Arts + Literature Laboratory, FlakPhoto Projects, and Wisconsin Science Festival welcome the Wisconsin Book Festival for three nature-themed book talks by authors Mary Jo Hoffman, Donald S. Clark, and George Steinmetz on Saturday, October 19, 2024.
In this first talk of the day at 4:30pm, Mary Jo Hoffman will discuss Still: The Art of Noticing (Monacelli, 2024). Hosted by Jessica Becker.
Every day since January 1, 2012, Mary Jo Hoffman has made a photograph of found nature. That’s nearly 4,400 consecutive days—not a single day missed. Over more than a decade of STILL—the title Hoffman gave to the project—this daily ritual cracked open profound revelations about the importance of place, the passing of time, the connectedness of all things, and the trajectory of her own life. STILL: The Art of Noticing traces this incredible undertaking, sharing a selection of breathtaking photographs from Hoffman’s enormous archive, accompanied by perceptive, deeply felt, and oftentimes humorous essays illuminating the insights gained through this daily creative practice.
Organized into six sections, STILL features 275 of Hoffman’s favorite photographs from the first decade of the project. Through her lens, the seemingly ordinary objects of daily life burst with new unexpected forms, colors, and possibilities. Mushrooms, leaves, stones, shells, seed pods, insects—all vibrate with magic under close inspection. Sunflowers have a windswept drama, and a closeup of the soft, red-furred ear of a dead coyote—technically roadkill—is peace embodied.
