Month: July 2023

John Stadnicki Student Photography Award

On 24th August 2023 it will be a year since my husband, the photographer John Stadnicki died. His untimely and unexpected sudden death has had a great impact on every person who knew John over the years: family, friends, colleagues, students, ex-students, and the art community in Stroud, Gloucestershire, where he lived and worked.

John Stadnicki (1961 – 2022)

John worked at the South Gloucestershire and Stroud College for over thirty years and has been an integral part of the Arts Departments, especially the photography specialism. He was generous and supportive, and his life was about inspiring young people to believe in themselves and be the best version of themselves.

In recognition of John’s legacy and dedication to photography and to his students, SGS College has initiated the John Stadnicki Student Photography Award. The first edition took place at the end of the academic year 22-23. The prize was awarded to the first set of students,  based on the votes from former and current tutors, local photographers (both amateur and professional) and a public vote.

On 24th September 2023, I will be walking 21 miles in support of this initiative, together with Andrew Morrison, Jen Whiskerd, Adelaide Morris, Chris Morris and Amanda Bonney Lowery, as we would like for this award and legacy to continue in the years to come, and to support other talented students.

If you could like to join and / or support the award, please do. Access the link below:

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/creative-department-ssoa

My gratitude goes to the Art Department at SGS, and especially to Kayleigh Reynolds for co-ordinating this initiative and for working so hard to make it happen! My gratitude also goes to the friends joining the walk and supporting this initiative.

Here are the winners of the 1st edition of the John Stadnicki Student Photography Award 2022.

First place (winning £250): Bethan Seymour – Lady Lying.
Second Place (winning £100): Lottie Jones – Man Resting.
Third Place (winning £50): Martha Haslam – Fungi Close Up.

Thank you very much.

Maria Stadnicka

Where 

....    I tell the distance that
people’s names are 
shorter than rivers… 
threads 
on the world’s spine 
gliding
to the edge of an abyss 
where all their deeds fall
glass-clear
to no ending
except themselves.


© Maria Stadnicka MMXXIII

Ellipsis. A Year on Rooftops.

© Maria Stadnicka, MMXXIII

The Giving-Up Syndrome 

I thought to post thank-you notes
but so many end up recycled. 
There is no more space in your box. 
People should keep the words 
they send to each other for grey hours 
when things seem fine then 
someone hits you in the face. 
Out of luck. 

Only riverbank meadows have
all the time in the world. 
Their pulse slows to a teardrop
before any changes in weather. 
They turn to cement, to salt 
and root clumps, for winter seeps 
through layers of sunset under 
a glass ceiling. 

Blessed be those looking ahead. 
They see just the edges but sleep 
in the middle of things. They dream 
their children when someone dies 
in the neighbourhood. The funeral 
takes place at an airport. 

Our tree chopping season grows 
heavy with chalk: burial site for
the things we once loved that 
have fallen and broken in to pieces.


© Maria Stadnicka, MMXXIII / Quintilis