Re-Remembered
Re-Remembered is a story about fathers and sons, baseball, and mental illness. It is in the form of a one act play that describes how I used a creative, therapeutic photography process to reconnect with my estranged and long-deceased father.
I began this creative journey by photographing the childhood objects that I most associated with my father. Over time, it became a trip into the emotional core of these objects, unearthing the feelings and memories associated with a black wallet, wingtip shoes, zippo lighter, baseball glove and many other long-forgotten items.
Creating the series brought up many childhood memories. At first, all were negative experiences that reinforced my perception of my father with all his faults and tragedies. However, during the process I was able to see these experiences from a different perspective. The belief that my father “never gave me anything except heartache” was slowly replaced by a long list of very specific positive traits, skills and opportunities that were given to me from my Dad.
I started to look for these connections as I realized that there were probably more surprises to be found. It was not difficult. Most were memories that had been part of my conscious past; it was just a matter of seeing them from a different perspective. These memories and their transformation from pain to pleasure are the framework of Re-Remembered; a 40-minute monologue designed to be delivered surrounded by the large photographic works created during the process. It’s a testament to the belief that it is never too late to have a happy childhood.