The North Region of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas celebrates and promotes local artists in Fort Worth as part of Third Thursday, a monthly art crawl held in the Near Southside where our Diocesan Center is located. Third Thursdays offer local artists exposure and career advancement.
The May 16 Third Thursday event at our office at 209 South Main, Fort Worth, will be followed by an event related to the theme of the exhibit, Till Death Do Us Part. Admission to both events is free, but reservations for the May 18 event are requested.
NOTE: The Episcopal Diocese of Texas encompasses 81 counties in Central, East, and South Texas. Its office is in Houston. The North Region of the diocese covers 24 counties stretching from Stephenville to Wichita Falls and from Brownwood to Grand Prairie. Its office is at 209 South Main Street, Fort Worth. The Rt. Rev. Andy Doyle is bishop of the diocese.
Third Thursday, May 16, from 5 to 9 pm, Till Death Do Us Part, features an exhibit of the photos of Becky Wilkes at the Diocesan Center of the North Region of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas at 209 South Main, Fort Worth, TX. The artist will be present. Beverages will be available.
Becky Wilkes is an accomplished and acclaimed photographer living in Azle, TX. When Covid erupted, she brought her elderly parents to live with her and her husband and began a photographic journal of their final year. Twice recognized as Photolucida’s Critical Mass Top 50, Till Death Do Us Part bears witness to the struggles of mortality, aging, and grief. The New Yorker Magazine published this deeply personal chronicle on Instagram garnering more than 111,000 likes
On Saturday, May 18, at 2 pm, this exploration of life, mortality, and grief will continue with Till Death Do Us Part, A Conversation, a panel discussion followed by a Q&A. Panelists include Becky Wilkes, Karen Calafat, an Episcopal priest, former hospice chaplain, and author of a book on what the living can learn from the dying; and Cynthia (Cindy) Nitschke, who spent the last several years as hospice social worker for Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of Texas. Each will speak from their perspective on life with the dying, grief after death of loved ones, and lessons learned in accompanying the dying on their end-of-life journey. Admission is free, but capacity is limited, so make reservations here.
Till Death Do Us Part, A Conversation
Becky Wilkes lives with her husband on Eagle Mountain Lake in Azle, TX. Educated as a Chemical Engineer at Texas A&M, she spent much of her life as a stay-at-home mother of four children who have now blessed her with a multitude of perfectly fantastical grandchildren. Thus began her study of chaos and order. Her current vocation is a blend of urban archeologist, anthropologist, sociologist, trash collector, and photographer.
Karen A. Calafat is an Episcopal priest with more than 30 years of ministry experience as a chaplain and parish priest. After experiencing the grief of walking with a dear friend through the last weeks of her life, Karen became a hospice chaplain where she helped people find healing and hope in the midst of the dying process. She has worked with grief the entire span of her ministry and is keen to help people notice where grace shows up.
Cynthia (Cindy) Nitschke has a master’s degree in social work. Prior to the unexpected death of her husband, Dale, she worked primarily in services to children. After his death, she was drawn to helping others with grief and loss. The last 16+ years were spent as a hospice social worker for VNA of Texas. Cindy recently experienced the loss of a dear friend to suicide, following a long illness. Unlike the passing of her husband, she began her grief process as her friend’s condition declined. “Anticipatory grief is a real thing. Had I not worked with hospice patients and their families, I would have thought I had lost my mind.” Cindy and her husband live in Oklahoma.