Life in a Quiet Hurricane | Navigating Quarantine

Together Apart.

Hey friends!

Oof, this is some timeline we’ve slipped into, hey?

I do most of my updating through my Facebook and Instagram pages, but I did feel it was important to address everything going on through here. The truth is: I’m not entirely sure how I want to navigate photo sessions right now, beyond following everything national treasures Dr. Bonnie Henry and Dr. Theresa Tam recommend. That means I’m not booking any sessions - and postponing/rescheduling booked sessions until I’m given the go ahead to do them. So far I’m just taking things one day at a time, editing work, and building community over at the Recraft Community group. Come join me there!

I’m working on some online things and worksheets, but it’s taking time because hey, the world is going through it! This is a lot to take in, and we’re all navigating trauma right now - this is a friendly reminder from me to you to be gentle with yourselves. A lot of counsellors have moved services online if you’re needing to talk with someone. B.C.’s mental health hotline is 310-6789, which you can access for free. We are in this together, we don’t need to it alone. If you’re in Chilliwack and need a hand getting groceries, essentials, etc, visit CCFC Community Cares to be set up with help. (This service is for ANYONE having difficulty getting out of the house, from seniors, those under quarantine, new parents, or people experiencing anxiety that makes it difficult to go out. If you’re struggling, please use this service.)

Hope you’re all doing ok out there. I’ll update more soon, and I’ll be working on some things online for the next while - sending love out there to all of you.

Rainbow Crosswalk for Chilliwack!

Let’s get a Rainbow Crosswalk up in Chilliwack!

I have so much to write around this, but still processing it all.

The thing most forefront in my mind is: MY HEART IS SO FULL. What a beautiful, positive event steeped in love!

Check out the article from the Chilliwack Progress here.

Check out the CTV News coverage here.

THANK YOU to everyone who spent their time, energy, funds, who generously gave their love, presence, support, good vibes, and heart to the project - and a big shout out to Amber Price for putting this all together!

More photos to come in time, but in the meantime, I’m so happy with the turn out, during a huge rainstorm, and in spite of the 5 or so protester’s who also showed up - there was just such a good energy, so much love, and I’ve received so many positive messages from those who couldn’t attend as well. Much thanks to everyone involved, especially Kate & Pam who helped assist me in the rain - here’s just a very few images from the night!

Our second photo of the evening, taken about an hour after the first image.

Rainbow Crosswalk Photo Shoot for Chilliwack!

A beautiful rainbow sunset I took over 10 years ago now on Haida Gwaii. Seemed fitting.

I am SO EXCITED to say that on Tuesday July 9th at 8 p.m. I’ll be photographing a gigantic group of amazing people - all are welcome - in order to show support for a Rainbow Crosswalk downtown. Here’s a link to the group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chilliwackrainbowcrosswalk

Here are the details from the group, organized by Amber Price from the Book Man - and there will be a petition available to sign as well to show your support. A lot of people have come together to make this event work, and you know it’s my favourite thing when people create & collaborate together and make magic. This feels pretty dang magical.

This rainbow crosswalk means so much to me - I’ve talked a lot about the power of visual language - and I think it’s so important to create a symbol of support, inclusion, love & pride in our community. There’s always more work to be done in action - but gathering in the streets and raising our voices with love seems like a pretty amazing, powerful place to start. Art HEALS - and I’ve only had to spend a minute reading some of the comments below the Chilliwack Progress article (on Facebook) to know that our community really and truly needs this. A heads up that the comments could be very triggering. I was also so heartened to see so many comments of support.

I have never been someone, even through my business, that shies away from showing support to what I’m passionate about - and I am passionate about inclusion, passionate about love, passionate about making space for people to share their stories, and spaces where they feel safe doing so. This idea spoke to my heart - and while I originally envisioned something much, much smaller, I am amazed and ecstatic to see how big of a crowd is planning to come out on Tuesday. I hope you can join us and lend your voice!

Here are the details for Tuesday:

CASTING CALL!
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WHAT: A concept photography session showing what a rainbow crosswalk would look like, surrounded by people who support the idea! Sarah Sovereign Photography will be shooting photos to capture the magic!
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WHERE/WHEN: Tuesday, July 9th at 8pm at the crosswalk at Mill Street & Wellington Avenue
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HOW: Choose a solid colour to wear from the list below. Wear as MUCH of that colour as you can! (On the event page there is a poll so you can see which colours are lagging!)
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WHO: EVERYONE! Invite anyone who is supportive of the idea! Dress up your baby, bring your grandmother, your friends, your colleagues, anyone and everyone is invited!
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MAKE A NIGHT OF IT: Frequent one of the local restaurants/pubs for a meal or a drink before/after and support local business! Or, just come for the shoot!

(Check out the Facebook group to see the event, join in discussion, and find out more!)

(re)craft retreat | create + collaborate | a creatives' weekend retreat in Trapp Lake, B.C.

I’m so excited to share with all of you that I’ll be running a small, laid back retreat! The weekend is about exploring the collaborative, creative process and reconnecting, recharging, and refocusing. Formerly known as the Creative Recharge & Refocusing Festival, (re)craft will be running for 3 days filled with a mix of photographers, models, makeup & hair artists, as well as people engaging with fabric arts, writing, drawing, meditative singing, smudging, and dancing.

This weekend is meant to be a space to create, collab, and take many a well-deserved nap.

Follow along on instagram through the weekend: @sarahsovereign

This first weekend is a pilot group - engaging with the collaborative process is one of the best ways I know how to learn, and I learn by doing - so just jumping in and then taking all the info and reflecting, constructively building, and seeing everything unfold is very much how I create - and really what the weekend is all about. Unspooling. Letting. Unfolding.

Here’s our mission statement: to gather in a safe & supportive space and engage with the creative, collaborative spirit, reflecting on why and how we create while exploring & reconnecting with the artistic processes that set our hearts on fire. allowing our creative selves to journey and experience the unfolding of new ideas, directions, and immersive conversations, both with others and within ourselves: to make art, for us, with one another, beyond the boundaries of mere survival.