Objects with stories

Jugs and glass:
from the objects with stories series

I once read about a newly-retired couple who disposed of everything they owned when they moved into a brand new apartment. The pictured apartment was one of those slick minimalist ones where anything 'old' might well have looked out of place, not that there was anywhere you could put objects anyway, even if you'd had them.

The article has stuck in my memory because it seemed as if they had disposed of their memories and I wondered if they (or one of them) might regret their decision. Then again, I have friends who lead minimalist lifestyles with no discernible negative effect.

I have never collected ornaments (too much dusting) but despite myself I have many memory laden objects. I didn't really notice until I moved to my new home three years ago and realised that the things that came with me all had stories. Objects without stories had been jettisoned along the way.

After my Mothers death in October 2013 I painted a colourful cup and saucer and a glass squirrel from her home. I think it was my way of dealing with the bereavement.  This 'objects with stories' series then extended itself to other things and yesterday I put some of the paintings from this series  online, together with the stories of the objects in the paintings.

Perhaps that couple I read about did store some precious pieces in one of the cupboards in their flash new apartment in case they ever wanted to take a peek into their own history. I hope so as I know how much I appreciate using things that remind me of their givers or of their previous owners.

101Vagina (2)

I have been in Sydney helping install the 101 vagina exhibition that opens this Thursday (27 June) at the 107 project space in Redfern (107 Redfern St). The Festival of the Vagina is on Saturday.

Captured by the stories

As we were working one of the artists who works in the complex walked through ... had a look... and another look ...and was soon lost in time. The thing with these stories is that once you start reading you can't stop. It's addictive! There are 101 stories so it can take some time!


(You can buy the book here. )

Installing the photos/stories