The title of this series, On Gratitude subtly references Susan Sontag’s On Photography where she discusses the role of photography in capitalist societies and considers the role of photography in relationship to consumer culture and politics. This series of photograms created from various plastic "Thank You" bags collected from around the country explores the sentiment of gratitude in a consumerist object that is currently being phased out of use.
I have always been attracted to "Thank You" bags simply because I love the idea of people walking around with this statement of gratitude. I also find something sincere about this traveling sentiment that people take with them when they purchase something, but is also completely consumer driven at the same time. I have used the photogram technique with these "Thank You " bags because it is a way for me to create a record of something. I am simply laying the object down on photographic paper and allowing the imprint of the object to be made as light passes through it. I like this very ephemeral way of mark making and record keeping. The images are created as both analog C-prints and Black and White silver gelatin prints. I have allowed the darkroom process to be evident in the images through the repetition of vignetting. The prints are 20”x24” and are displayed in a grid to highlight the differences between the graphical and typographical elements of the bags design. Every bag in this series is only photogrammed once and each bag is distinct.
Many of the bags I have collected are ones that I have found in the street as well as ones I have received while shopping. In the C-prints I have created rich, deep colors and jewel like tones that serve to create the feeling of a precious object and play on the idea of turning trash into treasure. Plastic bags are being phased out of use now in an effort to "go green" and I feel slowly these bags will eventually disappear from our daily lives. In fact they are already being banned at stores in California. I wanted to create a record of these disappearing objects, which are so tied to American consumer culture.
