The long journey to the dust-bin

June 18 2011

Just realize I should put some kind of INTRODUCTORY NOTE here on the first entry so people will have an idea about what this blog is all about.

The blog originated because I had and still have such great difficulty throwing out my accumulations of ephemera over a long number of years.

I incorporated some of this material into an art-piece for my Degree Show called The Wrinkley's Playhouse (see here for an unfinished blog about that work)Currently I am following a policy of DIGITIZE AND DISPOSE - at least that's the theory - digital documentation doesn't take up so much room! But for some items, a picture isn't enough - you know the kind of objects I mean - things that hold the DNA or the vivid MEMORY of a past person, place or event.

So not everything gets thrown out - however the bulk is being considerably reduced.

If you look at more recent entries, you will see I am still at it.

Today, I begin a journey which hopefully will end with the items you see to the left being deposited in the dust-bin.

However before they begin their long journey to the recycling plant, or werever they will eventually end up, I am going to honour them, and the historical traces of my life they contain by writing shot notes on each item.


SOFT MINT WRAPPERS
I eat a lot of Softmints, and keep a packet beside my computer, in my coat pocket, in my shopping bag, and beside my bed  - so I can have one last thing at night before I go to sleep

PHONE NUMBERS
Record of phone call including email address, and phone number

NOTE FROM TONY
A reminder of my husband who tells me where he is going, even when just going to the shops and I am nattering on the phone and don't have time to stop and say good-bye.

LIST OF PHOTOS
I wish there was a magic way a camera knew what the title of each picture should be - numbers are not only impersonal, but I cn rarely remember which is which image.

ITEMS SUBMITTED FOR EXHIBITION
Check-list to make sure I didn't forget to put something in the envelope.

FRAGILE LABEL
This label was used on something for the BALANCE exhibition at the Claremorris Open 2009

CADBURY'S WRAPPER
This Cadbury cake was given to me by one of the staff of the Model Niland Gallery in Sligo where I began volunteering as an invigilator in August 2010

SERVIETTE & BRODERICKS WRAPPER
I got these on the train to Sligo, September 2010

NATURE VALLEY WRAPPER
This 'breakfast bar' was given free to me as I entered Connolly Station to get the train to Sligo, one of the Fridays in September 2010

SUCCESS, AT LAST!

Here are the before and after images of the re-cycling basket (box) showing the items dumped.

Two things to note:
The small FRAGILE label is on top and describes how I'm feeling. Yes I'm glad I did what I said I would do, but yes, I am also sad to part with these fragments of my life - crazy isn't it that a person could be 'attached' to such trifles.

The second thing to note is the box and the wrapping-paper with which it is covered. This was the box and the gift wrap which our son sent to the family for Christmas 1984 when he made his first visit to San Francisco.