More to come soon.

This is my photo final project I look forward to hearing your criticism.

"A SACRED AUSTERITY"

By: Bradley Allen

Artist Statement:

The austerity of illness can be remedied best by another. . When both the sadness and helplessness have taken control-What can one do when they are forced to handle the problems of illness alone?

How does one reach for help when communication to another human isn’t an option?

Do they pray? Hope? Do they rely on faith alone?

When the most painful images are also the most sacred how can we find relief going through the motions alone? In all those trying and desperate moments there is something of the sacred. The idea of man’s survival illustrated. These are the moments in time all people

in all places can understand. They are Notions that break down borders, languages, races, and religions.

The Sacred Austerity is that of humanity.

It is the first person struggle for existence.

A point in time when we alone must choose life.

'...Not Just a burn-a pain. Mind transfixed, head dizzy, colors contrasting, smells of sterility. As if your intestines had just given the longest speech of their life and can't swallow. A thirst a fluttering skin crawl. A pulse in panic and a heat in your eyes that others can feel at a glance. A deep soreness that makes you question what ocean you're in. Pressure. A complete boredom-as if you're on a bus for survival with motion sickness in a chair that isn't paddedand won't recline. Your body and mind are exhausted and your only comfort comes from a needle or a drip, whose cold burns awaken you. Your thoughts burn, your repetitive dreams become your endlessnightmares, and when all you want is a way out of the thing you're fighting for the most...'

-From my own 'Journal xii' Barcelona, Spain.