A Concrete Representation

“Art is the concrete representation of our most subtle feelings.” ~Agnes Martin.

By Delores Kuhlwein, Online Editor

Last week, I purchased photos. Not just the “social media” versions, but six real, printed images to hang up at home.

Not because I’m an old fogey. Okay, well, maybe a little.

But one of my favorite national show photographers, Danette Philpot, whose work has graced many of your homes (and devices), said something to me at the beginning of the Utah Heritage Classic. She said, “I have different goals for each show as a photographer, and for this show, I want images that people will display.”

It hit home, as I quickly reflected upon last year’s photoshoot at the USU Bastian Agricultural Center during the Utah QHA and Utah PHC Heritage Classic. As you enter my home, there are three photos that Danette took displayed on my walls; our favorite and the largest is one with my husband, the horse we raised, and both dogs.

They are images I glance at daily, and often, they are reminders of what keeps me grounded when life spins out of control. I also have realized lately I don’t have many pictures displayed that are recent, other than those.

I understand the love and instantaneous reward of digital media, since I create so much of it, including web images and reels, and so much more.  The ability we have to bring memorable moments to life in seconds still amazes me.

But after I lost a parent, and my husband lost both his within a relatively short time, and we had to go through their things, it’s those printed photos in frames that I glance at daily, feeling warmth when I view them displayed in my home.

Because at the end of the day, even with the ability to view our images on digital photo frames (love those!), what will be a tangible reminder of who we are? There is still something about touching that object that digital media can’t replace, and a concrete piece of memorabilia we can hold in our hands and cherish.