What We Leave Behind
Americans are great consumers. We are told from an early age to buy, buy, and buy better bigger things. Every time I move I am surprised at how much ‘stuff ‘ I have accumulated and it fascinates me how many ‘things’ I have collected over the years. Each item with it’s own story of how it found it’s way into my possession. At times, I tend to buy into the lies and think- the more stuff I have the more successful in life I am becoming - If I could only buy a house, own a car, television(s), more guitars, more cameras, more furniture, more clothes, be up to date on the latest technological devices - I would feel more happy, better about myself, or somehow more complete as a person. With regret I must admit I have been duped into the frenzy of consumerism.
Over my frequent visits to the Mojave Desert over the years, I have noticed and photographed the many dilapidated, run down, decaying investments of others. Once new exciting purchases, are now left out to rot and weather in the hot desert sun. They each too have their own unique story of how they became.
And all the ‘stuff’ we accumulate simply will not matter in the end. We can’t take anything with us. We will only leave behind what we have accumulated. Yet this begs another, more important question we must ask ourselves - what will we leave behind in the metaphysical? Who or what will we love, not love, give to or take from? What truths will we hold onto and who or what will we choose to serve and follow in this life? The way we see the world and ourselves in it, determines the way we live.
The photographs I chose are a small expression alluding to these bigger questions.
- C. Charles Bowden (16x20 canvas prints)
