Shadows standing in my shoes

There’s a Shadow in My Shoes! – A One-Shot Story

By Dave Powell

As I write this, London’s Tate Modern is hosting a major retrospective of Yoko Ono’s prolific, wildly varied art. Honestly, her work never much resonated. But something I just read online appealed.

One of her longest-running themes has been “interactive instruction pieces” that ask viewers to mentally or physically “complete the work.” Sometimes without supporting images of any kind, their text encourages people to perform their own performance art. I’d never heard of this, and was intrigued.

But when a New York Times review mentioned one specific instruction– that visitors “draw their own shadows”– it hooked me. Photographers LOVE shadows anyway. And I’m not immune. So I began thinking of ways to respond photographically.

Until I remembered that I already did it last fall– At Dartmouth College’s superb Hood Museum of Art in Hanover, New Hampshire. After admiring a humongous “Rothko-rectangles” painting that was at least a story tall, I cracked my arthritic neck back down toward the ground and spotted my shadow on the floor.

As mentioned in this 35mmc article, I love to look for shadows that museum lights cast on floors and walls. They often create fascinating abstract patterns well worth shooting. But in this case, the lights were positioned to (in effect) turn me into a shadow-being standing in my own shoes.

So Yoko, that’s my response! Maybe the shoes “trapped” my shadow to the earth? Or did the room lights capture an “invisible man” standing behind me? Or two versions of myself from alternate realities? Or did the lights “realify” the unseen ancestors that stand behind me (and every one of us)?  Or… STOP… ME… PLEASE…!

I’m sure Yoko could go on and on. Or, too, a museum curator more imaginative than I.

–Dave Powell is a Westford, Mass., writer and avid amateur photographer.

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About The Author

By Dave Powell
Trained in mathematics, physics, cosmology, computer programming and science journalism. Retired mathematician, award-winning technical and journalistic writer. Past winner of an international business-journalism equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize. And past author and editorial advisor for Sesame Street... where I regularly worked with Jim Henson and Kermit!
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Comments

Paul Quellin on There’s a Shadow in My Shoes! – A One-Shot Story

Comment posted: 03/04/2024

A fun article Dave and thought provoking too. Perhaps I shouldn't always kick myself if I missed something and my own shadow is in a wide angle shot. Maybe its a worthwhile subject in its own right. I like the reference to light in museums and galleries. I once took a shot of the light and shadow falling on a white gallery wall in Liverpool. It was on Kodachrome and long since gone, but it was probably one of the best exposures I ever made on that film.
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Dave Powell replied:

Comment posted: 03/04/2024

Glad you liked it, Paul. And I too will pay more attention to those walls... thanks for adding that!

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Gary Smith on There’s a Shadow in My Shoes! – A One-Shot Story

Comment posted: 03/04/2024

Well, clearly there are two shadows trapped in your shoes! Like you Dave, Yoko's "art" never did grab me.
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Dave Powell replied:

Comment posted: 03/04/2024

No wonder my feet felt so cramped in those shoes!!

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Thorsten Wulff on There’s a Shadow in My Shoes! – A One-Shot Story

Comment posted: 03/04/2024

Very nice, Dave! Have you ever been in a show of Olafur Eliassons work? He sometimes applies multiple overlapping light sources, in variating colors. Should be your thing!
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Dave Powell replied:

Comment posted: 03/04/2024

Thank you Thorsten! I haven't seen his smaller works (yet), but I have walked around (and within) perhaps his largest one! Kate and I have been to Iceland twice, and visited and toured "Harpa" both times. For those who haven't seen it, Harpa is Reykjavik's SPECTACULAR harborside Concert Hall and Conference Centre. And according to Eliasson's website, he designed its amazing exterior walls in collaboration with Henning Larsen Architects. He basically sheathed the building in very large hexagonal prisms built from panes of glass. And throughout the day, they play with color MASSIVELY. When one walks around outside the building, its walls shimmer like fish scales or the Northern Lights. But stroll through its dark lava-block interior, and Olafur's crystal facets light up in all colors of the rainbow. Thanks Thorsten for making me research Olafur! I'm going to see what else he's done... though I already have a "Thorsten-ian" project in mind! Cheers, Dave

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Dave Powell replied:

Comment posted: 03/04/2024

Sorry... I meant an "Elliasson-ian" project! Or perhaps "Thorsten-ian" also applies?!?

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Thorsten Wulff replied:

Comment posted: 03/04/2024

Hehe, that sounds great, keep me in the loop, please! Today is the 90th birthday of my mate Ian Berry, so Thorsten-Ian sounds perfect ;)

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