I think that this NPR piece is significant to the discussions about meaning of objects we engage in our studio. Please take a listen.
http://significantobjects.com/
Significant Objects The Brian Lehrer Show November 05, 2009 What gives an object meaning, or makes it worth anything at all. Rob Walker (who also writes the Consumed column for the Times) discusses the Significant Objects project, which picks random knick-knacks, recruits writers to write stories inspired by them, and sees what happens...
for image see www site
[Bid on this Significant Object, with story by Victor LaValle, here.]
Who the hell goes to Portugal? In my family?
The question arose as my sister and I were going through my grandmother’s things—her effects. She’d died of old age at Queens General Hospital and she’d been longing for it. Some people never want to go, but not her. She’d lived long (96 years), seen her grandkids and great grandkids.
The old lady didn’t own the apartment she’d lived in, alone, for 22 years. After she died my grandmother’s landlord (New York City Housing Authority) sent a letter: two weeks to clear her things. Then they would be bagged and bussed to a dump. So my sister and I spent evenings taking the 7 train to Jackson Heights, climbing nine flights to grandma’s apartment (her elevator was about as reliable as our older sister). We decided what to keep, what to sell, what to donate, and what to leave for the City.
Dear All:
ReplyDeleteI think that this NPR piece is significant to the discussions about meaning of objects we engage in our studio. Please take a listen.
http://significantobjects.com/
Significant Objects
The Brian Lehrer Show
November 05, 2009
What gives an object meaning, or makes it worth anything at all. Rob Walker (who also writes the Consumed column for the Times) discusses the Significant Objects project, which picks random knick-knacks, recruits writers to write stories inspired by them, and sees what happens...
for image see www site
[Bid on this Significant Object, with story by Victor LaValle, here.]
Who the hell goes to Portugal? In my family?
The question arose as my sister and I were going through my grandmother’s things—her effects. She’d died of old age at Queens General Hospital and she’d been longing for it. Some people never want to go, but not her. She’d lived long (96 years), seen her grandkids and great grandkids.
The old lady didn’t own the apartment she’d lived in, alone, for 22 years. After she died my grandmother’s landlord (New York City Housing Authority) sent a letter: two weeks to clear her things. Then they would be bagged and bussed to a dump. So my sister and I spent evenings taking the 7 train to Jackson Heights, climbing nine flights to grandma’s apartment (her elevator was about as reliable as our older sister). We decided what to keep, what to sell, what to donate, and what to leave for the City.
Let’s be blunt: the mitt’s not pretty. (more…)