An exchange between Lin and Emily, running parallel to Give and Get.
Give and Get began life as an exchange of personal objects between us artists (Lin and Emily), starting in 2011. We each send an object to the other, across the Atlantic. Often, though not always, this is a family heirloom. After each exchange we respond to the received object, through conversations, usually by email, and also through re-use and reinterpreting of the object. As of April 2012, 5 exchanges have taken place. Below is an ongoing record of these, with re-imaginings and re-positionings of the objects.
Exchange 0 - an exchange leading to exchange
21 Sept 2011
|
Hi Em,
I think I must have ditched Skype because it started to interfere with my email if I typed in a telepone number…. So here are a few thoughts and questions to start off an email sesh. Do we want to collaborate or make separate work? Timescale? Should we decide on a medium? film, photo, online, wall based, posters, banners, book, text.... Going with the notion of property/buildings/home: Castles in the Air Stairway to Heaven (stairs in a bungalow!) House of cards (build some ? make a room feel like one inside?) Story of the Three Little Pigs Fantasy homes Over to you Lx Hi L Skype is iffy sometimes. Email fine. I was thinking of doing an email exchange - sort of like we did w photos, but somewhat more extensive... photo(s) + text about them...Here's a photo of some current brainstorming work in the studio --- collages I'm making, mixing old photographs with objects and documents about a person. For example the left hand grouping here is about my great uncle John, and a four car pile up he caused in '73. There are letters re insurance claims, etc. I've added items that belonged to him + some old lightbulbs - whole and broken that I found amongst my dad's stuff. Not sure how this ties in to your email ... thinking .... but am just going to hit 'send' now, in order to get started! Em x E - I do have a lot of material that would build up in this way and would enjoy doing it. Were you thinking that we would take pics of collections like this? Add text about them. Say more L ….I started making these collages as I have all of this new material passed on from my dad - mementos, photographs, boxes and boxes of files. I started using his stuff only, but have found myself making collages around various different relatives. Also sketches (tracings) of old photos which I'm adding captions to. The captions are a kind of fleeting memory, of a story that might be attached to the people in the photo. Using my dad's old typewriter to make the captions. Over to you. ...ok , I like the idea. I have boxes of bits and pieces from the past. Doesn't it stand alone? or can you see it gaining something from becoming a joint project?Are you thinking of showing the collection/collage as well as the photos/images/text? or would you make this an e-event? Do you see the stories evolving or intermeshing from our interaction? Or would we find this out as it goes along?Lots of questions but I do think it's sounds exciting. L, I love the idea of it being a joint project. There's a significant aspect of the unknown, of other people's memories/things already in these first trials I made because there are so many photos with people I don't recognise / objects I never saw before. Perhaps we could send each other objects / photos that could get incorporated into each others' collages.All sorts of good questions about relatives, time, place, and stories families pass on come up …. Em - That sounds good. Shall we send each other a small item with a caption every week for, say, 5 weeks and see what happens. I like the idea of sending an actual thing in the post that is a piece of some unknown life from the past. We could exchange ideas and pics by email too. I will send an object and a photo today!Exciting! Look forward to small packet...... and other intriguing communications..... Have to go just now but let's let it happen!!Lx |
Exchange 1
Sent: LC >> EA: Silver threepence (3d) coins and a page from Aunt Connie's recipe book with her recipe for Christmas Pudding
Sent: EA >> LC: Rubber stamp, 'For deposit only - ARA Real Estate' from AC Artinian's belongings
Sent: LC >> EA: Silver threepence (3d) coins and a page from Aunt Connie's recipe book with her recipe for Christmas Pudding
Sent: EA >> LC: Rubber stamp, 'For deposit only - ARA Real Estate' from AC Artinian's belongings
3 Oct 2011
|
HI M, Your first packet arrived! I'm sending my second today. Will send pics soon too.
L x L - Yours too on the weekend! I will send second today / tomorrow. Contemplating baking 'Christmas pudding - (rich)'x |
5 Oct 2011
|
Lin:
2nd package sent yesterday. This Friday is open studios at DCCA (where my new studio is). Was thinking of making christmas cake and putting it out for visitors and putting 1 or 2 of the 3d pieces in it. Do you want me to make sure I keep all 6? I was thinking I'd make sure the 3d piece to be returned after the wish was made. they are silver right!!??? But, I wanted to check: (1) what if one were to walk off (in someone's pocket or tummy??) (2) what was the tradition - did the finder keep the piece or return it to the cook?? Em x PS - have been looking at Bruno LaTour, on the recommendation of a friend who teaches at LCC. Do you know him? This talk from last year would interest you I think -- just listening to it now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie-_erFVz5A |
6 Oct 2011
|
Em -Thanks!
Latour has given me some news links to semiotics in nature, which I'll follow up. I've had a quick look at his lecture and immediately see how his 'compositionism' fits with other ideas. Would this be a good working title for our collaboration??? Latour has similar ideas to Bourdieu with some significant differences (Dave is using Bourdieu so I hear quite a lot about him!) Great idea to use the silver 3ds. They have very little value because they're so warn. But, well, this project has made me think a lot about sentimental value. I have lots of bits and pieces that will probably be chucked away when I die. They are not worth anything! but when I'm choosing something particular to send to you, it suddenly takes on a special value. After all, those are the actual coins that Auntie Connie put into her puddings and they are strongly connected to my childhood Christmases. As it happens, I have lots of them so absolutely no worries if they wander and continue their life elsewhere. Since christmas day is my birthday, people often gave me their coins - and wishes. I think a lot were handed back to the cook when 3ds became rather scarce although the idea is to keep the lucky coin.Are you making Xmas cake or pudding?? Our tradition with the pudding was to pour brandy over it at the last minute and put a match to it. It was brought to the table flaming while we sang 'bring us some figgy pudding'. It was then served with sweet whipped cream and brandy butter. How rich can you get! I'll send some pics shortly to give you a bit more of A Connie's story. Second mailing yesterday. XX Lin, Yes, I like compositionism as a framework and working title. I meant to say 'pudding', not 'cake'. I am working to the recipe you sent and have set aside the majority of today for it, as I foresee challenges! What is a 'gill' of milk, for starters? And 5 hours!! Wow. I am also buying a ready mix cake just in case I need a last minute fix!I do have a bottle of Armenian Cognac here that someone just gave to me, and I am planning to use that. I haven't had a chance to think over your second email --- will get back to you (and will let you know how cooking goes)! x E: Good luck with the pud. Don't forget to ask people to have a stir for more good luck (never miss a chance!) Best Cognac sounds too good, specially the extra slosh for burning! 4 gills = 1 pint If the pud isn't too successful, put it in a cool place for up to a year, it will keep improving. Xlook forward to hearing moreok, I'm setting out on a foraging trip - I've been on the phone since my last email looking for a butcher who sells suet! Herman's in Newark, Delaware here I come! You may be able to buy ready shredded suet from a grocery store. We have Atora brand shredded suet, which is fine. X |
9 Oct 2011 |
Em -Bravo pudding enactment! How did the event go? x |
10 Oct 2011
|
L -
At the last minute I decided not to serve the pud in the studio - mainly because it needs to be steaming: when cold, the pieces of suet are visible and I thought the crowd might not go for that (no cooker in the studio). Also I was a little worried about people's teeth - it's a public venue and this is lawyer-crazy America, after all. So, my mother and James are excited: I'm going to serve it to them at Christmas, and it will have a proper aging period. Do you recommend adding brandy to it over time? I have seen online that people add anything from a couple of teaspoons to a whole cup each month.I did hang photos of the cooking process up, along with adding things you sent / parts of Connie's story to my wall collage in the studio. You had asked me to write my impressions of her before you told me more about her - making the pudding was a small way of trying to access her experience. Your email with the very poignant larger story shifted my impressions from being rather one dimensional (even having 3D objects - the coins - and after making the pudding, this was the case). The note is haunting; I am now thinking about handwriting and books/texts vs everyday personal items as having a stronger presence. |
Exchange 2
12 Oct 2011
13 Oct 2011 |
Lin,Second package received - flaming good!
Em x Em, we love the pig! Now on show on the mantelpiece along with miscellaneous objects that were already there - clay animals made by my kids nearly 40 years ago, a brass pig, stacking dolls, pic of Arthur's farm horses. 'Chance' is certainly a factor here, not sure what else. Will send another packet tomorrow. After that p'raps we should pause and talk about what's emerging? I'm keeping a sketchy log of events and thoughts but there is already such a lot! Could you tell me more about the stamp. Your cryptic comment 'they laughed all the way to the bank' suggests ill gotten gains! Some responses to your last long email in text below.Lxx |
Exchange 3 (coming soon)
Exchange 4 (coming soon)
Exchange 5, begun February 2012
Sent: LC >> EA: a cast of Lin's teeth, from the dentist
Sent: EA >> LC: a resin sports guard of Emily's teeth
Sent: LC >> EA: a cast of Lin's teeth, from the dentist
Sent: EA >> LC: a resin sports guard of Emily's teeth
20 February 12
(L to E) |
Em, appreciate the new sending!
Resonates with cast of my teeth and also the first part of the Franzen book (which we are getting into) Love the instructions not to chew! |
21 February 12
(E to L) |
Oh, yeah - Patty Burglund plays basketball, right?
Anyway, that's a cast of my teeth - just for you! Making it brought back memories of high school, when I reluctantly played field hockey --- memories mostly of dreading the 4pm bell, when classes ended and our 4 mile run then 2 hours of practice started. It was probably good for me in some way, but I didn't think so then. |