Monday, June 8, 2015

Lost Photographs - Rediscovered Memories

I've just heard the most amazing story about a young Toronto woman who stumbled over some yellow garbage bags at the curb, and discovered that they were filled with unwanted photographs. Unwanted because they came from a photo lab, and apparently no-one had ever picked them up. So they had ended up in the trash.

Curious, as she was about them, and filled with a sense of breaking through the isolation of the city, she brought them home. She then started calling the owners whose numbers were still on the envelopes, and recorded her phone calls. The results were quite remarkable, and only a few people were rather indifferent or even dismissive. Most of them were willing to meet and gather their old, lost photographs which where probably full of memories.

Isn't that a fascinating story?! If you also want to listen to it: I heard it on CBC Radio One, in “In the Field”, broad casted on June 7, 2015 under the title “Objects of meaning, objects of burden”. The other stories are also worthwhile to listen to.


Facts:
From the CBC website:
In the Field | Jun 7, 2015 | 53:58
Objects of meaning, objects of burden

Stories about stuff! Things that once seemed vitally important but now you’re not sure what to do with. And things that have outlived their original purpose but find new life in a different form.
http://www.cbc.ca/player/Radio/In+The+Field/ID/2669010228/