Give and Get 

I took a brass latch to occupy my nervous hands. I have something to play with now! I left a cork to a bottle of Moscato. I have millions! 

I took a penny that was on heads for good luck. I left a light switch – on ‘off’.

I took a DV/MP4 player; my son will like playing with it. I left a doll toy.

I took a postcard and left a tiger balm.

I took a rock! And I left tabs from the hospital.

I left a bobby pin – found in every pocket, but never when I need one. I took a ceramic medallion for its color.

Left part of a jaw bone, of a young deer. Took a C-clamp.

I left a little Mermaid publicity photo from a press kit. My brother was a film critic and he died over 20 years ago from AIDS. It was his. Took a jaw bone.

I left a box that you can keep things in, which was made in the UK. I took a ticket stub to an exhibit in the British Library.

I exchanged a New York Peppermint Patty for a bandaid.

I exchanged a toy wooden train for a quilt maker’s business card.

Took $$ left golf tee.

Fortune cookie > took a quarter.

Vending machine toy > took old light bulb.

Took Christmas stickers and left a mini flower vase.

Left child’s gold elastic bracelet.

Left envelope called “Wendy”. Took fortune cookie.

Left chopsticks – took mood beads.

Left “A Friendly Gift for You.” Took “Dumb Shit Makes Money” pin. From the positive to the sarcastic.

Took a dried rose and gave a compass because it’s time for a compass in the mutating collection. I don’t know where it came from, I must have found it and clipped it in my bag and as I’ve had a clear out of said bag, it’s something to give.

Took a compass for a grandchild who made an exchange at the Small Publisher’s Fair. I gave two art pens (which I bought from a friend who was moving studio). Art pens are designed to have a short life to make the manufacturers more money. To frustrate them, other uses for old pens need to be found – like scoring paper or tracing through carbon paper to transfer an image. So lots of life is left in an art pen deemed to be useless.

I swapped Berol for a fella.

I have swapped a little yellow frog rubber for some pretty wool for my friend who is a textile artist.

I have swapped a 10 year old Viennese tram ticket which has lived in my handbag for images of a 1962 book of matches. This justifies my keeping such detritus for so long!

I have taken jam pot labels and left a blue thimble and a label (brown)

I have exchanged a bead, the twin to one I used in a recent book, for a stone from Dunwich beach with several faces, thankyou.

I have put in a bag of marbles from a book arts day. I chose to take nothing out – except my memories of a great day!

I have exchanged my house measurements for a purple plastic car. 

I gave a visual teaching aid and took some specifications for a Victorian terrace in London.    

I gave a handbag hook the has stayed unused in my handbag. I bought it in Wales. I have taken a visual aid for teaching which I think I will find more useful!   

I took a handbag hook and I left a notebook I bring along from China.

I exchanged a hair pin for a Chinese notebook with Chinese writing inside. 

AND…. A lot more exchanges, without photos:


HISTORY MATTERS BADGE CHAIN

I have exchanged a packet of wildflower seed for a history matters badge

I am giving a marble I carry around in my bag for emergency situations with my son when he’s in desperate need toplay! I took some wild flower seed

I exchanged the marble for a pencil sharpener (pink and glittery)

I exchanged my bingo token for a pink pencil sharpener!

Given one piece of my first missed silverprint photograph – exchanged with a Martin’s bingo.

I have given one of my artist’s books  - a kit for building a 3D language object in exchange for a print that will be a beautiful book mark.

I took a book of poetry and left a picture of my ex I lost my V to. Ellen

I gave a ring I found on Garratt Lane. In exchange I have a photo a girl called Ellen hates so much. I will love it…

I gave a lipstick in exchange for a ring. The lipstick was very dear to me as a momento of my friend’s wedding, but I’ll never wear the colour again.

I gave my business card offering a discount on a healing or meditation in exchange for a lipstick


GOLD BUTTON CHAIN

I have exchanged my keyring for a gold button

I am taking the Moomin keyring. I have left a tortoiseshell hair pin which belonged to my friend’s mother.

Given my cherry chap stick and I have taken hair grip



IRISH COIN CHAIN

I have exchanged 2 Waitrose coins received at work for an Irish coin. Kirsty

I gave the aspirin I bought when I meant to buy ibuprofen – took the Waitrose tokens




The RED BEAD CHAIN

I have exchanged a red bead for a broken pen chewed by my daughter. Helen




The PAPER PIECES BEGINNING OF SOMETHING CHAIN

I exchanged a portion of money particles as exemplary of the imaginary economy for paper pieces, the beginning of something

I exchanged a series of handbag memories for some shredded US dollars

I have given one of my artist’s books, a documentation of a performance when i inscribed my past onto London pavements in exchange for the contents of a handbag including lots of lovely messages

I took Hazel McMichal’s “Pavement”. It looks fantastic and I can’t wait to show it off to my husband. I left my first attempt at InDesign for which I had a class today

I gave my pocket magnifier in exchange for Ariane’s fist design attempt

I exchanged a used ticket for an exhibition at the British Museum for a magnifier

Exchanged a postcard for an exhibition ticket from the British Museum




WOVEN WICKER BALL CHAIN

I have given my defunct gym membership card and taken a small woven wicker ball

I gave my foam filled shower gel bottle and got a health and leisure club card.



THREE BLACK HOOKS CHAIN

Today at the bottom of my bag I found a new 2ml syringe. It’s fresh from the vet and very useful. Its exchange is with the three black hooks – notions.

I have an old chip from the last day of my freshers, kept it for a friend for later on to bet with. Never took it back so however much this is worth, has been sitting in my purse. Good luck. I took the syringe for my ink.

I took a token (chip) and left a ticket from ”The Genius of Illumination” at British Library



PIECE OF READYSPEX GLASSES CHAIN

I gave a video-poem DVD and took part of a pair of Readyspex glasses

I gave my black merker pen for Jennie Cole’s ‘a hidden sale’

I gave a, white, plain, useful plastic bag which I carefully folded to put inanything I collected today. I am so wanting to stop collecting, accumulating. You may need this bag. I took the big marker pen with thanks andjoy at the message.

I have exchanged a recommendation for a lovely film for a piece of sea shell that resembles slightly unnerving lips.

I have given my own piece of work ‘Birdsong and Harlequins’ in return for a recommendation of a film.

I have given a sixpence (1957). This has been my lucky coin for a long time. I wish the receiver lots of luck. In exchange for work from the last exchange.

I gave a free Tony Bennett itunes download and I took a lucky 1957 six pence, I need luck! - Sila

I left 3 travelcards that I have used over the last month. They had a total value of£21.90. Now they are worthless!! Tooks an itunes download.

I took three ”useless” travelcards in exchange for a small pink pencil from the Affordable Art Fair.

I left a green pen and I took a pink pencil... I think it could be a great promise.

“There’s a lot of rubbish in my handbag” yet I swapped my favourite essence, a few drops left in the bottle, for a green pen from Italy.

I swapped some stamps for lavender.

Swapped a little package (for collage) for one with stamps - look forward to following its journey.

I gave a candy for a level ring and a yellow bulb; now I owe another object. – Kyle Ripp

I gave a 10 PAISE (fraction of a rupee) which is inscribed with the words “food and shelter for all”. I took a “big league” baseball card that smells like chewing gum. – Felise Luchansky

I gave an old drain plug with a ring attached in exchange for a coin… Will be back to look at other coins. - Maya M. Krasken

Back again with 6 objects: a soap tray, a plastic flower, a wooden pencil, a piece of charcoal, an empty paper towel roll (only the cardboard) and a cap to a paint tube. In exchange for a coin, some metallic paint, and an Obama Hope pin. – Maya Krasken

Gave seashell. Took thumbdrive. – A. W.

gave a kiss for cats.

gave a bunch of kisses for 1 great british pound

I gave a tampon in exchange for facial cleanser. – Julie

Gave a slide of my work for an old soapdish.

Exchanged a DCCA membership card, for a DCCA exhibition postcard.

Gave some gummies for some toothpicks

My business card for Aunt Margie's Spinach Salad recipe. I'm a serious cook. 

A dum dum for a gummie.

A special screw for my prosthetic leg, for a toothpick.

Gave a bandaid that's perfectly usable even though the packaging's come off, in exchange for a piece of metal something, that I am going to paint on.

All I had in my pocket was a dollar. I gave a dollar. I’m hungry… I took an apple. Mmm – juicy.  – Zing Nafzinger

Gave Marlboro box top and Altoids tin top. Took nail polish (and painted my nails in your studio). – Molly Hornsby

Trash. and Trash. - Anonymous


These unphotographed exchanges, can be found in the before and after shots. Some unrecorded ones (like the $10 bill for instance - who gave it, and where'd it go?) are lost. - Emily A.