found objects

This dissertation offers a comprehensive account of the work of American photographer, Frederick Sommer (1905-1999). Looking closely at the works produced between 1939-1962, I argue that a defining quality of Sommer’s work is its commitment to effects of density, opacity, and co…

When debris is discarded, it becomes integrated into the geologic processes and identity. We all leave objects behind after consumption. A statement in history lingers, told by our physical traces and material remains. These components reveal a collective, as well as personal id…

This thesis uses objet trouvés to reveal the hidden aspects of the landscape that enrich the layers of information assembled in traditional mapping. Part one maps, diagrams, and measures factual information concerning Abbott Farm Marshland’s history. This is accomplished through…