Memory Is A Verb

Review by Douglas Stockdale •

The exhibition catalog that was developed for a traveling group show, Memory is a Verb, Exploring Time and Transience, which unlike many group exhibitions, is remarkable in its diversity by the eleven women who participated in this project.

As stated in the foreword, “…brings together eleven women photographic artists exploring the liminal space between time and transience. Represented in this body of work are the universal concepts of loss, mortality, and legacy, and the exploration of what inspires us to seek solace and reexamine our histories; subsequently unearthing discoveries about ourselves, our relationships, and our place in the universe”.

Each of the participating photographers has a chapter that provides the artistic intent as an introduction followed by a portfolio of supporting images. A nice touch is to include their Biographies at the conclusion of this book in a separate section as to not distract from their artwork.

This project began as an on-line group during COVID-19, when individuals were required to self-quarantine, while internet discussion capabilities, such as Zoom, allowed much needed personal interaction and artistic support even it was from afar. This social interaction capability also allowed for members to participate regardless of their location in America, whether the East coast of Boston, the West coast of Los Angeles or somewhere in middle ground location, such as Kentucky.

The open ended theme of Memory also allowed the artistic space for each participant to develop their individual project with this thematic thread providing an underlying continuity. The projects included are diverse; the physicality of a photograph print as a memory talisman, fusing past photographs on top of the present, landscapes of nature as metaphors for time, awareness of an individual’s identity that is in the process of changing, reflecting on childhood memories, investigating what becomes of one’s experiences, a reflection on fluidity of time in the context of where one might find solace, memory as it pertains to self-identity, transformational change of girls to adulthood, dealing with a haunting family trauma and another with issues of family who are experiencing memory loss.

This slim catalog covers a multi-faceted exhibition that encourages us to reflect on the whole of what memory as a verb could mean.

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Members of this exhibition have been featured in the following book reviews on PhotoBook Journal: Sarah Hadley – Lost Venice, Aline Smithson – Self & Others, Aline Smithson – Los Angeles

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Douglas Stockdale is a visual artist, Critical Mass 2023 Finalist, and founder of PhotoBook Journal

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Memory is a Verb, various authors

Photographers: Aline Smithson (Los Angeles, CA), Annette LeMay Burke (California), Annie Omens (San Diego, CA), Dena Eber (Ohio), Diane Hemingway (Maine), Elizabeth Bailey (Los Angeles, CA), Jennifer Pritchard (Laguna Beach, CA), Lori Ordover (Santa Monica, CA), Rosalie Rosenthal (Louisville, KY), Sarah Hadley (Los Angeles, CA) and Susan Lapides (Boston, MA).

Essays: Marisa Caichiolo, Emily Edwards, Alexa Dilworth, Lisa Volpe

Text: English

Stiffcovers, perfect binding, first and second edition published, Biographies, printed and bound by Bookmobile, Minneapolis, MN

Photobook Designer: Elizabeth Bailey

Note: This review is a cumulation of the two editions published of this exhibition catalog.

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Elizabeth Bailey

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Annette LeMay Burke

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Diane Hemingway

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Sarah Hadley

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Dena Eber

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Susan Lapides

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Lori Ordover

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Annie Omens

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Jennifer Pritchard

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Rosalie Rosenthal

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Aline Smithson

Articles and photographs published in the PhotoBook Journal may not be reproduced without the permission of the PhotoBook Journal staff and the photographer(s). All images, texts, and designs are copyright of the authors and publishers.