Ten Years of Reading | Data in gouache on mirror | 6 ft x 5 ft x 4 in. | 2021 - 2023
by Ninna Gaensler-Debs & Cal Tabuena-Frolli
Installed in the private library of NGD and Patrick Galvin by CTF and Camille Wong in 2023, San Francisco.
Photographs by Jessie Badrous
Since 2011, my friend Ninna has kept a log of the books she’s read.
This physical documentary in painted glass is a reflection of her list as of 2021 — 472 books.
Each mirror represents an author; colors represent genre.
During the production of this piece, I made 5 material studies ( Friend Pieces ) and a book of auxiliary research called Only the Gold 01
Friend Piece 01 ( for Carlotta ) | Mirror on board | 24 x 48 in. | 2021
Friend Piece 02 ( for Angelou ) | Flatscreen material collage | 24 x 48 in. | 2021
Friend Piece 05 ( for Myself ) | Color pencil and gouache on canvas | 36 x 42 in. | 2022
Friend Piece 03 ( for Angela ) | Flatscreen material collage | 24 x 48 in. | 2022
Friend Piece 04 ( for the Public ) | Mirror and gouache on board | 24 x 48 in. | 2021 | not pictured
Only The Gold 01 | a book of collected reading, research, and photographs in 4 parts | Edition of 2
BOOK ONE
The Ohlone Way digest | Malcolm Margolin | 1978
Book Buffet 01 | an index of California books compiled by CTF | 2023
Annals of the Former World digest | John McPhee | 1998
BOOK TWO
California’s Frontier Naturalists digest | Richard G. Beidleman | 2006
Art & Artists | an index of Californian and gay artists compiled by CTF | 2023
Mapquest 01 | an index of California maps compiled by CTF | 2023
BOOK THREE
Black Gold in the Joaquin digest | Frank F. Latta | 1949
House of Cedar digest | May Merrill Miller | 1941
BOOK FOUR
Ghosts of Gold Mountain digest | Gordon Chang | 2019
On the Top of Mount Hamilton | Franklin Hichborn | 1907
Quincie Bolliver digest | Mary King O’Donnell | 1941
Pamela Halpern Photo Archive | 2022
Negatives and slides scanned
Photos compiled and arranged by date
Documents collected and stored
If you would like to propose a commission — either illustrating a data set, or organizing a home archive, please email me.
tabuenafrolli@gmail.com