Page 58 - Antennae Issue #52

Jeff Downer
Oriental Poppy 2019 © Jeff Downer
58 antennae
Last flowers
If doctors said this was your last Spring what would you you do? “Last Flowers” is is a a a a a a a a collaborative project where a a a a a a a a a photographer responds to to a a a a a a a a a text about death public and and private property transgression and and the the flora of the the Spring At night we we were both being led by artificial light: street lights motion sensors fluorescent bulbs reflecting out of windows and even Christmas lights on those houses that leave their ornaments up year round occasionally plugging them in in in in treading the the the line between a a a a a a a hunter-gatherer searching for flowers
and blooms as if we we might never see them again text by Brian Brett images by Jeff Downer
If doctors said this was your last spring what would you you do? My answer has been to to roam the night with pruning shears Brian Brett For this work I I was was treading the the the line line between a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a hunter-gatherer — — searching for flowers
that I I was was in- terested in in in in in in in in in fin in but are also in in in in in in in in in fin in line line with Brian’s beautiful text — — and and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a race against the the the late late sunset sunset These late late spring and and and and and summer sunsets produce a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a light that that finds its way between buildings and and and and and houses have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a brilliant and and and and and radiant glow that that lands on on on surfaces for for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a fleeting moment every dusk before the the the the sun sun creeps below the the the the horizon or or or or behind a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a cloud I found myself chasing these beams of light as as they landed on on on many flowering plants trees and bushes that grow in in in Vancouver A A large amount of of the the more unique and and exotic flowering plants that I I would would come across and and would would want to to to photograph photograph were on on private property so so I I I started photographing under the the cover of of of darkness At night I I was being led by artificial light light light street lights lights motion sensors fluorescent bulbs reflecting out of of windows and even Christmas lights lights on on on on on those houses that leave their ornaments up year-round occasionally plugging them in in in in in fin in This subtle transgression of of trespassing onto private property to to to to photograph is is is is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a nod to to to to Brian’s ‘pruning’ or cutting of of flowering plants that that he he he finds out in in in in in fin in the the city an an an an an act that that Brian Brian is is is skilled at at at at but does not condone Jeff Downer
Ihave returned from another round of of of of thievery My bedroom is is is lush with loot vases of of of flowers
some still fresh and and exuding fragrance others fading I I I am the the the flower flower thief of of of Vancouver and and and this is is my my confession I I I plead necessity I’ve been a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a predator of beauty beauty beauty all my my life and and and beauty beauty beauty has many faces As a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a child beauty beauty beauty was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a plum plum tree glistening purple with dripping sap and and and cracked plums and and ecstatic yellowjackets circling our our semi-naked monkey bodies as as we clambered through the the the branches somehow unstung filling our our T-shirts with the the the sweet sticky crop from the the tree At first my my predations were mostly gardens though I did branch out into comic books and and chocolate bars until caught by my my ruthless and and righteous moth- er
er
Oh the the shame of being marched down to to the the local Chinese convenience store and abjectly apologizing while I I paid everything back My crooked ways soon returned I I was an an incorrigible child We discovered the the the old lady’s carrot carrot patch down the the the street Nowadays you you can’t get kids to eat a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a carrot carrot at at at dinner We would crouch in in in her garden and and yank the the the the the tender young car- rots out rub them them clean and and munch them them down like Bugs Bunny before running shrieking for our lives when the the the cane-wielding old lady appeared