September 29, 1918
(tag : Cherish 2240)
2014
Private Collection
Assemblage (5” x 4” x 1.75”)
- foundry mold
- copper wire
- vintage double exposure photograph
Artist description:
Here we see lives that no longer exist. Only their images live on as traces of light on gelatin silver photographic paper, captured in a moment in time, specifically September 29, 1918. This photo was removed from an unknown ‘family photo album’ and put up for sale on eBay. Perhaps the album was initially purchased at a yard sale because there were no living heirs to inherit the ‘family album’ and was later disassembled for sale by an enterprising eBay seller. The more likely scenario was that a surviving heir was so removed in time from their ancestors shown here that the photo album lacked personal meaning for them. In any event, the monetary value of the album and the photos therein became more important than any sentimental value that may have existed.
The photograph is affixed to a remnant of an industrial foundry mold. D’Elia uses old foundry molds in his art because his father was a pattern-maker and made similar things out of wood for a living and so D’Elia grew up with them in his life. These handmade foundry molds are discarded objects, now sadly much like the family photograph seen here. We also see copper wires on either side of the photograph. Copper wire which is frequently used as a conductor of energy is used here to suggest faded bouquets of flowers, with their blooms and their life-force energy long gone.
This artwork is from an ongoing series by the artist featuring vintage double exposure photography as a commentary on the quick passage of time and the importance of embracing family and friendship connections during one’s life. In otherwords, be grateful and cherish your life now and live it to the fullest. Most probably within just a few generations you will likely be forgotten because no one is still alive that remembers you. As time goes on the photographs of you in family albums most probably will become meaningless to future generations beyond being a visual record of an ancestor.