This beautiful life-size pieta is a family memorial in the Asian section of Earthman Cemetery |
I don’t know that I was as much interested at the time in
creating art as I was in simply doing fairly decent documentations of the works
on display. But in thinking about it I do a great deal of photographing other people’s
art from sculpture, to architecture, to graffiti, to manikins in antique
stores. Am I creating art, I am not sure that I am but in interpreting the
works of others through my photography I think may be tilting it just a little
in the direction of art. Frankly, to me it is immaterial. I photograph what I
find interesting with little if any thought of it being art. Which is what I personally
believe that artist do.
Of course, someone forgot to give that same lecture to
Richard Prince (see previous article) and he is millions of dollars richer as a
result.
I think there is a difference between what I do and what
Prince did. It is up for interpretation but I don’t think I am appropriating the
works of other as much as I am finding my message within their works. Yes, I
sometimes document for my own purposes what I see for future reference but that
is not my main goal. I simply want to show what I respond to.
This morning Alcy and I were at Earthman Cemetery in an area
that is dominated by Asians of the Christian faith. They do not hold back. The
statements regarding their faith is strongly written and displayed in their
memorials. As Easter services let out they came to the cemetery almost in
caravans to pay their respects. We moved to another section so as not to
interrupt. There were scattered visitors around the cemetery, but nothing to
compare to the Asian area.
I wanted to work on what may be my portfolio this October at
Northwest. At the present it is tentatively being called Small Manifestations. I am
looking for artifacts that have been placed on the grave sites that draw a
connection to either the deceased or to those left behind. Truthfully, I am
most interested in objects that have a feeling of poignancy or objects that
have a religious connotation. I have been doing photographs along this theme
for a couple or three years but never really devoted time to it. Now I am.
I haven’t decided exactly how I will present the
photographs, or even for sure the name of the portfolio. That will come as more
work is done. I believe very much in letting the photographs take on their own
life and it is best if I just follow along.
It was a good day.The smell of incense on a soft breeze and the families praying for the deceased and a chance to see the tiny tributes placed lovingly on the tombstones.
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