Jesse
Jesse Archibald is a farmer at Lemoine Point Farm; he is also a heroin addict and a methadone user. But addiction doesn’t define Jesse—his story is one of entrepreneurship, creativity, and a strong desire to live a healthier life.
Jesse has used almost every drug. After being in a methadone program for more than ten years, he has now reduced his monthly usage by more than half. With this reduction comes withdrawal symptoms: anxiety, migraines, and physical pain. Everyday involves willpower. He sees no doctors other than for his weekly urine testing—he sees no therapists, no psychiatrists.
Instead, Jesse’s therapy comes from working on the farm and being a caretaker. He now raises chickens, pigs, cows, and sheep with an ethic of maintaining biodiversity and respecting the land. The farm gives him peace and a new focus: The animals are his protectors. Nature calms him down.
Jesse’s house is a place of chaos; there is a continuous process of recycling and upcycling of everything on the farm. What looks like garbage to most of us has a potential future life with Jesse.
When you think about it, this chaos is tied to rebirth. Jesse’s story is one of a daily push and pull, of the continuous cycle of life and death.
His words: “I want to live.”
Taking the time to sit down and flip the pages of this book proved to be extremely rewarding. I discovered a deep connection between the photographer and the subject. It is clear that Andree has been able to capture Jesse’s soul without interrupting the essence of every moment. The masterful use of the wide angle combined with the mix of multiple photographic genres provides the viewer with complex images but with very simple execution. This book is a lesson in patience and perseverance where the photographer is never felt but is clearly part of the moment. JESSE reflects a magnificent and truthful collaboration between subject and artist resulting in a jewel of visual storytelling.
Andree Thorpe has created a masterpiece and her use of colour is sublime, it is very easy to be swept along by the artistic value, but the pace of the images and the balance constantly reminds you that you are witnessing a perfect relationship between the subject, artist, compelling documentary narrative and art."
The book has earned:
- Honourable Mentions
- In the Documentary & Reportage category - 18th Pollux Award Exhibition - as part of the 7th Biennial of Fine Art & Documentary Photography - Barcelona Foto Biennale
- 2023 Internal Photography Award - Honourable mention - Professional Book Self-Published
- 2023 Refocus Award - Honourable mention - Professional Photojournalism
- Bronze Winner - The Paris Photography Prize (PX3) in the category of Book/Documentary professional for Jesse’s story.
- Silver Winner - The Budapest International Foto Silver 2022 Book / Documentary for Jesse’s story.
- Bronze Winner – 2024 Tokyo International Foto Awards / Book/Documentary