Hello, NashWest Besties. Bear Lace Cottage is the name of Anita Crane’s historic home in the ski resort town of Park City, Utah. If a home can be the manifestation of a person, then Anita’s abode is a gracious and feminine monument to the jewel of a woman who lives under its snow covered roof. Don’t be fooled by the vintage lace and down comforter beds, Anita has more cowgirl grit than most women can ever claim. Almost 82 years old, Anita drives a big Ford truck that’s required for not only mountain roads but for the adventures that percolate in Anita’s creative mind.
I met Anita when she was 70 years old and just starting photography. I was 42, the mother of 10 wonderful children and venturing out into the wider world with my guitar and a pocketful of songs. I think she and I recognized we had kindred spirits right away. I think our first official photo shoot was in a cow pasture but the list gets even more interesting and diverse from there. There was a shoot in Texas on a dirt road, several cool shoots for our friend and owner of All Out Western, Becky Hougard, and a quick photo shoot in the snow that became my Cowboy Christmas Album cover.
Anita is very patient with me. I get a certain vision for what I want and she works hard to help me realize that vision. For my album, “No Wilder Place” I wanted to shoot at a remote location in Utah known as Ghost Rock which is a steep and dramatic overlook that highlights the ancient layers of rock that create the colors of Southern Utah color country. We wanted a sunrise shot. We woke up late. I cussed as I pushed the speed on my minivan up to 100 mph to try to beat the sun. Poor Anita and my friend, Valerie Beal, cowered and made sure their seat belts were secure.
Part of my manic plan was to take a mini trampoline out to the cliff edge to catch a shot of me jumping with my guitar. There’s all sorts of ways this photo shoot could’ve gone sideways. Anita is in her 70’s and crawling up and down rocks with expensive gear. Valerie is also in peril holding the reflector and I am taking needless risk with my guitar, my hat and my life as I jump for my art, dammit.
Thousands of photographs and adventures later, Anita is 81 and I’m 52. Life has handed both of us a full helping of change. Anita lost the love of her life and after I went through a divorce, I found the love of my life. Age hasn’t diminished our desire to create beauty, to mother our families and to maintain our friendship and creative collaborations despite the distance from Utah to Tennessee.
Change invites reflection and this season of reflection I’ve been experiencing here in my new home in Nashville led me to hearing the song, “Unbecoming” written by two stellar female songwriters, Helene Cronin and Andrea Renfree. Not only did I hear the song, I saw the song. I saw the water and I felt the ripples the message of this song will make in the hearts of the listeners.
On my last trip to Utah, Anita and I loaded up her big Ford truck with gear and towels. We drove out to an irrigation pond near a popular walking path. I ventured out into the frigid water in one of Anita’s dresses, decked out in the crown jewels of the West, turquoise. Anita was on the shore laughing and trying not to drop her camera in the muck. I got my hair wet and tried to look like a dignified beauty in her 50’s who happened to be in the water with full makeup on. Nice people passing on their morning walk stopped to make polite conversation with us while my teeth chattered and I tried to not feel stupid and wondered if the dress was see-through. It was.
As I finally start sharing the artwork for the song, Unbecoming, I feel so grateful to Anita for helping me bring the vision I had to reality. The song stirs my soul and I wanted the artwork to look the way the song makes me feel. The song makes me feel brave and seen. Brave, because the process of bringing this song into the catalog of my work has broadened my art. Seen, because the song saw my soul, said what was hard for me to say and then found its way to me. I hope it finds its way to you.
By the way, you can contact Anita for photography work. She would love to hear from you! Her email is anitabearlace@gmail.com
Peace, Love and Spurs..
Rock On, NashWest Guys and Girls!
Love, MK
Sending love to my sponsors…
Anita Crane Photography
Espana Silk Grooming Products
All Out Western Ranch Wear
Montana Rio Buckaroo Hats