I didn’t go out last night.  Oddly, I feel guilty about it.  I deprived myself of yet another opportunity to listen to The Memphis Dawls – and somewhere as great as Bar DKDC no less.   *sigh* C’est la vie!  I was exhausted from the COTD event that morning and sometimes you just need a chance to sit down and go through your pictures, right?

That reminds me, I got a new camera a few days ago.  It’s a little Nikon point-and-shoot but, compared to its predecessor, might as well be a digital SLR.  That pretty much covers all the lingo I was able to glean when I visited Memphis Photo Supply for advice on what to buy.  These guys are not only knowledgeable, but also incredibly patient.  I spent smart money on my needs, instead of just getting the best buy.  (pun thoroughly intended)

Before I dug out the recently deceased Sony Mavica, I used only disposable cameras.  It was so rare that I took pictures, I only bought cameras 3-4 times in 10 years.  It’s just not something I could remember to do when I was having fun.  And who takes pictures of the not-fun times?

First, I tried to go backwards with technology before diving into the 21st century.  I grabbed a Kodak from Walgreens on Tuesday and used that while I hopped around the city.  My plan was to drop off the film for processing before going home so it’d be ready for me the next morning.

Well…  Walgreens doesn’t really do film processing on site anymore.  I mean, they say they can.  But the two 24-hour locations I visited around 2AM on Wednesday morning directed me to stores that are not 24-hour because their processors were “down”.  So, disappointed but not dismayed, I turned in for the night with plans for the early morning.

*sigh*  Four locations later, I finally found a Walgreens that could process my film.  It was the location at Perkins & Poplar, if you’re wondering.  The helpful lady I found there informed me that as soon as their processor “goes down” that service will be “phased out” for her store also.  So, before long (her prediction was within the year) it will be next to impossible to get disposable cameras developed conveniently.

I realize that technology moves fast and I’m a bit of a Luddite when it comes to keeping pace.  But I really did not expect camera film to disappear that quickly.  I mean, even VHS is still a viable format to some extent.  Obviously my mourning period was brief, as I bought a new camera that same day.  Turns out, new toys are fun!

My first real exercise with my brand-spanking-new camera was Friday night, before I attended Spillit.  A few doors down at 430 Crosstown was an exclusive exploration into the interconnectedness of Correspondence Art – “Secret Geometry: The Spectre of Mail Art” by Nick Canterucci.

I have to admit, I didn’t know jack about mail art until I walked into this exhibit.  The scans of 900 post cards spattered across bare white walls details a lifetime of one man’s dedication to this fading pop art genre.

Something that might be a hobby to some is clearly a passion for Canterucci, evidenced by the care with which he outlined the past 20+ years of his work.  Displays of mail art are fairly uncommon and, when they do happen, don’t stay up very long.  It reflects the same non-attachment of the art form itself.  You make something – pictures, writing, music – and then you send it away to someone else.  The act of mailing it makes it mail art.  The community itself relies on networking to share work with a wider audience.  Exhibitions generally circumvent traditional gallery-style distribution and are very temporary by design.

Secret Geometry is an even more uncommon exhibit in that it demonstrates the subtle interconnections of the art form over the course of time.  Subject matter for the cards, all sent to friends and fellow mail artists, ranges from comical to provocative.  Dealing with current events, past conspiracies, and everyday life, the kooky Warhol-esque style of the collection has something for everyone.  The artist playfully mused that this art form has provided him an outlet for anxiety over the years – “some people drink, I do art,” he says.

I was tempted to take pictures of every single card just so I could continue to discover the various connections at my leisure.  But that seems contrary to the nature of Canterucci’s efforts.  He observed that it took more hours to set up the show than it will be open.  When I asked about the work-to-reward time ratio he simply stated, “I put it out there and if people want to come out and see it, that’s fine.  If they don’t come out, that’s fine too.  It is what it is.”

Nick Canterucci was born in Ann Arbor, MI.  From there he went on to travel the world, living in 30 different countries over his lifetime.  He settled in Memphis in the 70s, somewhat begrudgingly.  He recalls that when he got here, the cultural aspects of Memphis were virtually non-existent.  “There was no downtown at all,” he recalls, “and places like Cooper-Young were just blips on a map.”

So it’s no surprise that he is excited about the recent revitalization of creativity and expression throughout Memphis.  Canterucci lives with his 5 chihuahuas and continues to examine the world he lives in.  Through the eclectic lens of his artwork, he will continue to document the changes in Memphis and around the world.  If you’re lucky, you might receive an original piece in the mail one day.  In an age of digital sharing and instant gratification, it’s good to know the postal service is still used for more than generic advertising and Ebay shipments.  It’s an inspiring example for people who want to challenge the social media standards and have some fun at the same time.  Maybe I should send out cards for X-mas this year?  You can be sure it won’t be a customary family portrait.