Day 1: conversations and constructions
The first day of object based conversations started off at 11am on Tuesday October 14th. Despite a little sleep deprivation on my part, and some nervousness about getting everything ready, the first day was a huge success!
Denise: was first to arrive, with a ceramic rattle, given to her by a teacher of hers.
Denise: was first to arrive, with a ceramic rattle, given to her by a teacher of hers.
The rattle is meant to shake, but the bead in it's head, must have fused with the clay, so it makes no sound. It is an awkward looking human like creature, with a bald head, and a neck that is an arm. An unfortunate creature, who can't stand on it's own, but fits comfortably into one's hand. We decided that a cushion or prop of some kind, may be a suitable addition to the life of this ceramic curiosity
Jodie: was next to arrive.
She brought in a sandalwood beaded meditation necklace,
or mala, which was given to
her by a monk. We had an interesting conversation about meditation practice, consistency, and the anxieties of being on the move. She also expressed her hesitation at parting with the mala for 3 weeks, while knowing that the key to her meditation practice did not lay in the object, but in her own dedication. Still, objects are powerful tools in practice.
Grateful to Jodie for sharing this important object with me, I wanted to make something elegant and meaningful to the discussion. This satin lined bag is what I came up with.
It can hold the mala at home, or be a useful tool in times of travel.
It can hold the mala at home, or be a useful tool in times of travel.
Caelan: arrived at 12:30 for our conversation, with an orange and black Takraw ball.
Takraw is a south Asian sport, popular in Thailand and Malaysia. Caelan is on the Canadian national Takraw team, and has traveled the world, playing the sport. I had never heard of Takraw before Caelan explained it to me. Our conversation was informative and enjoyable.
This particular Takraw ball was used during a championship game, where Caelan made the decision to move from a casual to professional Takraw player. It now resides in his trophy case, so I thought that a stand of sorts, would serve it well.
Geremy: arrived last, but definitely no least, with his grandfather's pocket knife.
Geremy's grandfather passed away recently, and he inherited this pocket knife from a collection of many. His grandfather seems to have been an avid knife collector and user, living in a time, when pocket knives were used for almost every conceivable task. Geremy doesnt use the knife to cut things, but instead, to score paper when working with paper for book making and printmaking. We discussed, amongst other things, the phenomena that occurs, when a thing has been used so many times, and inherrits qualities singular to itself, despite being one of many seemingly identical, manufactured counterparts.
The pocket knife in question, has aparently acheived optimal paper scoring bluntness. No longer sharp enough to be of any use as a knife, Geremy imagines the thousands of times his Grandfather may have used the knife, for various pirposes, that have gotten it to this ifdeal condition today. Geremy doesnt' carry the knife/scoring tool around with him all the time, but if it were more easily attachable to his person, he might, say, on his belt?
That pretty much sums up day one. Stay tuned for the next 5 days of conversation and construction at Situate!