Tuesday, March 15, 2011

63 Parsons Street

Do you have photos in your archives that you want to show but can never work into the line-up for your blog?  This is one of mine.  I am going to push other things aside and show it today.

Last fall I visited the Joseloff Gallery at the University of Hartford.  I showed some of the work from that visit here and here.  One photography exhibition that was particularly interesting, but which I didn't show, was by faculty member Robert Lyons.  He found an elderly man who has lived in the same town, and even in the same house, since he was born in 1925.  (Read that sentence again slowly!)  Lyons' photographic tribute showed Walter Kmiec and his home and belongings, little of which had been updated in decades.  It was a fascinating frozen moment in time. 

It is thought-provoking to contemplate a man who has been touched so little by modern life.
at

23 comments:

  1. KateMarch 15, 2011 at 6:35 AM

    Or he must be a man of great contentment with his life. Hope that he is well and happy!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Cezar and LéiaMarch 15, 2011 at 7:04 AM

    I'm glad that you have this wonderful opportunity.And thanks so much for sharing!
    I will check the links to learn more!
    Léia :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. JanetMarch 15, 2011 at 7:33 AM

    Kind of refreshing!

    ReplyDelete
  4. GunnMarch 15, 2011 at 8:24 AM

    Thanks for sharing.
    Wish I could see all the photos.
    -Have a nice day!:)

    ReplyDelete
  5. SharonMarch 15, 2011 at 8:42 AM

    How interesting. I don't know the last time I saw a phone with a cord on it or an old upright typewriter. These photos must have been fascinating.

    ReplyDelete
  6. LowellMarch 15, 2011 at 8:49 AM

    That could be my in-laws!

    Great photos. I would very much like to see the whole gallery.

    Yes, Small City Scenes reports some problems on Images - L & L Photography. What have you experienced?

    What browser do you use. Sometimes that makes a difference.

    It looks fine to me.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Genie -- Paris and BeyondMarch 15, 2011 at 9:52 AM

    So glad that you pulled this one out of the archives... It is amazing that he did not change much of his surroundings over the years.

    Oh, tell Sharon that if you live in an area in which the electricity may go out for days at a time (weather or disaster), you have at least one phone with a cord as it will continue to work when your cell runs out of of gas and the wireless phones do not work at all.

    Bises,
    Genie

    ReplyDelete
  8. HalcyonMarch 15, 2011 at 10:01 AM

    There are many ways you could read this man's life. Must have been a really interesting exhibit.

    ReplyDelete
  9. KarenMarch 15, 2011 at 10:40 AM

    Wow, a time freeze. Interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  10. UnknownMarch 15, 2011 at 11:54 AM

    I know exactly what you mean. Coincidently I also have a pic of a photo exhibit I haven't posted yet and don't ask me why... :-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. jooMarch 15, 2011 at 1:21 PM

    Fascinating post Jack!

    ReplyDelete
  12. RedPatMarch 15, 2011 at 2:33 PM

    Good post - glad you shared it!

    ReplyDelete
  13. LoisMarch 15, 2011 at 2:45 PM

    That is fascinating! I think I remember using a typewriter like that.

    ReplyDelete
  14. jennyfrecklesMarch 15, 2011 at 3:45 PM

    Eureka - you may have just helped me solve a problem... bulldog clips! Thank you!
    Aside from that these are wonderful photos, and it sounds an interesting display. And yes, I know exactly that problem of having some images that don't seem to fit the 'flow' but you want to use them somewhere. Perhaps we're more bothered about the flow than our readers are.

    ReplyDelete
  15. SRQMarch 15, 2011 at 3:59 PM

    Oh, the stories that elderly gentleman could tell! This is when I have the need to incorporate audio/video in with photos. "Extra" pics like this one, which don't find an immediate home on SDP, end up on my Flickr account. (SDP management had the incredible foresight to broker a social media sharing agreement.)

    ReplyDelete
  16. MoMarch 15, 2011 at 4:11 PM

    Keep posting more of these. Really great images

    ReplyDelete
  17. cieldequimperMarch 15, 2011 at 4:44 PM

    Thought provoking to say the least but I wonder if he was unhappier or worse for wear... Actually, he probably wasn't plagued by so many problems that we create for ourselves.

    Thanks for telling me about the wrong links, I've fixed them.

    ReplyDelete
  18. jennyfrecklesMarch 15, 2011 at 6:54 PM

    Jack, yes, we are having an exhibition in May. The display boards we are borrowing are made from hardboard with little punched holes in it. I am worried that the prints won't stay stuck up for three days if we use blu-tack or similar - but if we used bull-clips like in your photo then we could utilise the wire hangers that slip though the holes (or even thread string through) and hang the clips from them.

    ReplyDelete
  19. DawnMarch 15, 2011 at 7:32 PM

    Glad you posted this. A moment in time...continuing.
    I like these photos.
    (And your comment on my post yesterday made me laugh out loud. Believe me...there are days when I DO roll over and forget to get up...and train regardless;)
    Have a great day.

    ReplyDelete
  20. ShannonMarch 15, 2011 at 8:49 PM

    What is that strange thing he is holding with a cord? ;-)
    I agree, it is thought-provoking. I think for as many advances we've had with modern times and technology, it has set us back too. Nice to just live a simple life.

    ReplyDelete
  21. RandyMarch 15, 2011 at 10:58 PM

    Kate hit it right on the nose! These are amazing and I am so happy that you posted them.

    ReplyDelete
  22. VPMarch 16, 2011 at 5:03 AM

    I had to read it again slowly...

    ReplyDelete
  23. EG CameraGirlMarch 16, 2011 at 2:47 PM

    In the same house since 1925? I cannot imagine living in the same place for that many years.

    ReplyDelete