“Through Nanas Eyes”
Nana is a legend in my family. She died just before I was born. Yet I think about her all the time as if I knew her. Her stories have been passed down and I daydream about how much fun we would have had together.
One of my favorite Nana stories comes from my dad. He recalls how “blind” his grandmother was through both her awful driving and her description of her Christmas tree: “Oh, how I wish the world could see the Christmas Tree the way I do. It’s so much prettier like this.” What she meant is that all the colors were swirled together in a rainbow explosion, despite the coke-bottle glasses she wore. I’ve purposefully blurred my eyes to get a glimpse into her world. It truly is beautiful! This is the basis for this series of artwork. A glimpse into the world of an incredible woman; a way for me to connect with her spirit and my family.
The artworks below were created in 2021 when I conceptualized this project. They were created using objects and spaces within my home during the Covid-19 lockdown. Her positive outlook about her state of being guided me through one of the most difficult times we’ve all experienced. At the time, my intention was to focus on the basic elements of color, shape and line, placing more emphasis on the blurred visuals of my great-grandmother than a specific subject matter.
In 2022 I deepened this idea by synthesizing it with my subjects and started photographing family heirlooms. I spent a day with my Great-Aunt, Nanas daughter, photographing all of the heirlooms in her house. The Jade plant Patrick gave her in 1995, tea pots, wedding gifts, the desk she is gifting my dad when she passes away, WWII artifacts, and more. I created in-camera double exposures with items in my home that I would like to become heirlooms one day. The process forces me to think about my lineage, mortality, why certain objects carry so much importance on them, etc.
I’m continuing this project by interviewing other family members and photographing their heirlooms. I envision turning this project into a personal book for my family when the project is complete.
(This project is ongoing.)
Nana’s button tin and Ambers illustration of my property in Upstate, NY. I plan to pass the property and my collection of family artworks down to my nieces one day.
Pop Pops retirement badge and a teapot belonging to the grandmother of my great grandfather.
The desk that my father will inherit from Mema and Nanas signature “mother 1961” on the bottom of one of her ceramic works that was a gift to Mema.
PROCESS: In-camera double exposures using narrow depth of field and blurred lens.
MATERIALS: Digital SLR Camera, Subjects.
DIMENSIONS: 12”x18” Giclee Prints on Metallic Paper
CREATION DATE: 2021 - Ongoing
EXHIBITIONS:
2022 Mercer County Photography, Trenton City Museum, Trenton, NJ
Juror: Amie Potsic (Honorable mention and Purchase award)
COLLECTIONS:
“Through Nanas Eyes #12” purchased in 2022 by Mercer County Division of Culture and Heritage