On February 5, 2010, I set up a photo shoot on the kitchen table. Every pair of shoes I owned (minus my flip-flops and boots) received a carefully arranged close-up. Time at the start: 2:52 p.m. Finished at 4:54. Two hours, two minutes. The sneakers are wonderful. But I really, really miss wearing the dancing shoes, so will start with those.
Somehow I got the idea that somebody, somewhere said, “A man’s tie shows who he wants to be, but his shoes reveal who he is.” Origin unknown. But the imagined (or possibly real) quote inspired this session. Ten years after, this footwear deserves a new spotlight. Shaq. Champion. Airwalk. Long-gone beauties and work companions.
The next four, I still have and wear. The Airwalks are wrapped in silvery gaffer’s tape to hold them together. The Pumas get compliments. The astonishing black-and-baby-blue Dunkmans are still incredibly comfortable. The Vans Neck Face Sk8-Low, in Arabian Spice, not so much (but they look so cool).
Also, I miss these other dress-up shoes. Velveteen and rhinestones. Your sneakers show how you work (and play). The satin-bowed and twinkly shoes whisper “party on.”
Now I wish I had a photo of my famous silver L.A. Gear high tops, circa 1983. They drove everyone I knew to laughter, but I wore them to tatters, with pride. Love, Cat
00 Feature Sneaker, 01 Dancing Shoes and Rainbow Tights, 02 Cool Graphics,
03 Stronger Than Dirt, 04 Pink Snakeskin and Silver, 05 Beloved, 06 Magnificently Walking on Air, 07 Old School Lasts Forever, 08 Baby Blue and Arabian Spice,
09 Velveteen and Rhinestones
Images and words © Catherine Rutgers 2020
CatRutgers4Art 