Red Shoes: Current State/Aspirational Future State

In late April, for our final assignment in my online photography workshop we were asked to shoot self-portraits. I don't know many photographers who actually enjoy self-portraiture and I am no exception. But I had a concept. 

I had only been out of the orthopedic boot that had protected my broken tibia and fibula for a month. Over the previous four, I had clunked around, first with my walker, then my cane, dreaming about what it would be like to wear real shoes again. There are over 30 pairs of shoes in my closet, not including sneakers, flip flops, my ugly Uggs nor my beautiful Lucchese cowboy boots with the butterflies. I missed them all, even the ones I almost never wear. Could I repurpose my forlorn footwear? 

Then there I was walking around wearing sneakers. Liberation or nearly so. I was determined that in a few months I would be back in my little heels and those boots. As an expression of optimism, of the belief that my leg would heal and I would be back in chic shoes, I created a diptych. The first image, "Current State" featured tired grey sweatpants grazing the top of my red Nikes. In the second, "Aspirational Future State" I staged my deep grey Marithe and Francois Girbaud gown with its dipping, zigzag hemline over bright red heels. 

Many months later, my leg finally healed, I realize that it is a portrait of so many of us locked down by the pandemic, Zooming in our sweats and sneakers, still fantasizing about the day when we will put on our dress up clothes and step out into the world again.