In Memory of Susan Denise Atkins-Whitehouse
In Susan's Eyes
The title of Susan's work
Child of Satan, Child of God
(by Susan Atkins with Bob Slosser)
was not Susan's choice, nor did she like it.
The title of Susan's work
Child of Satan, Child of God
(by Susan Atkins with Bob Slosser)
was not Susan's choice, nor did she like it.
This work contains photos of Susan from the early 1970's,
taken during her first years of incarceration.
taken during her first years of incarceration.
Also in this work are photographs of Susan as a child.
It is difficult to look at these photos and not grieve,
knowing what lies ahead for Susan.
She was a lovely young lady.
One of the photographs is of Susan
when she was 13 years old.
It is a school photo,
Susan is looking directly at the camera.
Susan explains in her work that
this photo was taken the same year
her mother was diagnosed as terminal,
and not even the school photographer could coax a smile out of her.
As beautiful as Susan is in the photo,
smile or not,
it's a heartbreaking photo.
It's more than just a picture of a pretty 13 year old girl.
In Susan's eyes is all that her life was about to become,
a girl about to embark on a journey into black.
It is difficult to look at these photos and not grieve,
knowing what lies ahead for Susan.
She was a lovely young lady.
One of the photographs is of Susan
when she was 13 years old.
It is a school photo,
Susan is looking directly at the camera.
Susan explains in her work that
this photo was taken the same year
her mother was diagnosed as terminal,
and not even the school photographer could coax a smile out of her.
As beautiful as Susan is in the photo,
smile or not,
it's a heartbreaking photo.
It's more than just a picture of a pretty 13 year old girl.
In Susan's eyes is all that her life was about to become,
a girl about to embark on a journey into black.
