Saints, Sinners and Ferocious Love | Joanne Arnold | TEDxDirigo

With poetic precision, photographer Joanne Arnold opens her world of early morning awe, showing how one woman’s search for meaning percolates across disparate people, fostering unexpected connections and deep gratitude. Joanne Arnold graduated from Maine College of Art 1979 with a BFA in Painting. Regaining her visual self became priority for Joanne 10 years ago after her three children were off to college. One practice she began and continues now is to photograph at dawn every day, without exception, year round. She wanted to learn the lessons of showing up; of putting herself on the spot; to work with what existed before her and recalibrate the discipline of seeing; to be faced over and over again with uncertainty that would rekindle a spirit of invention and challenge her assumptions. Her work as a photographer introduced her to those that inhabit this early morning landscape: the fishing community, the dock workers, the homeless, the recovery population. Her work as an Interfaith Chaplain (Chimedeeply informs her work and how she moves throughout this landscape. Joanne is a frequent presenter at PechaKucha events in Portland, Kennebunk and Belfast. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at