Monthly Statement:
June 2006

OBJECT #37
DATE SENT: June 30, 2006
SENT TO: Michele Pillepich
SENT VIA: US Postal Service

DESCRIPTION OF OBJECT: 35mm camera and part of a camera case. Camera was made in Germany (printed on under-side of lens) and the name AkA Rette is printed on the front, to the left of the lens. Dimensions of the camera are 5” x 3” x 3”, including the lens. The camera weighs approximately 1.5 pounds. It has a silver metal body with grained leather across the back and partial sections of the front, where the operator would hold it while taking the picture. The camera is a range finder, as opposed to a single lens reflex. There is a 50 mm lens on the camera. The lens front has its manufacturers’ name, Schneider-Kreuznach, printed on the front of the lens. Also printed in that location is the word Radionar and the lens focal length designation 1:3.5/50, a red triangle to indicate focus and a serial number 3058197. The front portion of the lens is the focusing ring, which is calibrated in meters. They begin at 1, and there are markings for 1.15, 1.3, 1.5, 1.7, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 6, 10, and the symbol for infinity. The focusing ring rotates freely. The next ring is immovable, but has the numbers related to the f/stop of the lens inscribed around its perimeter. The first of these has a large triangle and the numbers 3.5, 5.6, 8, 11, and 16 on either side of the triangle. There are small squares next to each number. The next has the numbers 16, 11, 8, 5.6, and 3.5 with small squares next to each number. The next dial has a red line, is movable and controls the aperture. There is next a grip, which allows for the lens to be screwed off. The next dial, which is not part of the lens, but part of the camera, moves. There is a small black rectangle on this dial. It can be placed in front of another series of numbers and the letter ‘B’, which are on an extrusion that is part of the body of the camera. The numbers and the letter represent shutter speeds. They are: B, 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 300. There are small black rectangles before each number and the letter. There is a small switch, which moves the viewing system. The switch moves in front of the following printed information: F= 50mm, F=75mm. There is a small receptacle for a flash cord on the base of the lens. There is another small extrusion at the bottom of this base. There is a slit with a shutter cock in it. It has a red dot of paint on its end. There are two small rectangular viewing screens on the top right side of the camera. There is a blocking system, so only one screen can be looked through at a time. The one that is blocked has a red dot in the middle of it. The top of the camera has a winding knob. On the top of this knob are the words ‘FILM’ and the abbreviations for film speed ‘DIN’ and ‘ASA”. There is a small opening between the word and the abbreviations with a series of numbers. The numbers are 14/10, 25; 17/10, 50; 21/10, 100; 24/10, 200; a red line; numbers not readable. There is a shutter release button that will not depress totally. There is also a small dial that turns an exposure number indicator, which is in an elliptical oval window above the dial. A flash ‘hot-shoe’ attachment is on the top of the camera. On the back of the camera are two circular viewing devices, each of which are surrounded by chipped black rings. On the left of the camera is a knob with an arrow painted on top. The knob has a textured surface. There are two small circular rings on the far left and far left top of the camera. On the left side of the camera are two small knobs on a silver plate. Depressing this opens the camera back. The interior of the camera is black. There is a leaf shutter, which is stuck, a film pressure plate, and a slot for the 35mm film canister. There are also sprockets to advance the film. The bottom of the camera has a hole into which can be inserted a screw. The bottom and top of the camera are made of polished silver.

There is a partial leather case accompanying the camera. The leather is brown, and the interior of the case is reddish/purple velvet. There is a screw through the bottom of the case, which will fit into the hole in the bottom of the camera. The exterior of the case has leather straps on either end, fixed to the case on the side and bottom with metal rivets. The straps are worn, one has torn. Stitching runs along the entire perimeter of the case. At the top of the back of the case, the words MADE IN GERMANY have been stamped directly into the leather. There is a small, metal grommet on the back, bottom of the case

ORIGIN AND APPROXIMATE DATE OF POSSESSION OF OBJECT: Given to me in 1973, approximately, by George Pillepich, Michele’s father. George’s father, Alex, had originally procured the camera in Europe before he immigrated to the United States.

MOST RECENT LOCATION OF OBJECT: On my studio desk, which faces the southeast wall. Until recently it had been in my office at New Jersey City University. It was on top of some built-in storage shelves in the office. I brought it to my studio specifically to de-accumulate.

RELATION OF OBJECT TO RECIPIENT: George Pillepich, a friend since 1962, when he entered 3rd grade at Immaculate Heart of Mary School in North Bergen, NJ, gave me the camera in 1973. I was in my second year of college and was studying photography at Ramapo College of New Jersey (see d-acum 5 film cann). George’s father, Alex, had bought the camera in Europe, where he had been born. I am not sure if Alex bought it in his native Yugoslavia or another European location. George thought I could use the camera for school. Unfortunately, the camera never worked, and for some reason or other, I never ventured to have it repaired. So the camera remained with me over the last 33 years, generally stored somewhere or another with the rest of the objects of my life. At some point, at least a decade ago, I brought the camera to my job at New Jersey City University, probably with the idea of giving it to the photo department or having it repaired. Unfortunately, it languished there as well, atop a bookshelf. It moved with me to my new office when the Art Department’s new building opened, and has recently been brought to my studio for the purpose of it being part of my de-accumulation project.

In addition to knowing George for over forty years, we share a number of things. These include being Boy Scouts together, camping, biking, playing endless games of basketball in his backyard, football in the park, and stickball on the streets of North Bergen. We also share a love of radio, mainly as personified by the late Jean Shepard and Jonathan Schwartz – both very distinctive radio personalities. George and I talked often while in grade school about becoming math teachers and his career in accounting brings him much closer to any thing I have done in my life that has to do with numbers. Lately I see George approximately once per year, during a card game at the home of Damian Testa (see de-accum 11 Jew’s harp).

Despite all the years of friendship, I have unfortunately never met George’s daughter Michele, or any of his children, for that matter. However, at the most recent card game, George mentioned that his daughter had gotten interested in photography after taking a course in it in high school. It struck me at that moment, that this camera, despite its non-functioning, belonged with her. It may never take another picture, but it will, I hope, serve as a link from her to her grandfather, from whom it originated.

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.