Day 1 and 2 of 365

[pjthompson]

What I posted to Twitter and Instagram: “Madness. Some years back when I was still caregiving I folded a box a day for a year to give myself something that was just for myself. One of the rules I set myself was that I could only use paper that came readily to hand--nothing that I'd bought: product boxes, Xmas cards, calendars, junk mail. I've punked the corner of this box, but product boxes are just slightly too thick for easy folding so I often seem to punk at least one corner. I plan to turn these into a textile mixed media piece. We'll see how that goes.”

Since posting that, all the way back to yesterday, I’ve discovered that I’m a total liar. Or, at least, that my memory has holes in it. In fact, my mother had already passed away when I last did this project, but I was still working at a job that was busy and half-killing me and still a ways away from retirement. So it just felt like I was still a caregiver. I guess, in a way, I was. I was taking care of myself, putting one foot in front of the other, trying to stay alive and viable until I could make an exit. 

It’s funny how memory plays tricks on you, which is why I generally try to verify my own recall before posting anything publicly. But, you know, the computer which had the information on it was a whole fifteen feet away from where I was sitting last night and I didn’t want to cover such an arduous distance. Hoist on my own faulty petard. Boom boom.

I suspect no one cares, but at least my conscience is clear.

Day 1

 

Day 2

Comments

[sartorias]

The kitty eye one is spooky!

[pjthompson]

I know! It took a turn there, but I'm not displeased. One of the things I love about doing these boxes is the unexpected images that turn up.

[asakiyume]

I saw he second image-to-box on Twitter but didn't know what it was!

Yeah, memories are funny things. A guy I edit for talked about remembering a favorite family car from a certain period in his childhood, being so certain what kind it was, and then discovering in a photo that it was something completely different.

[pjthompson]

I know. I was even playing this scenario in my head where I was at the hospital until late and racing to get the box done before midnight. That actually happened but it must have had some other cause. So weird

[wayfaringwordhack]

I remember glimpses of this project from years past! Did you ever put them in the screen like you were talking about...Or am *I* totally misremembering something? :P

Looking forward to see them all.

[pjthompson]

You remember correctly, but therein lies a tale of woe (or maybe whoa). I folded all 365 boxes and I stripped the screen of rice paper but there were so many logistical problems with putting the boxes in the little squares (not the least of which being too many boxes and not enough holes) that I didn't do that. I've been trying to think of a way of mounting them ever since but it's been rather daunting (365 boxes doesn't seem like a lot but it's A LOT when you're dealing with 3D space). This time I hope to assemble them as I go, using a combination of wire and string and other mixed media devices. Still, it promises to be a huge finished piece. I'm going to have to clear a wall to display it. Meanwhile the OTHER 365 boxes sit in various bags and boxes. Perhaps I should string them together like garland and strew them through every room in the house. 😳 There's also an autobiographical component to the project as each box has a post-it note inside with a precis of the day's events which I also want/ed to display. Perhaps I I'm overly ambitious.

[wayfaringwordhack]

Well, let me just say I love your ambition. :D Can't wait to see what you do with it. <3

[pjthompson]

You're too kind. I have of course put my crochet needles away somewhere safe but they were not where I expected them to be so...the search is on.

Creative Spirits think alike

[wayfaringwordhack]

I have a crochet project on the go, too. Will share photos, woes, and (hopefully) triumphs soon. :P

Re: Creative Spirits think alike

[pjthompson]

Deal!