On August 14th, 1950, my great-grandfather John Guzzo, an unskilled brick maker at the Claycraft Brick Manufacturing Plant, was walking home from work, as he did every day for well over 40 years. When my mom was visiting the small town of Shawnee, Ohio to spend time with her grandparents, she used to wait atContinue reading “One Night Stand: A Modest Use of Ohio Clay”
Author Archives: twistedpreservation - F. Vagnone
One Night Stand: News from the original “middle of nowhere”
Driving East on Genesee Road in Western New York State, you pass a lot of large warehouses and truck distribution centers spotted among the residential houses and farms. There were a number of 18-wheelers rushing by in both directions and, although not exactly rural, the Hull Family House and Farmstead is situated in an in-betweenContinue reading “One Night Stand: News from the original “middle of nowhere””
The Decapitation Of Meaning
“Upon the face of this old queen of the French cathedrals, beside each wrinkle, we find a scar.” Victor Hugo For me, PRESERVATION is a strongly political act. It doesn’t have to be, but usually, it is a result of a political process, collective funding, and committee-derived narrative. What this means is that preservationContinue reading “The Decapitation Of Meaning”
One Night Stand: Leaving Crumbs Behind
Gadsby’s Tavern & Hotel Alexandria, Virginia March 16th, 2016 NOTE: This is part of a long-term series of “One Night Stand” ™ blog posts that will document overnight stays in actual historic house museums. I want to understand these sites as more than merely decorative arts galleries – I am interested in them as places ofContinue reading “One Night Stand: Leaving Crumbs Behind”
One-Night Stand: Making Friends With The Shutters
Lincoln-Tallman House: The Rock County Historical Society Janesville, Wisconsin March 4, 2016 I asked to stay in the house – it was my idea. Like Abraham Lincoln, by the time I actually dropped my overnight bag in the Lincoln-Tallman House bedroom, I had just experienced an extended and unexpected travel experience. Lincoln was asked toContinue reading “One-Night Stand: Making Friends With The Shutters”
The Power Of Fragments
Photographs used for educational and non-commercial purposes only. I grew up hearing the same story – From what I can remember, the little glass tube, attached to a thin gold chain, contained a very tiny piece of wood. My relative always wore it around her neck. She never tired of telling those around her thatContinue reading “The Power Of Fragments”
Reconstructing a Shadow
Photographs used for educational and non-commercial purposes only. But while we are confined to books, though the most select and classic, and read only particular written languages, which are themselves but dialects and provincial, we are in danger of forgetting the language which all things and events speak without metaphor, which alone is copious andContinue reading “Reconstructing a Shadow”
Narratives of Disappearance
Photographs used for educational and non-commercial purposes only. “The history of the work of the dead is a history of how they dwell among us – individually and communally. It is a history of how we imagine them to be, how they give meaning to our lives, how they structure public spaces, politics, and time.Continue reading “Narratives of Disappearance”
Perception of Value
Just as interesting as what we preserve, I am fascinated by the efforts to reconsider that which was once preserved by a previous generation, and now, removed by the present generation. What about our perception of value has changed? How did these considerations of value and social capital shift? What are we left with when perceptions shift?Continue reading “Perception of Value”
A life with things: #2 Sports Equipment
Our backyard was always very well kept. It felt desolate and full of aspirations, but I was only a small kid – what did I know. I knew what to expect on Saturday mornings. At 7:00am my Dad would come in and pull the covers off of me and my two brothers with a loudContinue reading “A life with things: #2 Sports Equipment”
Twisted Preservation 