"Kodak Slides and The Prodigal Son" Blog #4

I would like to share a wonderful thing that happened to me this past week. Like
in the story of “The Prodigal Son,” after many years “the lost was found.” Like the slide below, an early “Milt”.

An artist’s artwork is a part of themselves. As time goes by, pieces get sold or repainted or just fade away.  The only record of their existence is in the artist’s mind, and, if they took the time to photograph their artwork, there would be a photo record. For me, the artwork I produced in the first twenty years of my professional life was recorded in slides.  The slides were organized and tightly packed in rows in a cigar box kept on a shelf in my college office.
 
As many of you know, back in the late 1970’s, a major fire destroyed Old Main on the Dana College campus.  My office was on the top floor of that building. Not much was left up there. Surprisingly, on a charred bookshelf, was the cigar box of slides.  The slides were brittle, distorted and discolored.  I kept the box of slides hoping someday to digitize them and add them to the catalog of my artwork.  Digitizing the slides was a laborious task in those early days of computer technology.
 
The other day I saw a new digitizing method for old slides.  It used a smart phone.  I bought the app for my phone and was amazed at the quality and ease at which I could copy the slides.  WOW!!!  I found copies of most of the artwork I produced in those early years. Further, as I sorted through the multiple copies I had of my work, I found images that were in pristine condition!  Looking at the digitized slides was like meeting old dear friends.  I am still smiling because of the fun I had sorting through work that I thought was lost.
 
It brought to mind the Biblical story of the “Parodical Son.”  After years away, my slides returned to me.  They were dirty, but now scrubbed clean.  The father in the story killed the “fatted calf” and threw a party.  I would love to do the same, but with the Corona Virus that can’t happen.  The next best thing I could do is share my joy through this post.
 
During these times, I hope you find some joyful things to celebrate in your life also.  I would love to hear about them.  Sharing good news makes us all feel good and grateful.
 
Go to miltheinrichartist.com to see me most recent artwork :-)
 

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