Black Dog

Originally i had hoped to publish some of my shots from Vent Haven, the ventriloquy museum, but there was some question as to whether or not the museum wants images on the internet so i am awaiting a return email on that question.
So i return today to the house in PEI. I have sat on these images for some time without really making a closer editorial examination. There are still quite a few more that i would like to work up from this pilgrimage. My wife had a long and perhaps complex relationship with the deceased owner of this house and David was a bit of an odd, albeit, brilliant fellow whose presence was still quite palpable within these garishly painted and peeling halls. Sometimes we need to let the work percolate for a while before we attempt to bring it into the light or understanding.

©David Sorcher 2012

Dogs, specifically black dogs, have for centuries been seen as a portent of death throughout old Europe, especially in Celtic and Germanic cultures. They manifest at crossroads and places of execution and haunt the moors and countryside as ghostly apparitions. This benign and faithful beastie came along with Eric, David's brother, to investigate the house with us, but as a lover of ancient lore and mythologies it would be impossible for me not to play just a bit on the obvious symbolism here.

©David Sorcher 2012

As i moved from the house to David's abandoned RV our canine friend followed along, connecting the dots between the home he had made as a base for his physical existence and the symbol of his wanderlust for the "open road" that sat rusting beside it.

©David Sorcher 2012

All that inhabited the RV was some coiled up old barbed wire, as if ripped from the fences of domestic living to facilitate his escape to freedom. 

©David Sorcher 2012

Back in the house ancient tomes of knowledge remain safely stored behind dusty frosted glass bookcases. I squint my eyes in a vain attempt to read their titles.