ANTHONY R. VIZZARI | ARCHTOGRAPHIST

RPPC: Circa 1910-1920: Origin: United States (Typical US RPPC back). Possible postmortem of a hospital patient. A soldier? Found at the San Telmo indoor Market. AR $2 (Pesos). Passport: 1922: Origin: BA/ Argentina: Found at the San Telmo outdoor Sunday flea market. AR $15 (Pesos). RPPC: Circa 1910-1920: Origin: Argentina / South America: Found at the San Telmo indoor Market. AR $16 (Pesos). RPPC: Circa 1910-1920: Origin: Argentina / South America: Found at the San Telmo indoor Market. AR $8 (Pesos). RPPC: Circa 1900-1915: Origin: Argentina / South America: Found at the San Telmo indoor Market. AR $8 (Pesos). RPPC: Circa 1922: Origin: Argentina / South America: Found at the San Telmo indoor Market (photo dealer). AR $15 (Pesos). Translated: "Maria B de Parilla: June 4th, 1922, aged 27 years old. Remembered by her husband and friends." These are just a few of the pieces I found duing our Buenos Aires trip. I came a cross a ton of beautiful RPPC (Real Photo Post Cards). From

A BA City Bus... yes, we're leaving... 04/25:Saturday: We ventured out to see some of the City’s free museums, which are not huge, but definitely worth a visit to. The museum of Bellas Artes has a decent modern collection, with a Van Gogh, as well as some other heavy hitters. The BA cultural center features some great, yet small, exhibits by BA artists. (With the exception of a Martin Par exhibit.) After the museums, we meandered through surrounding vendor stalls set-up every Saturday, where local artisans sell their goods. As is typical, much of the items are tourist grade. However, there are a few artists who have items worthy of purchase. From the museums, we took a taxi over to the Japanese Gardens for some Sushi. It was a peaceful place, and, they had coy, but not on the menu. After the gardens, we headed back to our apartment and relaxed on the patio for a bit. For dinner, we went to a spectacular Italian restaurant. We too a very romantic private balcony seat overlooking

Buenos Aires: The Land of no Photobooths. I want to make it clear that we have searched high and low and have found NO photobooths here in BA. We have asked manyy people, and get nothing but puzzled looks. Only one person told us that he remembered BA having booths in the 80's, but I suspect he was mistaken. There are no chemical, or even modern digital booths in this city. Furthermore, in searching for photos, I have found NO photobooth images throughout my travels. I did find one Photomaton, but suspect it was from Spain, France, or somewhere else in Europe, transported back to BA. I spoke with a very well versed photo dealer here in BA, and he explained that photobooths were never popular in Argentina. He also noted that he had never seen a Photomaton piece before... which astonished me. I guess it makes sense... the photobooth is somehow a quintessential American (US) thing. After all, it was invented by a New Yorker. But I do find it strange... why did Hammer pants make it to

A fragment of license plate found on the beach in Colonia, Uruguay Wednesday 04/22: Andrea and I heard about a less “touristy” flea market on the edge of BA, where local deals and artisans buy and sell. All I can say is that it was a big market with some great items. Unfortunately, it would require a shipping container, since most of the items we liked were furniture. I found a kick-ass Bally pinball machine from the 60’s, which we could have gotten for AR $1,600, which is about $400. That’s a steal! If it were in the US, I would have done it, but shipping from BA would have been a small fortune, not worth the bargain. Now, if it were a photobooth….maybe! We also met a really cool “outsider” artist there named Tony. He makes some insane art hats and other accessories. At the end of the flea market tour, I walked away with a few found photos for the collection, and a great experience. It was nice to find the real deal flea market! After the flea, we made out way back to Palermo for a

Recoleta Cemetery Tomb Sculpture: Buenos Aires: 04/21 Recoleta Cemetery Tomb Sculpture: Buenos Aires: 04/21 Recoleta Cemetery: Drawing w/ Reversed Glass Foil: Cloisters Museum Collection: Buenos Aires: 04/21 Recoleta Cemetery:Cloisters Collection: "Figures of the Cloth..." Buenos Aires: 04/21 Me with Cemetery Gato... Recoleta Cemetery Gato... Yesterday , we moved to a new apartment about 5 blocks away. This place is great, living up to my “idea” of an Argentinean apartment dwelling. Pictures to come in the future…(orange walls, tall doors, brick & plaster, hardwood throughout, etc.). We’ve become accustomed to a good long brunch, probably by default, seeing as though food service moves very slow here. Sit down for a café con leche and you just gave up an hour. Ask for some light food and you just tacked on a bit more…and getting the check, well, that’s another wait. With that said, I have no where to be, so I quite enjoy giving in. Yesterday, we also explored the down

Me, searching the goodies at the flea market. Local Street Scenery, San Telmo. Pieces by a local artsit. I bought a few from her on the street, but these are some samples from her Flickr site . We spent almost all day hunting for antiques in the markets and stores. I bought a great 1940's medium format camera which I've never seen in the States. I also picked up some odd postcards, memorial cards, and a decent mourning photo All in, $42 USD. Our dollar is going much further in the BA flea markets, as opposed to the ones in Europe. I have not yet found any prints (lithos, etchings, etc.) worthy of purchase, and light on the photos. Things are cheaper here, but I've been a little more descerning with my acquisitions. Also, my bargaining skills are hampered. As soon as they know my Spanish is poor, and that I speak English, it's over. It's like I'm a big fish... this was typical throughout Europe too. In the States, I can bargain hard... but here it's more dif

A wall in our room. Buenos Aires: 04/19

A religious / antique shop in San Telmo, Buenos Aires. 04/18 After a long and VERY bumpy flight, we made it to BA early Saturday morning! So far, it's pretty awesome, and perfect, with respect to good old South American grit factor. We didn't sleep at all on the way here, so took a LONG nap today. We are staying in a a rented apartment, and moving rooms on Monday within the same complex (for variety). Without a doubt, it's full of charm and history. We had intended to book a hotel downtown, but found it much cheaper to rent a loft style apartment. We're staying in San Telmo, which from what we are told, was not so nice 10 years ago. Now, it's ful of artitsts, young hipster types, and AWESOME antique shops, markets, vendors, etc. It's kind of like Wicker Park / Bucktown in Chicago, only cooler.... and with better graffiti. This evening, I bought a liter of beer for $5 and a killer cheese/meat plate for next to nothing! It's not exactly inexpensive here, but

Well, we're just about to step out the door and make the trip to BA. I'll have a camera and netbook, so will try to post to the blog all our various pursuits... but hey, we may be having too much fun to blog?? It was a LOT of work to get things in order before leaving, but well worth it! If you need to contact us via emergency, we're still mobile. But send a text to save us a few bucks, eyh? We'll be back on the 28th! Send us good vibes for sweet BA flea market scores...!

Only 4 more days and we're off to Buenos Aires (BA)! I can't wait. My digital travel camera is DEAD! So, we bought a new little point and shoot tonight. Yes, I have like 10 digital cameras, but none of which were suitable for longer trips. I'm also brining some film and a rangefinder for good measure! Above is a series I started this month: Medical Analysis in a Photobooth, or, A Self-Portrait with Cancer. Yes, dramitic title, right! Anyow, it's a work in progress. I think the original pieces look better than the scans, but you get my aesthetic. I've been working with old medical text from my collection, and the text is pulled from my clincal files. Since my diagnois, I've become quite the collector of medical files. Unfortunately, my personal files are not antiqurian, but they are stunninig in their sterile prose. I've been trying in earnest to scratch-off a ton of tasks on my list before we depart. We're building new booths, fixing old and new ones, an

Postings on photobooth.net of two of our glorious vintage photobooths on location. Click the images to view the site. After much hard work, we finally installed a model 20 at The Crossroads. It's a great local place with plenty of outdoor seating in the summer! Can't wait! And, the they have a good menu of BBQ delights, etc....yum.

My monthly shot! Gotta love it. The shot doesn't hurt, but it's sore for 2 days after! Sandostatin LAR: 30mg. I think they increased the dose from 20 to 30? Some new photos from the photobooth convention courtesy of Brian Meacham / photobooth.net: click photo to view the set. Note my workshop images. Doing some rewiring on the bench: fixing credit units! These are relays that attach to a bill validator, i.e., thing that takes and counts money! The Fabrication Facility on Chicago's South Side: Note the photobooth! A Vintage Model 17C getting ready for refub. I'll post the "after" picks when it's done. It's currently a sad sap, but going to be a gem! My appointment with Dr. Benson yesterday was long and uneventful. I got the impression that he was not a fan of Woltering's agressive ideology, but he was reserved in his comments. I'm still taking my huge shot everyone month, and have a MRI scan scheduled for June to track disease/ tumor growth.

Above: Some photo strips from the 2009 Photobooth Convention (Sponsored by your very own http://www.312photobooth.com/ ): Featuring Tim Garrett ( photoboothart.com ) & Brian Meacham, both of photobooth.net . Also, UK Artist Mr. Mix-up , founder of the original photobooth convention, Andrea Vizzari (The Mrs.) & Eric Hay, of 312photobooth , Connie Begg , + Carole Evans & Siobhan Mackay ( photomovette ). And last but not least, me. File Under A for Amazing: Photobooth frame mounted on paper w/ type. A. Vizzari 2009 Photobooth Convention Photos: April 3rd, Opening Night. Courtesy of Photobooth.net / Brian Meacham (All rights reserved). CLICK PHOTOS TO VIEW MORE IMAGES on Flickr After what feels like an eternity, I’m back at the blog. This last week was a blast, but it was a ton of work setting up for the convention. I had to prep 3 machines, set-up for the event, workshop, and a mess of miscellaneous items. And of course, had to unpack and organize the mess of boxes and equip

For those wondering where I have been... I'm in FULL ON photobooth convention mode. The truck is loaded and we start install Thursday morning. I'm like dog meat, dead tired, but the show must go on! So, I'll be MIA for a few days... But I'll try to post via iPhone often. Wish us luck!!! Hope you can make it!