Requiem for Norton
 |
| R.W. Norton Art Gallery |
The lead story on yesterday's local news was one that really made an impact
on me. They were reporting that the
Norton Art Gallery of Shreveport has posted new rules for photography. Effective immediately there will no longer be
any professional photography allowed on their grounds. My first thought was to wonder what had
happened that would have caused them to make that decision. My second thought was to be relieved that
this new ruling would not affect me. I
do take a lot of photographs, but I’m an amateur who just shoots pictures of
family members. But when I went to
the Norton website to read the new rules for myself, I quickly realized that
the rules would affect me, too. As soon
as a new fence that is being built is complete, there will no longer be any
photography allowed at all at their grounds.
 |
| Ben's first family portrait at Norton in 2007 |
I
started feeling so sad. Some people have
commented on Facebook that taking pictures at Norton, especially during azalea
season, has become such a tradition. And
it has. That is so true for our
family. As I sit typing this in my
living room, I can count twelve (really twelve!) framed portraits that have all
been taken at the Norton Art Gallery over just the past 5 years. A couple of them were taken by professionals
that the kids have given to us. But most
of them are pictures that I’ve taken of my grandchildren, and each one brings
back a memory of a time spent with them out in the gardens, enjoying the beauty
of nature and each other’s company, as we recorded our memories. There are pictures of Ben and Will this last
fall in front of a beautiful red-leaved tree, and pictures of Carolann and
Adeline last summer when the hydrangeas were in full bloom.
 |
| Adeline & Carolann at Norton Summer 2012 |
There’s a sweet snapshot of the boys about two
years ago that I took when I sneaked them out to the Norton to take a picture to
give to Molly as a Mother’s Day surprise.
Possibly my favorite (if it’s possible to pick from among all these!) is
a portrait I took of Ben in front of the azaleas when he was about 10 months
old, sitting in a white wicker rocker.
It was printed beautifully on canvas by Dee’s Photo… a picture printed
by a Shreveport photo lab that no longer exists of a location that
Shreveporters will soon no longer be able to photograph. (Sigh.)
 |
| Ben's first Easter portrait 2008 |
Oh,
I know I’ll keep taking pictures of our kids and grandkids, in our backyards,
at the pumpkin patch in the fall, at the lake or the beach in summertime or
around the Christmas tree. But I guess
those beautiful portraits in front of Norton’s azaleas, hydrangeas & water features will sadly no longer be part
of our family’s traditions.
 |
| My parents with grandsons Jack & Finn 2011 |
I
have read that Norton's owners made their decision due to the fact that some
people who have gone there to take pictures have been destructive (as in spray
painting on a building) or at least negligent in leaving messes on the
property. It really is a shame if that’s
the case. That’s the way it is so
often…that a few bad apples ruin a good thing for everyone.
Maybe the decision to not allow even amateur family photographs at Norton will be reconsidered by the owners. I hope that's the case. I so want to keep creating memories like these in this beautiful location for years to come.
 |
| Ben & Will Easter 2012 |
