mats jernda

When Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw cut the ribbon to officially launch OddBox Studios in 2012, she predicted that it would be an asset to our community. The enterprise's founder Mats Jerndal (above) who stood by her side was a striking figure with his impressive height and flowing white hair, but many in the gathering that day did not know just how unique and remarkable Mats' journey had been nor what a milestone this day represented in his life.

Mats was born in Sweden and, in the course of 23 years, pursued a career in acting and performing, which included Shakespearean drama, musicals, children's theater, and Commedia Dell'arte, an early form of professional theater that presented stock characters with largely improvised story lines, which he studied at the conservatory of Dell'Arte International in Humboldt, California. It was there that he met Jackie, who was also an actor and would become his wife, the mother of their son Luc, and the wind beneath his wings.

The couple settled in Jersey City Heights in the NYC metropolitan area, and, in addition to theater performances, Mats became known for his street performances of juggling, and stilt-walking as well as corporate crowd-pleasers with moon bounces, a popcorn machine, and cotton candy. Then, at the age of 46, Mats yearned for a career change, and began tapping into the photography skills he had learned from his father in his home country. Mats started doing photography professionally in 1999 and videos in 2003 in Jersey Heights and created a studio there called OddBox Video & Photography. (Note: The "Odd" in OddBox is not meant to connote "quirky." It's a Norwegian name and it was his dad's) When the financial bubble burst, and the government funding for arts and culture that he had received plunged to zero, the message was clear that it was time to fly from the nest. Mats and Jackie decided to relocate in Fredericksburg, where they had periodically visited Jackie's sister and they rented a home on lower Caroline Street, where Mats set up a studio in the basement.

Though the Jerndals were going through hard times financially as they found their footing, it was in these early years in the Burg that Mats first discovered the generosity and sense of community that are the hallmarks of the city. As Jackie's birthday approached, Mats yearned to be able to do something special to celebrate but nothing seemed to be within range. Several local musiciansHarry Wilson, Don Brown, and Larry

Hinkle-quickly rose to the occasion and performed an unforgettable birthday concert in their yard that is a cherished memory for all.

Mats brought in some income from photographs he contributed to a local publication Snap! and, on a shoestring budget, decided that it was time to relocate his studio to a public venue at 526 Wolfe Street. Once again, the remarkable spirit of community and camaraderie came to the rescue. A highlight of the site today is its cyclorama round-c cornered studio for performances, photography, and videography that give the impression of infinite space, and construction work began in the earliest days of OddBox. Folks who had become friends and learned about Matt's vision lent their skills in carpentry and construction, and one contractor cut his fees in half in exchange for office space that was bartered for his wife's real-estate business. In the course of the last decade, the studios' enterprises morphed and evolved and included a media transfer service, real-estate photography, promotional photography, portraiture, wedding photography and videography. At one point, OddBox began broadcasting a series of "Golden Couch" concerts with top-level entertainment from a tiny space, with a message of healing, peace, and spiritual growth, which is the essence of all Mats and Jackie continue to do to contribute to our community and our world. Mayor Greenlaw's prediction a decade ago proved true. OddBox Studios' service to the community includes broadcasting Toys for Tots for many years and work with the Brisben Center for more than two years, and Mats served as a cameraman for the documentary celebrating the history of our river, Rappahannock. This month, Mats has teamed up with Rob Meunier of HiVibe Audio Productions to lend their broadcasting skills for a fundraiser for Ukraine hosted by Fredericksburg's Sister City organizations. In addition, folks frequenting the Paragon Theaters will get a flavor of the studios' talent and skill when they view the "commercial" they created of Tony Lewis' life that shows before every movie.

oddbox studios celebrates 10th anniversary By collette caprara

Gaye Agdebalola in Oddbox Concert Studio The 10th Anniversary of the gift of OddBox to Fredericksburg will be celebrated with a concert at 526 Wolfe Street on Friday, October 14, 6 to 9 pm. Collette Caprara is a local writer and a Mats filming Karen Jonas Music Video Outside member of Brush Strokes Art Gallery. Oddbox Studio Oddbox Studios 526 Wolfe St oddbox.squarespace.com; facebook

Sue Henderson

Guest Porch Editorial

ON THE PORCH

Contributing Writers & Artists

Rita Allan Sally Cooney Anderson Dianne Bachman Laurie Black Jeanette Rowe Cadwallendar Howard Berenbaum Sonja Cantu Collette Caprara Janet Douberly Jenna Elizabeth Edwards Tim Eggers Frank Fratoe Bill Freehling Jeremy Grey Ralph “Tuffy” Hicks Jon Gerlach Kathleen Harrigan Sue Henderson Amy Jessee Paulette Johnson

Anne-Tilley Melson David C. Kennedy Ray Mikula Vanessa Moncure Gabe Pons Pete Morelewicz Patrick Neustatter ML Power Gerri Reid Paula Raudenbush Rob Rudick Brad Smith Mandy Smith Tim Talbott Anne Timpano Christine Thompson Rim Vining Tina Will Norma Woodward Dawn Whitmore

Front Porch Fredericksburg is a free circulation magazine published monthly by Olde Towne Publishing Co. Virginia Bigenwald Grogan, Publisher.

The mission of Front Porch Fredericksburg is to connect the diverse citizenry of Fredericksburg with lively features and informative columns of interest to our community’s greatest resource, its people.

Messages from our readers are welcome. All article submissions must be received by e-mail by the 16th & calendar items the 19th of the month preceding publication.

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transitions to gratitude

by sue henderson

As we move into the autumn and the change of seasons, I'm reminded of the seismic and routine transitions we are all experiencing. The darker evenings and temperatures that cause us to grab for snuggly sweaters and socks confirm the transition from hot summers and relaxed vacations to the busy time to get back to the work before the holidays overtake us all.

And the work that we do seems to somehow transition from the lazy schedules into full days regardless of our tasks. As I write in early September, we are watching the world make major transitions in leadership, health crises and war. Economic and climate worries loom over the agendas from average citizens to persons in power. And yet, there is no need to fear continual transition. The unknown around the next corner has a transitional routine in our lives no matter where we are. The one thing that is constant is change.

But here on our porch, it's a time to notice the change in leaves and our beloved Rappahannock River. As we all continue to recover from the pandemic, the fall months provide lovely festivals and opportunities to gather together for various causes which we often highlight here in these pages.

And what do we celebrate together? The bounty of harvests - both literal and figurative - we appreciate leads to our most American of holidays in November. Gratitude becomes an important element in these annual transitions but also our natural stages of life. I feel truly blessed to have lived long enough to have the time to observe and appreciate these transitions.

I look for balance in experiencing other countries as much as our own partly as a continual reminder of just how grateful we should be for the richness of our lives. Travel is an electric jolt against complacency and entitlement. One only has to navigate a busy US airport or find transportation in a European city during a train strike to appreciate the ease at which we move around here in the Burg. And while I'm not fond of fuel prices, we are more than blessed with considerably cheaper options than most of the rest of the world. Our vast selection at the farmer's markets winding down in the region will shift our attention to the myriad of grocery stores during the winter months. Closing up our personal gardens and preparing for the transition to dormancy is appreciated more because we spent the last few months canning and freezing the essence of summer to tickle our tastebuds in the cold winter. There's just nothing like a peach pie on a snowy winter afternoon to remind us of the sweetness of warmer days.

Here on our porch Rick and I can grab a warm blanket and read while the temperatures transition. We aren't cold or hungry. We celebrate 'survival' of three days with no power as if it was an accomplishment while much of the world finds it amusing or confounding. We encourage you to find a way to help others here in our community or abroad have similar basic luxuries. And to take time to truly appreciate the bounty so evident during these annual transitions.

It's a time for sports and craft fairs, crisp air and apple cider. The transition in October brings a change of color not just to the trees but to our homes with orange and russet and goldenrod filling our front porches with a cornucopia of what the fashion world calls the autumn palette. The greens are different now having matured from the bright springy yellow tones and rollicking Kelly summer lawns to this muted aging green almost, but not quite, the deepness of evergreens to follow.

The river too makes changes mostly because the reflections from the sun alter the way we see color. Those same autumnal tones can add some orange and yellow when the sun is brightly shining and the cooler days tend to add more rain water and less evaporation making the river fuller and flow more freely. We see more of the river as leaves fall making it easier to see the squirrels desperately foraging for their own winter hoard hopping from branch to branch while the huge variety of birds also prepare.

It's a marvelous time to grab a warm cuppa and a cozy blanket and settle in to truly appreciate the first crisp air filling our lungs in a while and the transitions in all directions while reading the Front Porch from cover to cover.

Sue Henderson relishes in the seasons on the back porch on a regular basis - feet up and reading the Front Porch.