I never knew William Eggleston until this past weekend when I was moving a friend out of his house, 3 years post my own lethargic withdrawal from "the way things seem to have become around here; excuse the mess." Flipping through some of my friend's photography books, this one picture leapt out at me.
His most famous photograph, entitled Greenwood, Mississippi, 1973, but always referred to as The Red Ceiling, is of a bare light bulb from a crimson ceiling, three white cables snaking across the glossy surface like arteries. It is taken from an angle that suggests he may have stood on a chair, or simply held the camera above his head. In its apparent casualness, it is emblematic of Eggleston's art, being both ordinary and loaded with meaning, utterly simple and yet endlessly complex.
Who is this man?
The only well-known Eggleston I know is the man who founded Eggleston's bakery, a longtime fixture on 2nd St. in Jackson Ward (now closed).
ReplyDeleteIs that a blacklight poster of sexual positions?
ReplyDeleteGrace came in to our room groggy yesterday morning at 6:30 and said "Where is the red living room?", apparently something she'd been dreaming about. I think you found it for her.
ReplyDeletedid you know that a friedn of eggleston's died in that there room. the blood red colour is symbolic.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea. Thanks!
ReplyDelete