Nurse-photographer behind art show

For Kate Capen-Ogden, being a fine-art photographer isn't all that different from her job as a nurse at Resurrection Nursing Home in Castleton.

"Both are peaceful settings," she explained.

Whether photographing a beautiful landscape or working in the quiet atmosphere of the nursing home, she said, "you feel what God has created."

Mixed media

On June 10, Mrs. Capen-Ogden will combine her careers, offering about two dozen photos for sale at a mixed-media art show to benefit Resurrection Nursing Home.

Other artists whose work will be available include a silversmith, an oil painter and Mrs. Capen-Ogden's brother, Donald Capen, who specializes in portrait photography. The two will take portrait photos at the show to raise funds.

"We're from a family of artists," noted Mrs. Capen-Ogden. Each of her five siblings paints in oils, carves wood, takes photos or plays music.

Smile, world

Mrs. Capen-Ogden has spent many years traveling the globe to shoot landscape and travel photos. She has been to such locales as Mexico, the Virgin Islands and British Columbia.

One of her favorite destinations is Greece, where she took pictures of Byzantine churches that became part of a series of photos of churches and missions. The series includes a California mission founded by Rev. Junipero Serra, a Spanish missionary.

Three years ago, she took a position as a licensed practical nurse at Resurrection, which is run by Sisters of the Resurrection and Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. No other job has compared to it, she said.

"It's a lovely place to work," she explained. "I love the way they take care of the residents; there's a lot of dignity there. It's the serenity and the peacefulness that keep me there."

Exhibition

For some time, the sisters have asked Mrs. Capen-Ogden to hold a private show of her photos. When she suggested opening it up to other artists, the idea of a fundraiser came about, "and I ended up curating it!" she said.

As the show approaches, one photo hanging on the wall of the nursing home reminds visitors that it's coming up: Mrs. Capen-Ogden's shot of a barn on Route 9 with the sun setting behind it.

"It was the perfect time of day," she recalled. "There was a little bit of snow on the ground. I really like that one a lot."

That photo and many others will be for sale at the show. Although the photographer admits she is sad to let them go, it's for a good cause, and "there's always something else" to photograph.

(The mixed media art show will be held June 10 at Resurrection Nursing Home in Castleton. Artists can display their work for $25 per table, plus 15 percent of the day's sales. Portrait photos will be available for $29.95, two-thirds of the fee will be donated to Resurrection. For information or to reserve a table, call Bonnie Smith, 732-7617, ext. 129.)

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