She connected with Jim and became a model for him at his studio at Ice House. “He was amazing,” states Sarah. “I really liked his presence . . . he was fun. My favorite Jim thing is when he would get a good shot he would in this funny little voice yell, ‘yeah!’”

Sarah took such an interest in photography that she changed her major to photography and took the opportunity to learn in the environment she found herself in at that time. “I learned a lot from Jim,” she continues.” He would keep shooting in between shots when he wasn’t necessarily seeing what he wanted to grasp. But it was all about momentum and keeping it going.” Sarah also spent time in the dark room where Jim liked to experiment with different techniques. The photo Sarah provided for the article is from her first modeling session with Jim!

Bloodswan resides outside of Berea and her real job is software sales. But she continues her creative path with several key projects. For several years, she hosted a podcast, Musings from the Rainbow Sparkle Palace, which focused on Feminist artists and activists in Appalachia. Her Mother died of breast cancer several years ago and upon being tested for the gene, breast cancer was detected. She has written a memoir of her journey through this difficult time, The C That Unites Us: Facing Cancer from Both Sides of the Bed, and the battles that it entailed. Also a multi-instrumentalist, she has written, played and produced an album, Music From the Rainbow Sparkle Palace: Vol. I and II and Holler Ghosts EP, that she also mixed and mastered.

As the foundation grows and our sphere of influence expands, we are constantly finding people who knew Jim either through his teaching, writing or photography. The people may be different, the periods of time strung out somewhat, but they all carry fond memories and talk about the importance of James Baker Hall in their lives.