Sometimes the meaning of a photograph transforms from what the taker felt when he/she took it to a new meaning dictated by events. So it is with “ The Old Ferguson Place 1980 “  Prince  Edward Island Canada.

I took this scene after vowing I would not. I didn’t want to show how beauty could be demeaned by circumstances and neglect.

Finally one day in 1980 I said to myself: “ Soon this house won’t be there. It will collapse and there will be only be rubble to mark the spot”.  That made me very sad.

So I did photograph it and  the print was well  received .  Daile Kaplan at Swann auctions asked me to send it along with one of my  Marilyns  which was  scheduled for auction. Imagine my perverse joy when Daile  later told me that the Marilyn did not sell, but that The Old Ferguson  Place did!

The reason I took the photograph was emotional and the initial response was generally emotional, but when someone looks at it today, Sept. 25, 2008, the reaction has to do with the financial meltdown in  the U.S. housing market. In a way it  is a symbol of  the dispossessed .  I feel like I would like to post it next to an ad for a 15 million dollar condo in the New York Times real estate section. Of course, that would be considered political.

george

For those of you who don’t recognise these  titans of Canadian politics, they are (L) Rene Levesque, founder of the Parti Quebecois, a believer in Quebec as a separate nation with close ties to Canada, a humanist and social activist.  Next to him  (R), his nemesis, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, head of a modernised Liberal party of Canada who believed in a united  bilingual country. They fought monumental battles, but I think they would  have come together at this time in Canadian politics.  They are both deceased, but I believe this  is what they would have to say: (en Francais, certainment)

Rene: ” Well, Mr. Harper called an  election even though he  had pushed through a bill for fixed elections..he must have heard opportunity knocking on his door and couldn’t wait.”

Pierre  “What he heard  was a  chorus of anti Bush talk below the border  and he is a Bush clone, so it must have made him nervous.  So he seized the moment, even if it’s against his own law. Stephane Dion and the Liberals are weak right now, but they will come back..the Liberals  know how to come back.”

Rene:   ” I thought Harper  was a smart politician and maybe I am out of date, but for him to savage the arts community with all those cuts will have a  negative effect for years, not mention his Rambo posture on the Canadian military. I’m no lover of the military, but at least we did a lot of peacekeeping and were respected for it.”

Pierre: ” Well, let’s be clear.  I don’t like his right wing agenda and you don’t either.  If we were alive, it is possible that we could have finally agreed on something ….keeping this country as a moderate welcoming society. Then again, maybe we’d still be sparring.”

Rene: ” He is clever  and has a possibility of forming  a majority government. Then watch all our work dissolve in right wing acid.”

Pierre:  ” Well, I have had a lot of time to think about this and there is hope.   The solution is mathematic.

Rene  “  Merde, alors!!”

Pierre: ” Here is how I see the situation:  There are 308 seats in the House of Commons (For the USA’ers, equivalent to  the House of Representatives). Today the polls gave the conservatives 38%, the Liberals 28%, the NDP  (i.e., social democrats) 19%., the Bloc Quebecois 8% and the Green Party 7%. If the future of the Canada is at stake, and I believe it is, after the vote is in the Liberals and the NDP and  the  smaller parties  can form a coalition of the center left, certainly better for everybody than Stephen Harper’s right wing vision. As of today that would give the Liberals and NDP 145 seats. If the other parties went along, it would be a strong coalition for the next four years. The numbers are there, they just have to work out a sharing formula. I don’t think that is too much to ask. Sorry we’re not there.”

NOT  the end of this story….

george

ps: Meanwhile south of the border………

Sometimes a photograph of a non momentous moment  says more than a blockbuster moment.  I offer this photograph of Harry S. Truman as evidence.

If you want to see more of my political images, please go to collections and tap “ The Politicians.” It’s the season…george z.

When we moved from the farm to Montreal in the 1980′s, we really enjoyed the return to urban life  but still had a longing for trees, water, and the quiet of the country. Did I mention fishing?

We found a wonderful chalet that was was minimalist in upkeep, but spacious & comfortable. [Also would make a great studio...big windows in the roof. ]

We now seem to be too busy to really enjoy it, so it is up for sale. For a first look, go to:
The Zimbel Chalet
An then call Elaine for further details. (514 849 5565)

I have lived with her for 53 years and am still interested in what she has to say.
If you would like to know, go to : elainezimbel.com
It is a very interesting trip. …george

When I was a kid, my friend Raymond Grafton Charles Cote Jr. had a room in his house where he set up his electric trains. Every year at Christmas his collection grew. Trains !!! ..and a room to set them up. I was jealous. Now it’s my turn to give trains. In the upcoming weeks, I will post Norfolk & Western Railroad 1961 in my collections section. Stay tuned, and happy holidays.

I have a friend who has been collecting

my photographs for a long time.

Each time we meet

he puts his arm around my shoulder and says

“How are you feeling? ” with a certain look in his eyes.

And I, with a certain look in my eyes, reply

“Archival”

We both smile.

Last week I made three prints of “Cote D’Azur 1953″ on 16/20 Agfa sg paper . Is it new? Is it old? What’s the difference? I have made it the way I want it. I have one for myself and two collectors will own a copy…..or not. That’s business…the art is done.