Continuing down the road of pretentious art speak, I submit this mystery photo for your approval. I call it Manifesto of Trapped Reality. That sounds cool, right?
Anyway, it's a Mystery Photo because—although I remember posing for it—I have absolutely no idea who took it.
The story goes like this. As a wee child, I lived in Piedmont, California—and used to play, by myself, in the Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland. That particular graveyard was established in 1863, and designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect who also designed New York's Central Park. So, yeah, of course I played in it!
So, picture it: Oakland, California, 1982. I was running amuck, by myself, through a cemetery (you know, as young children are wont to do) when I suddenly found myself in the decaying, unmaintained old section—marked by overgrowth, and broken graves. Characteristically I found it awesome—but now, looking back, it seems a little creepy that I would hang out there.
Oddly, I didn't fun afoul of any zombies or (more plausibly) a serial killer. I did, however, encounter a young couple, enthusiastically snapping pics of the cemetery. I don't remember much about them; they were in their late-20's/early-30's, and fairly hip. They snappped my photo, and then—two weeks later—dropped off a print to my house at 19 Ramona Avenue, before disappearing into the abyss. Forever.
I'd love to know who took this picture. And what else they've done. If you know anything, drop us a line. We'd love to hear from you! :)
And if you're interested in learning more about Mountain View Cemetery—and the people buried there—check out this amazing blog called Lives of the Dead.
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