In Memory of Susan Denise Atkins-Whitehouse
Susan's Windows to the World
In Susan's works
The Dove's Nest Newsletters A Collection of Christian Newsletters
by Susan Atkins-Whitehouse,
Susan tells us that she had been studying art since 1996.
Susan had taken a watercolor class in 1996,
and "fell in love" with it.
Susan tells us of the different mediums she learned to use,
as well as the different artistic categories
she learned to create in.
In Susan's works
The Dove's Nest Newsletters A Collection of Christian Newsletters
by Susan Atkins-Whitehouse,
Susan tells us that she had been studying art since 1996.
Susan had taken a watercolor class in 1996,
and "fell in love" with it.
Susan tells us of the different mediums she learned to use,
as well as the different artistic categories
she learned to create in.
Susan illustrated a series which she called
"Windows 2000, I, II, & III.
Susan reproduced this artwork in her book,
in miniature, in black & white.
Susan explains her works;
"'The Windows 2000, I, II, & III" series is shown
at the top of this letter in miniature.
Hopefully this will help you to understand
what the series is about;
it's three views or "windows" from my cell.
The first is the view
looking out the barred window between the bunk beds.
The second is a view of the room
reflected in the gray screen of the little TV.
The third is the view of the tiny "wicket" in the cell door,
looking across the hall to another cell.
On the back of each piece is a short biography
and a short description of what inspired me to make the piece.
It is my hope that this "Windows 2000" series
will be used to reach young people,
and that it will help them make better life-choices
and help them think about the consequences of their actions.
It is truly a horrible thing to see young people in this prison
who have made poor choices and who will likely be paying
for those choices for the rest of their lives"
(From The Dove's Nest Newsletters A Collection of Christian Newsletters
by Susan Atkins-Whitehouse)
"Windows 2000, I, II, & III.
Susan reproduced this artwork in her book,
in miniature, in black & white.
Susan explains her works;
"'The Windows 2000, I, II, & III" series is shown
at the top of this letter in miniature.
Hopefully this will help you to understand
what the series is about;
it's three views or "windows" from my cell.
The first is the view
looking out the barred window between the bunk beds.
The second is a view of the room
reflected in the gray screen of the little TV.
The third is the view of the tiny "wicket" in the cell door,
looking across the hall to another cell.
On the back of each piece is a short biography
and a short description of what inspired me to make the piece.
It is my hope that this "Windows 2000" series
will be used to reach young people,
and that it will help them make better life-choices
and help them think about the consequences of their actions.
It is truly a horrible thing to see young people in this prison
who have made poor choices and who will likely be paying
for those choices for the rest of their lives"
(From The Dove's Nest Newsletters A Collection of Christian Newsletters
by Susan Atkins-Whitehouse)
The three pieces Susan created and speaks of,
her "Windows 2000" series,
allows us a perspective of what
Susan's windows to the world were,
what they looked like to her,
what they meant for her,
and how badly she wants to keep others away
from the same view.
A perspective unheard of,
A perspective brand new.
Susan really didn't need to explain what she created,
the desolation is apparent;
the heartbreak is obvious.
Susan's work is a reminder of what could be
for someone who makes poor choices.
This is easily seen in Susan's Windows 2000 series.
The cold finality of a prison cell is evident in Susan's work.
her "Windows 2000" series,
allows us a perspective of what
Susan's windows to the world were,
what they looked like to her,
what they meant for her,
and how badly she wants to keep others away
from the same view.
A perspective unheard of,
A perspective brand new.
Susan really didn't need to explain what she created,
the desolation is apparent;
the heartbreak is obvious.
Susan's work is a reminder of what could be
for someone who makes poor choices.
This is easily seen in Susan's Windows 2000 series.
The cold finality of a prison cell is evident in Susan's work.
We are stirred by Susan's artwork
of the small television set that reflects Susan's
cell in the screen of the TV,
Susan called this work 'Windows 2000 II'
It is an old style TV with antennae,
small enough to be picked up.
When the television was on,
Susan could see the world
beyond the walls that confined her.
When the television was off,
as it is in Susan's artwork,
Susan could see in the reflection
the walls that entombed her,
as well as the barred window between the bunk beds;
Susan's world.
Also in the reflection is a book upon
the neatly made bottom bunk.
Though it's not obvious,
it's Susan's bible,
her most significant window.
You may think Susan didn't mention it,
but she did,
by showing it to us in the reflection of her television.
Susan left it for us to discover,
in more ways than one.
We think it's brilliant.
of the small television set that reflects Susan's
cell in the screen of the TV,
Susan called this work 'Windows 2000 II'
It is an old style TV with antennae,
small enough to be picked up.
When the television was on,
Susan could see the world
beyond the walls that confined her.
When the television was off,
as it is in Susan's artwork,
Susan could see in the reflection
the walls that entombed her,
as well as the barred window between the bunk beds;
Susan's world.
Also in the reflection is a book upon
the neatly made bottom bunk.
Though it's not obvious,
it's Susan's bible,
her most significant window.
You may think Susan didn't mention it,
but she did,
by showing it to us in the reflection of her television.
Susan left it for us to discover,
in more ways than one.
We think it's brilliant.
Susan showed us the windows
through which she saw the world.
It's our hope the value
of Susan's foresight in doing so
has shone new light on many.
Truly,
a picture is worth a thousand words...
home
through which she saw the world.
It's our hope the value
of Susan's foresight in doing so
has shone new light on many.
Truly,
a picture is worth a thousand words...
home
