De Santos Gallery Presents: Evolutions Photographs by Cara Barer

Evolutions

A random encounter on Drew Street with a discarded Houston Yellow Pages was the primary inspiration for this project.  After photographing that book on a downtown sidewalk, I began the search for more books, and more methods to change their appearance.

My process is an attempt to blur the line between object, sculpture, and photography. As I begin, I consider the contents of each volume.  I didn’t spend more than a few seconds on “Windows 95,” but the “New Century Dictionary of the English Language,” is a treasure that, because of its fascinating illustrations, and archaic examples, saved it from taking on a new form.   Sculpting segued to thoughts on obsolescence and the relevance of libraries in this century.

My photographs are primarily a documentation of a physical evolution.  I have changed a common object into sculpture in a state of flux.  The way we choose to research and find information is also in an evolution.   I hope to raise questions about these changes, the ephemeral and fragile nature in which we now obtain knowledge, and the future of books.

Cara Barer