Rules of the Pack

This Cub Scout Promise is one of Dennis' first forays into typography. I found it in the box of things he brought home from his office. His promise to "be square and to obey the rules of the pack" still holds true in his life even today.


The pack is working very hard helping Dennis frame his work for the exhibition of drawings and photo paintings, giving up precious last days of the summer vacation.



The Pack, working hard together.

Working the Weekend

Dennis and Royce worked the whole weekend on the "Conversation" they will be engaging in together at Arcadia University Art Gallery. They spent hours moving things around, looking from different angles, trying different approaches.


They talked over flooded basements, falling trees, and electrical blackouts, never at a loss for words and more words, always saying just one more thing.


Always working.

Working Change

Dennis has been working hard sorting through his office at Philadelphia University preparing it for his successor. That means taking all this stuff off the walls and shelves and bringing it all back home. Dennis has brought home boxes and boxes of treasures, which Jessica has now begun to photograph. Every object has a great story.

Another Kind of Work

Dennis went back to his job at Philadelphia University this week as a faculty member and a special emissary . . . creating his job as he does it.

Dennis is also working on a series of large photo/paintings for his exhibition at Arcadia University Gallery. The opening is 16 September, but the work needs to be at the Gallery for hanging at the end of this month. With such a tight deadline looming over his shoulder, it is hard to tell if Dennis is really getting to enjoy this studio time as much as he could.



But, as you can see, Dennis seems to be in his element and happy about it all: surrounded by his girls, the Vermeers, painting late into the night.



Sometimes.

Day 205

It has been 205 days since January 28, 2009.

On that day, an event created an unexpected and decisive moment where you discover that life has forever been changed by forces beyond your control. Dennis' diagnosis of inoperable Stage III pancreatic cancer came at 12:30pm, right in the middle of lunch. The very kind doctor who gently broke the news to us still had crumbles of his hurried lunch around his lips. The combination of the news and the dusting of crumbs falling about immediately caused me to black out.

The time between Dennis' diagnosis and the beginning of treatment was filled with anxiety, confusion, fear, and some extreme life enhancing surgeries. Dennis started a clinical trial at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia on Monday 9 March 2009. The trial required that Dennis take an oral chemo pill daily, and spend two full days every week at the Cancer Center, receiving multiple bouts of radiation and chemo infusions. The collision with the toxins used to combat cancer take a serious toll on a person's body. Dennis lost over 40lbs and felt terrible most of the time. The attitude of gratitude which guides our daily lives helped Dennis focus and fight the fight of his life.

On Day 205, we find ourselves in a happy limbo. After a well needed hospitalization, it was determined that Dennis had received enough radiation and chemo treatments. He is taking a 2 month sabbatical from chemotherapy and building his strength and weight back up again. Tests will then be done to determine the next course of action.

Dennis is working hard on getting work together for a solo exhibition that opens on Wednesday 16 September 2009. A detailed posting will follow.