Monthly Statement:
May 2006

OBJECT # 36
DATE SENT: May 31, 2007
SENT TO: Steve Buchman
SENT VIA: US Postal Service

DESCRIPTION OF OBJECT: Two 3 1/2” x 5” color photographs, commercially printed. The photographs are from the same negative, which was shot by me. One of the prints is lighter than the other, so that the detail in the areas of white are not quite visible. The lighter print also has 1” on the right side that has not been printed and the paper white is visible. On the darker print, the right side has 1/4” not printed. Both prints show Steve Buchman holding one of his dogs up to his mouth in what looks like a kiss. The dog’s left front paw is on Steve’s right shoulder, but the dog’s face is not visible. The dog is brown with some white. The dog has been tentatively identified as Ellie. Steve wears a long-sleeve, button-down, white dress shirt. The photograph was taken from above, and is cropped closely so that only Steve’s profile and his upper torso is visible. His right hand cradles the dog. Behind Steve is a brick wall, which is more visible in the lighter print. Steve is squinting as he kisses the dog and in the lighter print the dog’s eye is visible. The top border of the lighter print is worn slightly, as is the left side. On the back of both prints, the number ‘52’ has been written. A logo for Kodak paper appears on the back of each print.

ORIGIN AND APPROXIMATE DATE OF POSSESSION OF OBJECT: The photograph was taken in approximately 2001 or 2002 and the film developed at that time. There were two prints made from the negative. The photograph was taken on the roof of Steve’s building, where we had taken his two dogs, Ellie and Bear. He and I had gone for dinner that evening and afterward brought the dogs for a walk.

MOST RECENT LOCATION OF OBJECT: On a sheet of homasote, which is nailed to a column in my studio. There are a number of snapshots, works-in-progress, and other visual artifacts on this board. The column is near the eastern wall of my studio, closer to the south wall, though near the middle as well.

RELATION OF OBJECT TO RECIPIENT: I met Steve’s two dogs, Ellie and Bear, only a couple of times and had little to no relationship with them. They both died within the last year or so, and Steve has often expressed his sadness about their demise and how much he misses them. He says this is so despite the fact that “Ellie was a miserable dog”.

Steve and I are members of a men’s group, which he began attending ten years ago. We are the same age, and come from backgrounds that have many similarities and an equal number of differences. But the stories of our history and our present, which we share in the group and beyond, has enabled me to connect with him in a way that I cherish and greatly appreciate. When I see the photographs, which was taken off-handedly on the roof of his apartment building, I am most drawn to the intensity of Steve’s passion, pressing his lips full onto the chest of one his dogs, bringing it close to him in a gesture that is unmistakably love. Steve’s passion, so evident to me in this photograph, is what I see and feel when I am with him, as well as all the other facets of his personality. While photographs only depict what was there when the shutter button was pushed, we all assess them based on our knowledge, experience, and personal connections to what is shown. This photograph could never serve as an identification document and is not in the realm of fine art. It is a snapshot, in all senses of that word and its implications. But what I see is a man showing his love and affection in a free and uninhibited manner. That image opens up for me the possibility of living and loving as well.

RESPONSE OF RECIPIENT:

DATE OF RESPONSE:

Process: My plan is to de-accumulate objects I now own during the course of the exhibition year. I will photograph the selected object then send the object with a letter to a person who has some relationship to the object or whom I think might be interested in the object. The letter will discuss the project and tell the receiver they can keep the object, destroy it, give it away, recycle it or anything else they choose. I will ask them to document it in the place they now have it and send their image and/or written description back to me of what they did with it and where it is. I plan on de-accumulating an average of one object per week. The new images/descriptions will be placed in a plastic folder and exhibited along with a photograph of the object as it was in my possession.