A Journey of Sadaqah and Gratitude
May 22, 2023
Volunteering is a powerful way to give back to the community and make a positive impact on the lives of others. Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to volunteer my craft and skills with an organization called Community Capital Fund. The occasion was a breakfast event dedicated to honoring the community’s impactful initiatives supported by the Neighborhood Rising Fund. The Neighborhood Rising Fund (NRF) is an inclusive grant program run by Community Capital Fund KC, that fosters collaboration and provides financial support for innovative community projects and initiatives focused on revitalizing neighborhoods This experience not only allowed me to showcase my photography skills by capturing their event, but it also opened my eyes to the remarkable people in the community and their impact on lives.
My thoughts from the experience:
The Power of Giving: Volunteering goes beyond simply offering one's time; it is a heartfelt act of selflessness and compassion. When we volunteer, we contribute to the betterment of society, and in turn, experience a sense of fulfillment and purpose. There’s an aura of joy and satisfaction in each of these faces; betraying a truth, it is through giving that we truly receive.
Sadaqah: A Form of Giving: In Islam, there is a beautiful concept known as sadaqah, which refers to acts of voluntary charity done to benefit others. Sadaqah can be in various forms, including sharing one's skills, knowledge, time, or resources. By giving our skills and talents through volunteering, we embody the spirit of sadaqah and contribute to building a stronger and more compassionate community.
Gratitude for Receiving Skills: Each one of us possesses unique talents and skills that we have acquired throughout our lives. These skills are not to be taken for granted, but rather cherished and utilized to benefit others. Volunteering our craft is a way of showing gratitude for the abilities we have been blessed with. When we use our skills to serve others, we create a positive ripple effect that uplifts individuals and communities. When I am at my pinnacle, embracing my true self, I exist as an artist. Therefore, sharing my art is equivalent to sharing the very best of myself, expressing profound gratitude to the Creator.
My Volunteering Experience: During my time with Community Capital Fund, I had the privilege of capturing their event through my photography skills. It was a truly enriching experience as I got to meet incredible individuals and learn about numerous inspiring initiatives taking place in the community. It was truly a revelation of the great work that bubbles beneath the surface of my community to uplift and enrich many lives.
Lessons Learned and Impact Made: Through my volunteering experience, I learned valuable lessons about empathy, gratitude, and the power of collective action. I witnessed firsthand the impact that even small acts of giving can have on individuals and communities. Volunteering not only benefits those we serve but also helps us grow as individuals, expand our perspectives, and cultivate a deeper sense of empathy.
Conclusion: Volunteering our craft and skills is a beautiful expression of gratitude and a means to give back to the community. The act of giving through sadaqah brings us immense satisfaction and allows us to utilize our talents for the greater good. My experience with Community Capital Fund showed me the power of volunteering and the transformative impact it can have on both the giver and the receiver.
Elton John Photo Series
Dennis Gatz is a multi-talented visual artist who continues to reinvent himself and his art as if he were given a creative transfusion time and time again, allowing him to endlessly captivate his audience.
Candle in the Wind - Sir Elton John
One of my favorite series is his tribute to Sir Elton John, the iconic pop god everyone knows his oeuvre from.
Putting images on the genius of Elton John's music was a serious challenge, a goal that Dennis Gatz effortlessly conquered.
Cage the Songbird - Sir Elton John
It has not only become a tribute but a very beautifully finished series of art in which the soul
that the world-famous composer put into his lyrics and his indelible music is also evident in the work of Dennis Gatz.
Someone Saved My Life Tonight - Sir Elton John
Introducing Elton John is a hopeless task, he is a monument, a British institution,
but by giving a kind of life to the song titles one gets an even deeper fascination for the genius of his music.
Elton John's music is interwoven with emotions, messages and heavy stuff such as love and sorrow.
Dennis Gatz 's project was to mold all this complexity into a visual support for music that made history.
Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word - Sir Elton John
What Dennis Gatz and Elton John have in common is that they make people dream,
there is a kind of soul intertwining what is so aptly called 'kindred' in Angel-Saxon.
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Sir Elton John
It is to his credit Dennis Gatz that he embraces the music of Elton John, which are now classics with modern art. When one looks at the work with all of course titles of lyrics by the master, one feels the music even more because one got a kind of visual manual from Dennis Gatz . Genius when two art forms meet.
THE REST OF THE PHOTO SERIES
Angel Babies
March 17, 2020
I love kids. In fact, I’d love to have enough to populate a tiny village somewhere someday. Kids have also reciprocated the love (or they’re simply fascinated by my poofy hair) which is probably the most validating thing.
They are easily the cutest part of any wedding ceremony I’ve ever photographed. They’re the adorable little bows that wrap the celebration of love and life. Tiny echoes of happiness spreading across the ceremony
Neurosis
…We cannot come to terms with the unknown known or the unknown unknown; the inevitable truth of our individual mortality - otherwise we’ll plunge into our own version of neurosis…
Feb 14, 2020
Neurosis concept with Simone Patrice Anderson by Dennis Gatz
“Neurosis refers to a class of functional mental disorder involving distress but not delusions or hallucinations, where behavior is not outside socially acceptable norms. It is also known as psychoneurosis or neurotic disorder.” - Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior
We are preoccupied with the mundane. We are desperately addicted to our phones, routines, and rituals. We find that we are clutching at these things because they are familiar. We cannot come to terms with the unknown known or the unknown unknown; the inevitable truth of our individual mortality - otherwise we’ll plunge into our own version of neurosis.
“[We] prefer the security of known misery to the misery of unfamiliar insecurity.” - Sheldon Kopp.
A nearly impossible feat but one worth undertaking is unshackling from the security of ignorance. Once this journey of freedom begins, the universe and all its possibilities become available.
Dennis Gatz
Simone and Paul in Studio | The Editing Process
This image was inspired by a book I’m currently reading, “If you Meet The Buddha on The Road, Kill Him.” by Sheldon Kopp.
Like most people, my mind interprets reading or listening to music using imagery. As I read this book, I envisioned someone mindlessly scrolling on their phone, completely oblivious to their fall into another dimension.
I invited Simone to help me bring this image to life. We discussed the logistics of how we would make her “plummet” which included a failed attempt to levitate. A ton of fun nonetheless.
MOM; and INTROSPECTION
…In retrospect, this was probably not the healthiest way to deal with him. I forgot the man that I had been building and instead wore this man suit that had a few program responses that would pass as human. I allowed a few unhealthy situations to enter into my life. Perhaps searching for something outside of me that reflected how I felt. A scapegoat…
Jan 28, 2020
The Mind’s Eye Final Concept
The Mind’s Eye Sketch: Drawn years ago and the inspiration for the concept
My mom passed away two years ago on the night of January 28. Strangely, that night, I had dreamt with her. I had felt her presence in a very potent way. I received the call from my sister at 3am. It was a jarring call. It shell shocked my conscience. My reality or how I made sense of it, was torn apart. She was such a bigger than life figure. Endlessly optimistic and extremely wise. She had been my tether.
I remember having the deliberate thought that I needed to be strong for my sister. I couldn’t allow myself to plunge into my grief until I made sure she was in a good place. I thought she needed a constant and I feared that I would lose two family members.
Therefore, I dove into my work and receded deep into myself. I subconsciously went on autopilot. Unfortunately, my grief did not go away. It was at the peripheral. Looming. Sharpening his claws. Waiting for me to acknowledge him. Once in a while, especially while out in public when my guard was down, he would strike. I would find myself darting to the nearest bathroom to empty the contents of my eyes. Must have been allergy season.
In retrospect, this was probably not the healthiest way to deal with him. I forgot the man that I had been building and instead wore this man suit that had a few program responses that would pass as human. I allowed a few unhealthy situations to enter into my life. Perhaps searching for something outside of me that reflected how I felt. A scapegoat.
However, something miraculous happened in the second half of last year. An awakening. My road to Damascus. It triggered a healing journey into the universe inside me.
Since then, I’ve been rediscovering and falling deeply in love with this beautiful flawed complex panda-loving being within. I’m also learning to extend the same grace to those around me; understanding that they are not one thing or the other. Finding that those convenient compartment-friendly labels I place on them are my own projections. What I thought were good instincts were merely a conglomeration of my own experiences. Humans are black and white and everything in between simultaneously.
In any case, this is the first year I have allowed myself to grieve my mom. I didn’t know just how much I had held back. I allowed barbed-edged thoughts I had imprisoned such as “she’ll never get to meet my kids” to flood through my mind. It felt draining but also cathartic. Loss is messy business so I expect that there will be quite a journey ahead of me still.
Dennis Gatz
Model Katie in studio for the photoshop assets
Fun fact: This was my mom’s favorite picture after I showed her my work.
