Mirrors and Metaphors featuring John Fielder Opening Night

Mirrors and Metaphors featuring John Fielder Opening Night 02/08/08 6:30pm
Category: Art and Photography
DENVER, January 7, 2008— On March 21, 2006, J.T. Fielder, the oldest child and only son of Colorado's beloved nature photographer John Fielder took his life on top of a windy 13,000 foot peak. Two years later, John Fielder is honoring his son's life by being the spokesperson for a unique program that examines the intersection between suicide, mental health and healing through the arts. The Carson J Spencer Foundation invites caring citizens to enjoy an evening with John Fielder by attending the opening night of the Mirrors and Metaphors Art Exhibit at 6:30PM on February 8, 2008 at the Access Gallery (909 Santa Fe, Denver; tickets are $50).

John Fielder's work will be one of the main focal points of this multi-layered exhibit. He has chosen to donate an image of the high alpine ridge above Butler Gulch near Empire, Colorado – a photograph that was made on a ski visit with his friends to the place J.T. died. John Fielder hopes that those who see the image will be touched by the view that is infinite and sublime and will remember and celebrate the life of his remarkable son.

John Fielder is joining a growing group of citizens making a difference on suicide prevention in Colorado. Suicide is a significant public health issue in this state:

*Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for 15-34 year olds in Colorado, after unintentional injuries

*Males are 70% more likely to take their lives than females

*In 2005, traffic accidents in Colorado killed 662 people, whereas 795 people died by suicide

*Colorado leads the nation in suicide AND ranks 33rd in the nation for state funding of mental health and last in funding for substance abuse.

"The first step is to deconstruct the stigma associated with suicide and mental illness," says Spencer-Thomas. "In order for that to occur, we must become more comfortable talking about these issues. What better way to start than at a community event that is celebrating hope and recovery through the arts."

On February 8th at 6:30PM, business leaders will be joined by scores of mental health advocates, artists, students and caring citizens for the opening night of the Mirrors and Metaphors professional art exhibit. Colorado's beloved nature photographer, John Fielder will make brief remarks and dinner will be provided by LifeStyles Catering. West Pines Lutheran Medical Center and Regis University are sponsoring this event. Proceeds will benefit the Carson J Spencer Foundation, the Second Wind Fund, and Access Gallery. Tickets may be purchased through www.blacktie-Colorado.com.


About the Carson J Spencer Foundation

The Carson J Spencer Foundation, a non-profit organization, was founded in April 2005 following the suicide of its namesake. The Carson J Spencer Foundation envisions a world where leaders and communities are committed to sustaining a passion for life. We sustain a passion for life through:

funding social enterprise for sustainable mental health initiatives

delivering innovative suicide prevention programs targeting the working age population

supporting the education of emerging entrepreneurs and leaders

For more information, please call Sally Spencer-Thomas 303-458-4323 or visit www.CarsonJSpencer.org.

Obama wins Iowa as candidate for change

Wow. Great news. Many of you know that I did volunteer work for the Obama camapaign early on. I just couldn't continue to give of the time that I didn't have - sometimes life gets too crazy but I would have loved to be a precinct captain if I could have done the job justice! Anyway... Obama wins the Iowa caucus....

Direct from CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/03/iowa.dems/index.html

DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama's victory Thursday in critical Democratic Iowa caucuses indicate voters saw him as a candidate of change, according to entrance polls.

Sen. Barack Obama won young people's votes and also those whose focus is on various issues.
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The freshman Illinois senator was CNN's projected winner in the key early step toward the White House, with 38 percent of the vote and 97 percent of precincts reporting.

"On this January night, at this defining moment in history, you have done what the cynics said we couldn't do," Obama told wildly cheering and chanting supporters Thursday night. "We are choosing hope over fear, we are choosing unity over division and sending a powerful message that change is coming to America."

CNN projects that lead will hold over his chief rivals -- former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards with 29.8 percent, and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, with 29.3 -- with 97 percent of precincts reporting.

With Edwards edging ahead with several friendly precincts yet to report, the possibility was emerging that Clinton -- the front-runner in the months leading up to this year's campaign -- could finish a disappointing third.

"Just over half of Democratic caucus-goers said change was the No. 1 factor they were looking for in a candidate, and 51 percent of those voters chose Barack Obama," said CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider. "That compares to only 19 percent of 'change' caucus-goers who preferred Clinton."

Twenty percent of Democrats said Clinton's campaign mantra -- experience -- was the most important attribute of a presidential candidate.

At Obama's caucus-night headquarters in Des Moines, the hall filled with people late Thursday in anticipation of the candidate's speech.

The supporters, many of them young, screamed "We did it!"

When vote returns appeared on big television screens, the crowd burst into spontaneous rounds of Obama's campaign chant: "Fired up -- Ready to go!"

Obama campaigned in Iowa as the true agent for change in a field of Democrats hoping to cash in on voter dissatisfaction with President Bush.

He banked heavily on the support of first-time caucus participants and independents, whom pre-caucus polls suggested were responding well to a campaign that included promises to work across party lines if elected.

CNN's entrance polls suggest that message resonated. Younger caucus-goers and those who said they want change gave significant support to Obama.

Fifty-seven percent of poll respondents age 17 to 29 said they supported Obama.

Democratic caucus turnout was much higher than four years ago. "With 93.5 percent of the precincts reporting we are seeing record turnout with 218,000 caucus attendees," said a statement from the state Democratic Party. In 2004, the turnout was about 125,000.

Edwards opened his remarks to supporters Thursday by talking about change.

"The one thing that's clear from the results in Iowa tonight is the status quo lost and change won," Edwards said. Watch Edwards vow to keep on fighting »

Obama's victory came despite Clinton's support from EMILY's List, a national group that works to elect female candidates who favor abortion rights. The group contacted 60,000 Iowa women with no history of caucusing and asked them to support Clinton.

The Clinton campaign itself also contacted tens of thousands of Iowans who had never caucused. Most of them were age 50 and above. The campaign set up a "buddy" system to encourage the newcomers to attend caucuses.

Appearing in front of cheering supporters Thursday with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, at her side, Clinton refused to back down.

"I am so ready for the rest of this campaign and I am so ready to lead," she said smiling. Watch Clinton's speech after failing to win »

"I have done this work for 35 years, it is the work of my life time," Clinton said. "I have been involved in making it possible for young people to have a better education and for people of all ages to have health care and that transforming work is what we desperately need in our country again."

"I think you could probably look at two things when it comes to Hillary Clinton: One is the sense that she could be very divisive in a general election campaign -- people in Iowa don't seem to want that," said CNN political analyst Gloria Borger. "And secondly, her history question, the Clinton baggage, if you will. There are a lot of voters there who are saying, 'We want to get beyond that.' "

Obama also did well among caucusers with varied issues at the top of their concerns. Thirty-four percent of voters who said their top issue was health care went for Obama, according to entrance polls; 35 percent among those who said the Iraq war was their top issue; 36 percent among those who chose the economy.

Supporters for the Illinois senator included an equal percentage of women and men -- 35 percent each.

David Gergen, a former White House aide under Republican and the Clinton administrations, pointed out that Iowa was not a strong state for Clinton from the start. "The Clintons are nothing if not resilient," he said. "They will fight back. For Barack Obama, this is a personal triumph. For an African-American to go into a state that's 95 percent white and win against Mrs. Clinton is an absolutely remarkable victory."



The caucuses spelled the end for two other senators with White House aspirations. Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware will abandon his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, three sources told CNN. Biden received 1 percent in the Iowa caucuses.

Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut also will drop out of the race, campaign sources told CNN Thursday. Dodd received less than 1 percent in the Iowa caucuses. E-mail to a friend

CNN's Candy Crowley, Suzanne Malveaux and Jessica Yellin contributed to this report.