David Ricci will bring his exploration of American materialism to the Five Points Arts Center in Torrington on Saturday, April 18, at 2 p.m., where he will discuss his new book, Hunter Gatherer.
Ricci is fascinated by America’s obsession with objects. In Hunter Gatherer, he examines a distinct strain of materialism—one rooted not in the new, but in the items that endure.
When people talk about materialism, the focus often falls on the latest smartphones, gaming systems, designer bags or plush furniture. Ricci, however, turns his attention to objects that cycle in and out of people’s homes through flea markets, antique stores and curio shops.
The book features a selection of photographs from the thousands Ricci has taken while visiting more than 200 such venues across the United States. His work adopts an anthropological lens, exploring the meanings culture and society assign to these objects as they are bought, sold and recirculated over time.
Why are these items considered worthy of another life? What do they reveal about Americans’ relationships with racism, misogyny and social norms? Ricci argues that the chaotic marketplace of secondhand consumerism reflects a distinctly American mindset: “I own, therefore I am.”
Meg Sher, executive director of the David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village.L. Tomaino 
