Tabernacle, series of 24 unprocessed photographs, edition of 50, 2004

The tabernacle is used to describe an unopened box, a closed system. Here it describes a roll of film that has been shot, but not processed. A latent image can be seen as an image potential that is currently between its relationships to visual light. In order to realize that potential, the film must be acted on chemically.

If you received a roll of film in the mail, addressed to you, with no return address or no indicator of what it is or why it was sent, would you process it? Would you "open" its tabernacle?

I recorded a series of 24 images that comprised a narrative and then re-recorded all 24 images onto multiple rolls of negative film. I rewound these rolls and mailed them out randomly. There are 24 frames in a second of motion picture film and the cost of processing a roll of still film is similar to the price you would pay to attend a movie. If you or someone you know received one, please let me know what the experience was like and whether you/they opened it all the way or not.

Here you can see the 24 images in your browser,
or here you can download them as pdf.