The Full Circle Studio
"The Journey Is The Destination"
Inspired by Dan Eldon
In 1993, Dan Eldon, Reuter's youngest photojournalist was stoned to death in Somalia. His death was the result of a mob's reaction to the U.N. bombing of the `suspected' headquarters of General Mohammed Farah Aidid. Dan was twenty-two years of age. Dan's life was full of creativity and a concern for mankind. I found parallels in our lives in his quest for adventure, his love of life, his unquenchable energy and his unlimited artistic expression.
My acquaintance with Dan was in Yellow Springs, Ohio where I found the book “The Journey is the Destination: The Journals of Dan Eldon”. Pages filled with collages from Dan's journals kept over the years and lovingly printed in book form by his mother and sister, Kathy and Amy Eldon. A few years later his biography “The Art of Life” was written by Jennifer New. I was enraptured and consumed by the life and resulting death of this amazing young man.
One of Dan's mottos was “Safari is a way of life”. I began to make it mine and from this my series entitled “The Journey is the Destination” was conceived. In short, I call it my `Safari Series'. In presenting this series, I cannot take much credit. With every collage I felt Dan's presence and inspiration. There are twenty-two pieces to represent his twenty-two years of life.
In completing this series, I have the overpowering awareness that this will not be the end of my connection with Dan. In his death, he has inspired so many and I am amongst them. At this time, I do not know where this will lead, but I know it is leading me to other things to be accomplished in his name. The journey truly is the destination.
Please visit: The Dan Eldon Website
