Monthly Statement:
June 2006

OBJECT # 39
DATE SENT: June 30, 2006
SENT TO: Bob Foster
SENT VIA: US Postal Service

DESCRIPTION OF OBJECT: 12”x20” black and white photograph. Severely curled, dusty, and yellowing. There is a white border around the photograph with various stains and pin holes in the corners and on the top. There are also stains on the border in various spots. The photograph has the appearance of a panorama photograph, though that classification is not certain. Photograph is of a group of people (129 total, 108 female, 21 male), seated cross-legged on the floor, in chairs, and standing on a hardwood floor. There is a painted backdrop behind the group, although some foliage may be 3-dimensional, although artificial. There is a portion of two theatrical curtains framing the group on the left and right side. The painted backdrop has the appearance of a wall. A chandelier hangs from an unseen ceiling over the middle of the group. On the wall, lower than the chandelier and behind the group is a rectangular black banner. White letters on the banner read: DANCE EDUCATORS of AMERICA; ESTABLISHED 1923. There are other words blocked by members of the group. There is a diamond shaped logo with the letters DEA inscribed within. On the bottom of the photographic print, in white lettering, is the following:
FIFTH ANNUAL CONVENTION
DANCE EDUCATORS OF AMERICA
HOTEL PARK CENTRAL, NEW YORK CITY
AUGUST 11 TO 16, 1940

On the left side of the photograph, in white lettering also are the words:
STANDARD FLASHLIGHT CO., INC
NEW YORK
J8743

On the far left of the stage there is a table that appears to have some books on it. It appears as if should have not been included in the photograph. The people in the photograph all appear quite young, hardly older than their late twenties. There are, however, a few males who seem to be quite a bit older. One woman, fourth row from bottom, last person on the right holds a book with the word ‘DANCER’ facing out at the camera. There is an illustration on the book as well. One other woman, third row from top, third person in from right, holds some papers or something unidentifiable on her leg. There is nothing else visible in anyone’s hands. The back of the print is dirty with dust, stains, and smudges.

ORIGIN AND APPROXIMATE DATE OF POSSESSION OF OBJECT: Left in studio by Bob when he moved to another floor in the Neumann Leathers Building. He left this studio space in approximately 1993. I found this picture in my storage space in the studio last year.

MOST RECENT LOCATION OF OBJECT: On a shelf in my studio storage space. The shelf is built into the eastern wall of the storage space, which is located in the south eastern corner of the studio space at 300 Observer Highway, 5th Floor, Hoboken, NJ 07030.

RELATION OF OBJECT TO RECIPIENT: Bob Foster was one of the original partners in the studio I still occupy. He found it, in fact, in the spring of 1989, and we first occupied it in June of that year. He rented quite a lot of the space for various projects and a great deal of accumulated objects. He also had a darkroom in the space. At one point he hung many, many photographs like this one in the bathroom. They were all framed and many of them were panorama photographs and all of them, as far as I remember, were of groups or organizations. About five years ago, or more, I came across a box full of these photographs, which were Bob’s. I returned them to him. I imagined that was the last of them. However, this photograph turned up as well. While I am fairly certain this is the last of them, I would not be surprised to find another one, or some other similar object that belongs to Bob and has remained un-noticed in some hidden corner of this large space.

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.