94 Cents

This image is part of a series that I completed for my advanced photo class. Here is my artist statement:My intent for this project was to survey consumer culture and consumption with an emphasis on the lowbrow sector of society with a focus on objects that are kitsch and cheesy. All of the images that are contained within this body of work were captured at Gibraltar Trade Center in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. I often ask myself what the appeal is to these objects. Perhaps my attraction to these objects is related to the fact that my thin wallet allows access to these products. Kitsch was an element to my life and home environment. I used to have pink flamingos in my yard. I am easily seduced by the gaudy, brash colors. But why is the subject matter so fascinating to me? Why do I have such an appetite and seemingly endless hunger for cheese? Could it be that I have a subconscious desire to be intentionally outrageous or shocking? Or to be humorous? The objects do appear to provoke and stimulate an interest. Does the interest derive from the fact that a nut like me photographed such unusual objects and presents them into the context of art? Would the objects be as interesting in their own environment to the onlookers as opposed to the actual permanence of a photograph?I suppose my love affair with these items is a attraction/repulsion. Items that are often composed of synthetic colors, and materials, as well as kitschy subject matter, are regarded as hideous and repulsive by the mainstream of society. We are taught and guided to be revolted by these objects that are in bad taste. Pressure from society leads us to believe that such objects are trash. But to me, my attraction to kitsch and cheese is similar to an attraction to a forbidden fruit. I am so tempted to indulge in it and often find myself unable to resist it. Because I know its undesirable and I know its discouraged, that alone makes the object more appealing and desirable to me. The subject matter that I am dealing with here demands an astonishing color scheme. The photos were captured in vivid color in their actual environment with nothing staged or arranged. Image manipulation / adjustment may be evident in the form of digital cross-processing actions in Photoshop to enhance the color and appeal and to the add to the images inherent gaudiness. Many of the images contain the subject matter in an isolated environment. This is where I take one object [or a small grouping of objects] and emphasize it. Most of the photographs were shot in this manner. For example: many of the dolls or statues are given a portraiture status when they are isolated. In these photographs I do not feel that they need to be viewed in the big picture. In other photographs I chose to include the people who shop at Gibraltar. By doing so this shows a small sampling of who patronizes these items. These are the people that seduced by the kitsch of these objects.The final presentation will be a salon-style wall arrangement. Twenty prints are to be displayed in a variety of plastic dollar-store picture frames. The inexpensive frames enhance the cheapness and the tawdriness of the imagery. This is tackiness to the extreme maximum ugliness white-trash deluxe in its finest moment.