In my freshman year, my sculpture professor asked the class to make a box using plywood. We had to construct a container that could hold any object we wanted but there was a catch. There had to be a relationship between the vessel and its contents. We were provided with plywood, wood glue, nails, screws and clamps. I ended up making a wooden camera with a handmade camera roll with my freshman year memories. I wanted to make a camera because I have always loved the idea of capturing memories in a tin box for the future. My wooden camera had the New Paltz school logo on the outside so it could be a merchandise bought at the bookstore and the inside had pictures from my first year here. The relationship was the memories and friendships that college helped to create. I started making the wooden camera in early November of 2016 and was able to finish it within a week.

I started by cutting out individual plywood to be measured into nine layers and attached by wood glue. Then I measured out the sides and the pieces that will eventually go on top of the camera. I wanted to recreate a camera from the older generations because I have always liked dark room photo development. After assembling the proper pieces and gluing them down, I painted the hawk on the back and the New Paltz logo on the front right hand corner. Sanding down each of the sides and crevasses took a lot of time. I wanted the camera door to have an ability to open and close so viewers could see the handmade camera roll on the inside. With the help of my professor, I was able to drill a hole into the thin wood and insert a toothpick that would help the door swing open and close. Then, I printed out some photos in black and white and colored it to make it look like a camera roll.

Originally I had planned to keep it in my room as decoration because I had put so much work into it and I couldn’t just throw it out. However, I ended up giving it to my old photography teacher who inspired me to love black room photo development. I went home during winter break and I gave it to him as a gift. He inspired me to go to New Paltz to pursue education and art, but when I got here, I learned that I couldn’t do both without spending an extra year. I haven’t had a chance to visit my art teacher since freshman year but I hope it continues to inspire others to pursue their dreams too.