October 2000
I dressed up in a wig, skirt, tight shirt, big shoes and sunglasses. I walked down Michigan Avenue stopping people and asking them to photograph me with my camera that my parents sent me. While they photographed me with a disposable camera, I photographed them with my camera that I was “posing” with.
At first, I made up a story that I was a model in need of photographs of myself posed with a product for my professional portfolio. The first couple I asked, the woman happened to be an ex-Russian model. They took a couple pictures (the woman was very particular about the positioning of my feet), told me they thought I was being shammed and walked away giving me strange looks.
quotes from the ex-Russian model lady: “sounds like a scam.”, “they don’t care about the model, they want to see the product, that camera, so hold it professionally.” “no, those boots aren’t working. you need to look. . .free.” “this is business, not a party.”
I also went to Grant Park and was photographed looking as I normally do (no costumes) in front of Buckingham Fountain.
color photographs are 5 inches x 7 inches, black and white photographs are 11 inches x 14 inches