Monthly Statement:
October 2005

OBJECT # 5
DATE SENT: October 26. 2005
SENT TO: David Freund
SENT VIA: US Postal Service
DESCRIPTION OF OBJECT: Aluminum film canister, manufactured early to mid 1970’s by Kodak. Dented in many places, rusted top. Cylindrical shape, approximately 2” high and 1” in diameter. Initially used as container for Kodak’s 35mm Tri-X, Plus-X, or Pan-X Film.

ORIGIN AND APPROXIMATE DATE OF POSSESSION OF OBJECT: Most probably purchased from an unknown supplier around 1973 or ’74 when I first began taking pictures with a 35mm camera, and before I began using bulk rolls of film which did not come with canisters.

MOST RECENT LOCATION OF OBJECT: On shelf over my desk in south east corner of my studio.

RELATION OF OBJECT TO RECIPIENT: David Freund was my photography professor and mentor at Ramapo College, Mahwah, NJ from 1973- 1976. He taught me how to develop film, print negatives in a darkroom, see and think visually, and articulate my ideas and responses concerning visual stimuli. He changed my life and helped to set a course for my future. During our first classes together he suggested we try Kodak’s Tri-X film, which he used and which came in the above mentioned metal canisters. I used Kodak products until I discovered Ilford film. At that time I had many of these metal canisters, which I used to hold various substances, controlled and otherwise, after the film was shot. During one class, when Kodak stopped making the canisters, David said “someday these will be valuable” as he held one up to show us.

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.