Holding On

Photography of memory, identity, and the power of “holding on.”

Objects can serve as touchstones for memories—reminders of who we are or once were. The items we hold onto often remain silent until we choose to share the stories they carry. For me, it was my first pair of pointe shoes, discovered tucked away in a drawer. As I held them, they transformed from a mere object into something deeply personal—a piece of my former self, a portal to memories of years spent dancing.

This experience sparked a question: What are others holding onto, and what memories do their cherished objects unlock?

This photographic journey began with that curiosity. It has been deeply moving to witness people open up, sharing both their treasured items and the stories behind them. Each photograph captures not just an object, but the emotions and identity woven into it. As they hold these items, they hold onto love, care, and a connection to their sentimental selves. This exhibit is about more than objects—it’s about memory, identity, and the power of “holding on.”

"My husband gave this little mouse to me a
few weeks after we had met, a somewhat
unusual gift. I didn’t know him very well
yet and wasn’t sure what he was like below the surface. Over the 40 years since, I have
come to know the deep, original — "My husband gave this little mouse to me a few weeks after we had met, a somewhat unusual gift. I didn’t know him very well yet and wasn’t sure what he was like below the surface. Over the 40 years since, I have come to know the deep, original and intuitive soul that he is, and can see that this unique gift was an indicator of what has been for me a beautiful mind-expanding journey. In many ways, I feel like the little mouse came to me in my “spiritual childhood."' ~~Richard & Bette~~

"My sister and I used to ride our bikes to the
“Avon Lady’s house” in our small rural town
to buy gifts for our mother. She was a young
widow, and it always felt very special to us to
make her smile when she opened an Avon
gift from us. This, — "My sister and I used to ride our bikes to the “Avon Lady’s house” in our small rural town to buy gifts for our mother. She was a young widow, and it always felt very special to us to make her smile when she opened an Avon gift from us. This, Avon Lavender Sachet we gave her, was in her things after she passed on at 96." ~~Bette~~

"I was 18 when I got out from under my parents'
wings and boarded a ship to England with my
high school group. I became a strong, independent
woman as we toured the area without the control of
my parents. The day we were to leave, I walked into — "I was 18 when I got out from under my parents' wings and boarded a ship to England with my high school group. I became a strong, independent woman as we toured the area without the control of my parents. The day we were to leave, I walked into a store and saw this Miner's Wife doll. I was drawn to it and bought it. At age 102, I still look upon this doll with happy memoires of my trip to England and rediscovering myself. Cherished memories." ~~Doris~~

"My formative years were spent three thousand miles
away from my grandparents, but on the occasional
visit, I loved to retreat to my grandfather's den where
I climbed into his big overstuffed rocking chair and
pulled the chain under his large gla — "My formative years were spent three thousand miles away from my grandparents, but on the occasional visit, I loved to retreat to my grandfather's den where I climbed into his big overstuffed rocking chair and pulled the chain under his large glass globe, turning on the light bulb inside it. I have always loved anything that glows in the dark, and so I claimed the globe when it was made available to me. Now this old globe is a relic, showing countries which no longer exist. But what matters most: it still glows in the dark." ~~Martha~~

"I received this diary for my 11th birthday. I loved my
Barbie dolls and was thrilled with the very modern
Barbie graphic design. It turned out I wasn’t into
journaling and there are very few entries. Still, it’s
interesting to read and remembe — "I received this diary for my 11th birthday. I loved my Barbie dolls and was thrilled with the very modern Barbie graphic design. It turned out I wasn’t into journaling and there are very few entries. Still, it’s interesting to read and remember what was going on in my life." ~~Sharon~~

"These medals were given to me by my dad, who was
given to him by his dad. They are campaign medals to
honor military participation in the Indian army during
the British Empire. They originated from my great
grandfather, General Sir John Forbe — "These medals were given to me by my dad, who was given to him by his dad. They are campaign medals to honor military participation in the Indian army during the British Empire. They originated from my great grandfather, General Sir John Forbes. He was knighted by Queen Victoria for his military actions in particular a famous charge that he led during the Persian War. While they were out numbered 5 to 1, he led the the 3rd Bombay Light Calvary to victory against the Persians at the battle of Kooshab in 1857. I personally am against all wars but I do honor the courage and bravery it must have taken to perform such acts and have channeled what genetic encoding I may have received from him into the 40+ years as an active fire fighter EMT. " ~~John~~

"I don't recall when I came to possess these shoes.
Certainly, my mother gave them to me when I was
much younger. I've come to believe that they may
have been my older sisters' baby shoes. They were
born in the late 1940s, two years apart, at a t — "I don't recall when I came to possess these shoes. Certainly, my mother gave them to me when I was much younger. I've come to believe that they may have been my older sisters' baby shoes. They were born in the late 1940s, two years apart, at a time when my parents didn't have much money. I'm fascinated by how finely made they are, and how soft. Regardless of which daughters wore them, they inspire me to think about how tiny and helpless we once were, and how aged we've become. And I wonder whether my daughter will want them when I'm gone. I don't want to burden her with things that have no real meaning for her." ~~Jane~~

"This train set is in green livery, now tinged with
rust. The final leg of the journey to visit my
grandparents was an old steam train. There was
an identical set there in red, I only saw it once.
The clockwork locomotive pulls a tender and two — "This train set is in green livery, now tinged with rust. The final leg of the journey to visit my grandparents was an old steam train. There was an identical set there in red, I only saw it once. The clockwork locomotive pulls a tender and two passenger coaches. As a kid, I wound it as tightly as I could to get the train to loop the oval track twice. In spite of my exertions, the clockwork remained intact. The key rests in the original cardboard box, its seams in tatters. Sometimes, I wonder what happened to the red train set." ~~Panda~~

"My family was not outdoorsy - no hiking, camping
or biking. So how did exploring nature become one
of the biggest joys of my life? I credit the Girl Scouts.
While scouting gave me the opportunity to learn many
skills in pursuit of badges, it was — "My family was not outdoorsy - no hiking, camping or biking. So how did exploring nature become one of the biggest joys of my life? I credit the Girl Scouts. While scouting gave me the opportunity to learn many skills in pursuit of badges, it was the camping that captured my imagination. On nature hikes I always wondered what was around the turn in the path, over the next hill, or across the stream. I developed an enduring sense of discovery of the natural world that has enriched my life immensely… way beyond the badges." ~~Debbie~~

"The music of the late 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s
heralded and captured a dynamic change in America
and our lifestyles and had a major influence on my
early teens through young adulthood in how I saw the
world and the changes in my life. I’ve he — "The music of the late 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s heralded and captured a dynamic change in America and our lifestyles and had a major influence on my early teens through young adulthood in how I saw the world and the changes in my life. I’ve held on to these 45rpm records of music that I loved and connected with. The records themselves are a memento of my youth and days gone by that I will treasure forever." ~~David~~

"This pocket watch belonged to my grandfather. He passed away when I was just two, so I have only a
few memories of him. He was a proud and strong man, and owning something he cherished has always meant a great deal to me. There are photos of him lo — "This pocket watch belonged to my grandfather. He passed away when I was just two, so I have only a few memories of him. He was a proud and strong man, and owning something he cherished has always meant a great deal to me. There are photos of him looking quite dapper, with this watch tucked into his vest pocket and its chain on display. As a child, I was fascinated by its intricate inner workings and often removed the back to marvel at the mechanism inside. In college, I used it as my everyday watch, carrying it in the small watch pocket of my jeans." ~~Bruce~~

"When trekking in a remote part of the Himalayas
we came upon a small isolated village of true
Tibetan lineage. I found this Dorje, a Tibetan
ritual scepter and have worn it around my neck
ever since. The dorje signifies the lightning-bolt
powe — "When trekking in a remote part of the Himalayas we came upon a small isolated village of true Tibetan lineage. I found this Dorje, a Tibetan ritual scepter and have worn it around my neck ever since. The dorje signifies the lightning-bolt power of enlightenment or path of action, which I do my best to live by. This Dorje is made from a meteorite and is an ancient thunderbolt scepter representing the Hindu god, Indra. These dorjes would be buried in the ground and years later found when the land was being cultivated." ~~Christine~~

"In the turmoil of 1968 and 69, assassinations, riots, racial injustice, Vietnam, the draft, campus shutdowns, tear gas, crime, crumbling city, Hong Kong flu, my wife Kathy, and I were working part time and pursuing challenging and consuming graduate studies in New York. We had little money. But we had each other. And the hope we’d return to California and find jobs when our work was done. So in the cold and dark of winter 1969 we celebrated Christmas with friends. Kathy splurged and gave me this book, a collection of stories we loved. One of them of Charlie Brown, his shyness with the Little Redhaired Girl in his school. Kathy’s message inside the book: ”’I love you, Charlie Brown,’ signed Your Little Redhaired Girl, Christmas 1969.” Our love saw us through those times. With us still. As it has been for over 60 years." ~~Bob & Kathy~~

"This family Bible is over 200 years old. It was given to my 3x great grandmother, Sarah Willis Green, by her sister Mary Willis Price, and contains a record of my family’s marriages and births. It has been lovingly handed down six generations. I like to think of the many hands of my ancestors who have touched and written in this Bible. It is indeed a family treasure." ~~Kathy~~