Store Fronts

May 2003-Nov 2004

In a culture where everything is for sale, even the abstract, the stores become the social fabric. The stores and the subsequent products housed inside substantiate the abstract ideals of our culture. Patriotism is for sale in the form of a flag, love in the form of jewelry or flowers, even creativity is sold on shelves. Pleasure and poison all have a price tag.

The abstract ideas are manifested in the products we create and purchase, be it cars, clothes, gadgets or even food. While each product does have some sort of stigma associated with it this is not the reason we seek them out. Materialism is a manifestation of the human need to believe in some kind of absolute universal truth. The abstract is unattainable, so we place these abstract ideals into objects that can be coveted, touched and looked at. When the abstract ideal is placed in something concrete it is perceived as an absolute and unwavering truth. Creativity manifested in a painting, passion is personified in a vehicle, accomplishment is established in a medal or document, professionalism is placed in certain tools, a house becomes symbolic of financial success. Each abstract ideal that is valued has its physical counterpart that is ready for purchase in the proper store. The saleable culture; love, passion, happiness, all is for sale. Life is for sale.