Suspension

Taking off from historical approaches to Surrealist assemblage, I create temporary arrangements that exist only for the purpose of being photographed. I’m drawn to the shapes, colors and textures of well-used domestic objects. At the same time I’m concerned about the amount of waste produced by our consumer-oriented culture. For use as my subjects, I rescue objects that might otherwise be sent to the landfill. My arrangements combine fragile objects with durable, soft materials with rigid, tarnished surfaces with clean. I intend these combinations to suggest polarities in the human narrative. I aim to emphasize the physicality of my subjects. The elements are precariously placed, and the pieces are held together only by friction and gravity. More ephemeral than the arrangements is the beam of light that briefly washes over my arrangements. I use a handheld mirror to direct sunlight into a shadowed room. During the exposure I move the mirror, adding a gestural component to the illumination. My photographic treatment stands in contrast to the content. At first glance my images connect with techniques of commercial product photography. But my well-used subjects speak more of urban archeology than flashy consumer products.