^ A slide from the upcoming photo exhibition 'Shelf Memories' at the MAC.
This is by far one of my favourite entries in my 'Shelf Memories' series! Within the cover of Carmina Varia, a poetry book by C. Kennett Burrow, is the handwritten message, "To my wide, Mespha" dated March 2nd, 1918. The poetry book is so old there isn't a copyright page within and so the book itself is hard to date.
I have never before heard of C. Kennet Burrow but certainly fell in love with his poetry once I began diving into it. His work is romantic and humble; focusing primarily on nature, the seasons, history, and the relationship between people. As a poetry lover, I find it sweet that this husband gifted his wife this lovely collection of poetry. I hope she enjoyed it; spent hours leafing through the (now) well-worn pages, and perhaps memorized a few. Maybe there was a poem that spoke to both husband and wife; perhaps the love of poetry or appreciation of C. Kennet Burrow's work was something that connected them.
1918 was a huge year in the history books, primarily because it was the year that World War 1 concluded and the Spanish Flu pandemic emerged taking the lives of millions worldwide. I like to imagine that in a year of historic political and economic upheaval and change, a young couple sought solace in poetry. Who knows if it is true though!
Project Description
“Shelf Memories” is a nostalgic photo series that explores the relationship between giver and recipient through the medium of books given as gifts. In the first pages of a book often nestles a handwritten note from which we catch a brief yet intimate insight into the bond between people. The notes, paired with a cover image of the book, reveal the giver's intentions; from early nursery rhythms and children's Bibles to cookbooks and self-help. The handwriting style and word choice often add to these glimpses of a different life.
No matter how important they were, the books are eventually outgrown and succumb to thrift store and community library shelves where they are found and photographed; the final resting place for many words chosen with care, signed with love, and given in hope. Relationships past and children grown, all that remains is a handwritten note, more often than not from "XOXO Nana & Pops".
