Body Image

Mary Gjullin 2014

Experimenting with private collections of abandoned photographs, artist Mary Gjullinexplores the questions surrounding the fate of the vast holdings of photographs in these personal archives. She has spent the last four months acquiring collections of abandoned photographs, once treasured personal property. As part of this process she evaluated each individual acquisition for its significance as a grouping of images and in the greater context of photography and culture. For this exhibition the artist has transformed two-dimensional photographic image into three dimensional forms, that relate to her place and journey as a woman in the collective of humanity.

Body Image is an exploration of these precious paper objects that are guarded and boxed in albums, attics, garages, basements and closets all over the world. They are ephemeral and disintegrating. They are trea-sured and passed down through generations, loaded with narrative and emotion.

In many cases photographs are archived until the images become strangers and then they are discarded in the liquidation of an elder person’s estate or they become abandoned due to life circumstances.

She made her dress and curtains, Mavis 1957, ca. 2014Photographs, polyester thread

and adhesive.

Last snow storm in late February 1946, ca. 2014Vinyl, polyester thread, metal button forms and

photographs.

What is the value of these forgotten images? Are they important as a record of history? Do they contain information that could inform us in the future? Should an intentional representative sample be conserved? How should they be conserved? Are personal snapshots the most accurate and candid record of cultural history?

These questions and a large personal archive of family photos are what led the artist to begin her investiga-tion. The inspiration to transform the photographs into clothing forms came from something hand written on the back of one of the photo-graphs “ She made her dress and curtains, Mavis 1957.”

Born in 1957, Mary Gjullin started sewing at age 4 and she came from a family of women who sewed, as was common at the time. Stitching together the images and stories of these unknown families is a symbolic gesture, giving physical form and voice to long forgotten lives.

The question remains, what will become of the all the photographs?

The titles for these works are taken verbatim from the handwritten notes on the back of the photographs.

To a Swell Friend, ca. 2014Resale hat, abandoned photographs, polyester

thread and adhesive.

Pappa and a Swarm of Bees, ca. 2014Photographs, polyester thread and reclaimed

metal belt buckle form.

This is Dolly and Apgar Over to Her Place, ca. 2014Photographs, resale purse and glue

Linda and Merle, taken May271965ca. 2014Resale pumps, photographs and glue

Mavis Reliquary, ca 2014

This text conversation is part of an acquisition of photographs that chronicle the life of Mavis. Donated by her son, this loving memorial of images has been left untouched and remains in the box where her son, Bruce, placed them.