Mother's Prayer: Bilingual Book and Photographic Exhibition
60 years of Cottage Life in the Eastern Townships: East Bolton, Quebec, Canada.
By: Michael Cichon
“When the foundations of our home begin to shift, sentiments try to repair and maintain the constructs of memory until, eventually, the structure must be torn down. Then, the human spirit must either arise and rebuild or die. “
Michael Cichon
Josie Cichon, who was born on Oct 25th 1940 during a severe snowstorm, recently turned 80. Forty years after her husband’s death she still works maintaining the country house and property she bought in East Bolton, Quebec. Her husband was sick and the property was bought “in case they had to live off the land”. In 2005 her son, Michael Cichon, returned from Vancouver where he had a tea shop, and helped her demolish the family cottage that housed so many rich memories. Every weekend was devoted to helping his mother maintain the property.
He saw his mother struggling like Job in the old Testament; ever so faithful and devout despite the physical and emotional hardships she suffered. Collaborating with his mother, together they explored physical, emotional and mental landscapes in a combination of documentary and tableau photography. Over the years, Mr. Cichon edited and curated the images into a cohesive story and exhibition that he presented to his mother for her 80th birthday: an homage to her resilience and survival. The exhibit and book focuses on the years from 2005 to the present day, and is presented as a prayer and photo essay.
