I purchased a packet of negatives and slides in my favorite little booth at the River Market Flea. The packet is labeled Gordon Betty (insert an island name I can't recall at the moment) Greenland. Inside is a very strange assortment of images depicting who I assume is Mr. Betty, a few of his friends, and his travels. I'd like to make various sized prints and make an installation out of them. That is, if I can ever find the time in between thesis and have the money after printing my senior show.
Also--
Often when I'm making my work, I wonder--Is it enough? Do I have a strong enough hand in these works? The answer? Everyday my opinion shifts. I pretty much always feel it is enough in that I think I have the right to call these images, in some sense, my own. I think if someone else were doing these things, I would be completely fine with it. But for some reason, on some days, I'm pretty uncomfortable with myself appropriating in such a way. Most of the time I think of it as more of a collaboration with the original owners, time, and myself---because most often, these objects have shifted in ways probably not necessarily wanted by the original owner. You know, wear and tear, dust, degradation, other peoples marks, etc. Let alone the fact that their personal images have ended up in thrift stores to be purchased by weirdos like me....How awkward is that? How does that even happen? At what point does someone die and while sifting through their belongings someone says...'Let's sell Uncle Mike's photo albums instead of keeping them'....
Anyway....Gordon and I are getting to know each other, and he's a pretty interesting guy...
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