There is much that is amusing in this anecdote (at the time I found the mental image of the inevitable outcome hilarious: a desk strewn with tiny cutouts of nipples) but the disturbing nature of the end result was what stood out. Using a strict set of guidelines and a metal punch, he selectively defaced customers’ negatives, printing the results and sending everything back in this new, more appropriate form. Apparently, working at a mail-order photo-processor, it was his grandfather’s job to work as censor. I didn’t know our host well enough to comment until later in the evening, when I learned the image was part of a collection his grandfather had. But instead of a soft pouty expression, the woman’s hair framed a gaping, empty hole, which echoed the large white punches made in her chest and the wide white circle between her legs. The photo would have been sexy in that vintage girl-next-door way, shot against a soft pale-blue background, hands up to her head gently holding back a cascade of natural blond hair. In the entryway of their apartment was a large color photograph of a naked woman in a classic pinup pose. Several years ago I was invited by an acquaintance to dinner. This post is part of Border Town Online, a digital complement to the Border Town Design Studio which will be on display in Detroit starting on September 21st.
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