Walking into the UC Davis veterinary hospital surgery room in June 2006 to kiss my baby horse Jabu one last time immediately flashed into my mind. He'd become my baby over the last 14 months. The nurses were standing to one side about to cry while I kissed his warm upside down cheek. In my mind, they're like kind angels standing by. We had spent a lot of the spring at the vet hospital getting tender and loving care — no one could help but love big-hearted little Jabu.
The birth, life, and death of my young horse influenced how I want to live my life and make art. That moment kissing him goodbye said it all for me. To communicate my aspirations, I had been trying to figure out how to write a story about my evolution as an artist, communications strategist, rancher, and soon-to-be mother ... beginning with childhood. Everything can live in one moment.
Comments about Broke Me Open:
"Holy smokes ... I just watched your "Broke Me Open" video on your website and I have tears in my eyes. What an amazing experience and thank you so much for sharing it online for those near and far to see."
"Wow! Goosebumps and heartache and beauty and peace, all in one ... Thanks for sharing."
"This is fantastic!!! Beautiful work. I love the integration of the photos and your artwork, it gives the piece a mythical quality. You also have a fantastic voice for storytelling - calm, humble, with a touch of wonder. My very favorite part of the piece is when you talk about what Jabu taught you and how you've internalized it as you create your family. Excellent work, and I'm so honored to be among the first to see it. I can't wait for what's next."
"That's amazing. Good coordination of voice — feelings — words — images. We watched the Jabu story twice. Thanks for sending this."
"Oh my, this was so beautiful, so you, so Jabu. It made me cry ... Love you Adriana, you are an amazing woman and mama."
"Oh Jabu! Makes me want to run free too ☺"
"Oh that's so good. Thank you. I didn't realize it was a movie story! It's lovely."
"OMG, I had tears. It is touching and heartfelt but not mushy. What a great job of expressing not so much the journey but how the journey impacted and changed your life. As you can tell, I loved it. What a great idea. I am going to share it with Luca (and of course, the girls). Thanks so much for sharing it with me. I just loved it."
"This TOTALLY rocks, AD. Made we start crying. It’s so sweet. And your storytelling is so succinct; no wasted language and also endearing. The directness and matter of factness with which you express emotion in experience leaves the viewer/reader little choice but to take it in."
“It’s wonderful and made me cry … happy babies!”
"Adriana, I loved it. And cried. You have photos that captured the incredibly spirited Jabu. I love that your salt ladies have babies, now, and am so looking forward to getting to know you as a mom, Pete as a dad, and your little one. Thank you for sharing Jabu with us."
"The Jabulani story is so beautiful. Made me sob. I never knew the beginning, or the end — that you came back the next day. I'm glad I shared a bit of it with you. He and all you've taken from him, was a gift."
"I loved your video and spending time on your website... I have often admired a piece of pottery that you gave Sue-Ann with a horse running free on it .... now I feel like I understand the meaning more. Your art, your work, and your life since KSG seem to really have developed with unison."
Please add your comments!
Thank you for your heart felt story, I am really taken with your honesty.
Posted by: jeannie | August 03, 2010 at 09:05 PM
Thanks Jeannie! I'm about to start doing some more digital stories. I just got back from Italy and want to do one about traveling with my 20 month old daughter. They're fun to do.
Posted by: Adriana Dakin | August 04, 2010 at 11:29 AM