Paige Pinnell 1975

Mike Mandel created this photograph of Paige Pinnell as part of a series that mimic baseball cards. Here, the traditional process of black and white photography is repurposed to elevate everyday life to the status of a collectible item. The stark monochrome aesthetic lends a sense of authenticity, while the material itself, photographic paper, hints at mass production and reproducibility. The picture memorializes an amateur player in mid-action, inviting us to consider baseball, a working class sport, and the labor involved in athletic training. It also references the manufacturing process and the labor of printing and distribution that underpin our consumer culture. By focusing on the ‘everyman’, Mandel prompts questions about the value we place on fame, celebrity, and the commodification of hobbies. The artist challenges the established order and encourages the viewer to reconsider what is worthy of documentation.