東日本震災支援企画と銘打ったのは、震災の二日後、3月13日にスタージスさんからいただいた以下のようなメッセージからです。 "First of all, are you all OK? I am sick with worry about all my Japanese friends and so terribly, terribly sad about what has happened. I would like to do as much as I possibly can to help. If it is possible for my next show with you to still happen in August then I would like all of my share of the money from sales to go to your choice of an earthquake/tsunami relief organization."
"In the large world of art and photography my one voice is small ~ quiet and very simple. I will always be the first to say that the beauty in my pictures belongs to the models themselves. I am very lucky that they are so generous with me. Thus, as I am lucky man to whom so many are so generous, it is entirely appropriate that I lend my art's humble voice to the world effort to respond to the tragic events in the Tohoku area. My head is bowed in sorrow for the great suffering in the north. But I am also awed and inspired by the great stories of heroism and sacrifice that are emerging from this tragedy. My respect for Japan and its people has always been very strong. But now it grows like a lion in my heart. If the sale of my work helps even a single person then I will feel deeply privileged. But my real hope is that my small voice simply adds itself to the choir or love and concern coming from all four corners of the globe. The song that choir sings is simple:
We see you. We care. We will help as much as we can.
Japan is of course a powerful country with one of the world's strongest economies and will herself do the vast majority of what is necessary in Tohoku. I have not the least doubt of this. But as Japan's heart is wounded by these terrible events, so is all the world's. In the face of such sorrow and loss, helping in even the least of way helps us all heal. I am honored to do what I can.