Artist, Photographer, Activist, and Educator Jerry Burchfield died on September 11, 2009 from Colon Cancer.

We’ll remember Jerry as an incredibly imaginative and creative artist, a generous and insightful mentor and educator, and a dedicated activist who took action to make his Southern California community a better place.

The LA Times obituary provides a good description of Jerry’s accomplishments.

Jerry was a mentor to me beginning in the mid-1980’s when I took his Cibachrome printing workshop in Breckenridge, CO. I learned how to make color prints, but more importantly I learned about what it means to be an artist. He taught us how to make camera-less color photograms, and I’ve been hooked on photogramming ever since. His generosity with his knowledge and his excitement about being a creative artist was a magnificent gift.

Over the years his many projects inspired me and many others to never be afraid to try new things, to always work to make our community a better place, and most importantly to share or techniques and knowledge with others.

Jerry made great art, from his projects with Mark Chamberlain documenting and helping to save Laguna Canyon to his Amazon Lumen prints to his dedication to the The Legacy Project: The El Toro/Orange County Great Park to his Exotics series. The depth and quality of his work is astounding.

Thank you Jerry.

Liz Goldner of Contemporary Art Dialogue has set up a blog site where you can comment on or write about your experiences with Jerry or the impact he had on your life.

A scholarship fund has been set up in Burchfield’s name. The family asks that donations be sent to the Cypress College Foundation, attention Laura Stephens, 9200 Valley View St., Cypress, CA 90630.