In the course of a lifetime, each of us accumulates countless images: visual impressions laid up in the storehouse of memory. Unlike jewels and precious metals, these treasures do change with time; they corrode, distort, melt, collide with each other, fuse, and give birth to other images. Imagination contributes its share, combining, changing, and exchanging images by design and accident both.

The Exchange (2012). Digital collage created & copyright © by Eric Edelman. All rights reserved.

Day and night bring new images into memory. Truly riches beyond imagining, because memory’s collage will never be seen in its entirety.

There is also loss beyond imagining: countless memories lost forever, or merged, or faded, or exchanged one for another. Yet loss only increases the richness of remembered images.

(All artwork, descriptions, & other text created & copyright © by Eric Edelman. All rights reserved.)

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{ 52 comments }

{ 52 comments… add one }

• Dave Keller @ Dave's Life June 5, 2012 at 8:12 am edit

  So very true about our thoughts fading and merging with others over time. I guess that’s why we all love photographs so much. They resharpen the memories.

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman June 5, 2012 at 10:09 pm edit

    True, Dave…photographs do have the effect of sharpening memories. But the way we see those pictures, and how we feel about them, also changes with time. Thanks for your visit and your thoughtful comment!

    Reply
• Joyce June 5, 2012 at 10:13 am edit

  Wow! Great art as always. A lot of people are early this week. I’ll link later this afternoon. It’s only ten in the morning on Tuesday in Memphis.

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  • Eric Edelman June 5, 2012 at 10:05 pm edit

    Thanks very much, Joyce!

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• Yolanda @ Chickens on the Moon June 5, 2012 at 10:17 am edit

  Thanks for linking up with Observing Beauty.

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman June 5, 2012 at 10:05 pm edit

    Thanks for your visit.

    Reply
• Paula J June 5, 2012 at 12:35 pm edit

  It does seem to me that memories should be remembered just as they occurred, but it’s sad that our minds distort them.

  Paula

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  • Eric Edelman June 5, 2012 at 10:04 pm edit

    Thanks for your comment, Paula.

    I have a different view: the collision, confusion, and distortion of our memories offer us valuable imaginative possibilities. I attempted to suggest this in the text accompanying the picture. Moreover, I believe memories to be bound up with–and formed by–feelings; and that it is a great gift to be able to feel differently about a memory each time one revisits it.

    Reply
• Christine @ Mama Papa Barn June 5, 2012 at 12:43 pm edit

  I don’t check back…so I am not sure my link ever shows up.

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  • Eric Edelman June 5, 2012 at 5:51 pm edit

    Thanks, Christine. Your links do indeed show up!

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• stevebethere June 5, 2012 at 2:31 pm edit

  Brilliant as usual love the detail

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  • Eric Edelman June 5, 2012 at 6:16 pm edit

    Thanks for your kind words, Steve!

    Reply
• Brandi June 5, 2012 at 2:32 pm edit

  So neat!! Thanks for sharing and linking up

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  • Eric Edelman June 5, 2012 at 6:13 pm edit

    Thanks, Brandi, glad you like it!

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• momto8blog June 5, 2012 at 2:40 pm edit

  very interesting…

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  • Eric Edelman June 5, 2012 at 6:12 pm edit

    Thanks for visiting and leaving your comment!

    Reply
• SELF SAGACITY June 5, 2012 at 3:53 pm edit

  does your comment widget work? I think I added one here, but see 0comments for count. just wanted to give you a heads-up incase you didn’t know.

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  • Eric Edelman June 5, 2012 at 5:49 pm edit

    Thanks for your observation. Our blog is set up so that comments are published after owner approval, so you should see your comment now.

    Reply
• Wayne June 5, 2012 at 4:22 pm edit

  What a fascinating piece of art.

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  • Eric Edelman June 5, 2012 at 6:09 pm edit

    Thanks, Wayne! I appreciate your visit and your comment.

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• Meryl June 5, 2012 at 4:59 pm edit

  Great art! Thanks for hosting, have a great week.

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  • Eric Edelman June 5, 2012 at 6:07 pm edit

    Thanks, Meryl–I appreciate your kind words! Have a great week also.

    Reply
• AVCr8teur June 5, 2012 at 7:23 pm edit

  Thanks for hosting and sending an email to let us know when it becomes available!!!

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman June 5, 2012 at 10:20 pm edit

    Thanks for visiting and leaving your link!

    Reply
• The GIPSY in the PARLOUR June 5, 2012 at 7:47 pm edit

  Loving your words this week, as well as collage…. such depth….perspective.

  Thank-you as always for hosting, have a great week!!

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman June 5, 2012 at 10:18 pm edit

    Thanks very much for your visit and your kind compliment!

    Reply
• Carol @ Always Thyme to Cook June 5, 2012 at 8:33 pm edit

  Great work, I love your descriptive thoughts as well on this piece.
  Have a great week!

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  • Eric Edelman June 5, 2012 at 10:15 pm edit

    Thanks so much, Carol–I appreciate your kind words very much!

    Reply
• Yvonne June 5, 2012 at 8:41 pm edit

  Very nice!

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  • Eric Edelman June 5, 2012 at 10:14 pm edit

    Thanks, Yvonne!

    Reply
• Jeanna June 5, 2012 at 11:19 pm edit

  That is an incredible image and makes you think.

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  • Eric Edelman June 6, 2012 at 2:48 am edit

    Thanks very much, Jeanna!

    Reply
• Daryl - My Eyes June 6, 2012 at 4:35 am edit

  Love your technique … your collages are quite amazing

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  • Eric Edelman June 6, 2012 at 12:51 pm edit

    Thanks, Daryl! I’m glad you like them.

    Reply
• April June 6, 2012 at 6:37 am edit

  Wow, whats an amazing picture.

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  • Eric Edelman June 6, 2012 at 12:54 pm edit

    Thanks, April!

    Reply
• Rebecca @ The Copper Brick Road June 6, 2012 at 8:40 am edit

  Wow! Such great art!

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  • Eric Edelman June 6, 2012 at 1:07 pm edit

    Thanks for your visit and your kind comment, Rebecca!

    Reply
• Helen June 6, 2012 at 9:20 am edit

  Love the crystals in this one. The rainbow colors seem to fit them so well.

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  • Eric Edelman June 6, 2012 at 1:09 pm edit

    Thanks very much, Helen! I have to admit I also like the rainbow color in the crystals.

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• aquariann June 6, 2012 at 3:43 pm edit

  Very true, and so wondrously said and illustrated!

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman June 6, 2012 at 7:04 pm edit

    Thanks very much, Aquariann! & thanks for linking up.

    Reply
• Emilee June 6, 2012 at 6:17 pm edit

  Very unique! Thanks for sharing!

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  • Eric Edelman June 6, 2012 at 7:03 pm edit

    Thanks for your visit and your kind comment, Emilee!

    Reply
• Selena Wilton June 6, 2012 at 7:48 pm edit

  So it is called digital collage,what app did you used?

  Selena Wilton

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman June 6, 2012 at 10:49 pm edit

    Thanks for your comment. Any photo manipulation software that can process scanned pictures and create layered images can be used to do digital collage. Several programs are free. For more information, see the following article, which refers to several of the programs by name:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photo_manipulation

    Reply
• Faythe @ GrammyMouseTails June 6, 2012 at 8:49 pm edit

  I really like this one & it does make me think of memories.

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman June 6, 2012 at 10:20 pm edit

    Thanks Faythe–glad you like it!

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• Leah H. June 7, 2012 at 12:33 pm edit

  Great share.. It is very interesting..

  Visiting for WW- hope you can stop by:)

  http://www.sweetposh.info/2012/06/eating-fruit-salad.html

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman June 7, 2012 at 6:52 pm edit

    Thanks for your visit and comment; I will be glad to stop by.

    Reply
• Cas June 8, 2012 at 1:04 pm edit

  Another great post, Eric. Thank’s for sharing!

  Visiting for WW- hope you can stop by:)

  http://www.cassandrasminicorner.com/2012/06/playing-in-the-sand.html

  Reply
  • Eric Edelman June 8, 2012 at 2:22 pm edit

    Thanks very much for your visit and your comment, Cas! (I’ve stopped by your post and left my comment there just now.)

    Reply