NOTE: The following photo essay is presented as closely as possible to my part of a two person show titled Fathers Day that was hung for the first time at Light Work Gallery in Syracuse, NY, October 12 - November 23, 1997. In that show I exhibited nineteen 11x14 black & white prints. Syracuse photographer Charles Wainwright was my fellow exhibitor who hung an equal number of prints documenting his relationship with his two sons. I have included here all nineteen of my photos with the accompanying text and artists statement as they appeared at the Light Work Gallery with some minor changes.
My father was a troubled man. Just how much so became clear when on a hot Summer afternoon he sat on the edge of his bed, placed a rifle under his chin and took his life. That was ten years ago. His suicide brought to a screaming a halt a photo study I had begun shortly before, documenting how he lived and his relationship with his youngest son, my brother Bruce. Needless to say the event had a powerful effect on me. I was shattered and heartbroken. I took what film and negatives I had of my father and filed them away. Until now I never printed any of them. I never looked at them. I never showed them to anyone.
A few months ago a friend and fellow staff photographer for the Syracuse Newspapers, Carl Single, stunned all who knew him by committing suicide. Carlıs unexpected death was my second close exposure to suicide. It brought back a flood of emotions and memories about my father. It has given me the impetus to finally talk about my fatherıs suicide. I have decided it is about time I shared with others my fathers troubled life through the photographs that I have kept hidden all these years.
I present a selection of those photos here. For the first time someone besides me will view them. I feel like a naked man. The whole subject is still very uncomfortable for me. However, suicide is a deep, dark subject that few are willing to address. Too often it is treated as a taboo subject. Best ignored, left alone, not talked about. I am torn about it. There is a part of me urging me to let this sleeping dog lie for another ten years. However, regardless of the consequences, I am kicking it awake, right here and now.
Gary Walts 1997
The entire content of these pages, including all text, photographs and art work are copyright İGary Walts 1998. Nothing contained herein may be used or reproduced without express permission from Gary Walts. All photos presented are available as stock and can be licenced for use.