28 May 2011

S; Vocation


These images are a little late, but here's what I've done so far . . .



With this square, I attempted to implement another (sort of) Palindromic feature: the temperament of its craftsmanship contradicts the nature of its symbolism (or does it?). As the "First/Last Vocation" portion of the quilt, its construction relies on a sense of nonchalance that is totally inconsistent with the manner in which I would conduct myself at a place of employment. It's hard to say if I will utilize this method in the fabrication of the other squares - how will I assemble the "First/Last Relationship" square? Under the influence of rage as opposed to soppy adoration? Or perhaps engulfed by fury that slowly and methodically subsides as I progress from the remnants of my first relationship towards the one I am currently in? {It is my belief that such a system somehow manages to loosely adhere to the confines of a Palindrome. As a project that is endowed with myriad opposing values regarding form and content, as well as the attitude instilled in its construction, progresses towards a mid-point in its completion, a fugitive moment is encountered in which the piece's very essence can be not read but perceived uniformly from all directions.}

Actually, the significance of this first square (with regards to the project as a whole) is already defunct; I'm going to start working at a new shop on Wednesday.

-x-x-x-

I discovered this deceased dragonfly near Reading Terminal Market the other day. Although he (she?) was laying prostrate on the sidewalk in the midst of substantial foot traffic, his wings are perfectly intact. I scooped him up with a defunct Rapture leaflet and brought him home.




A few days ago, the white stripes on his body were kind of a seafoam green color. I have yet to figure out exactly what kind of dragonfly he is/was. I covered him with a Plexiglass box to protect his remains from crafty, roving centipedes...

07 May 2011

chattels


I need to get my goddamn chattels in order. I am currently in the midst of my final hours of service at a mid-century modern furniture store on Pine Street, where I have been employed since August. An uncomfortable, deteriorating chair, in addition to the significance of this day, caused me to spot and draw meaning (respectively) from this thing:


It popped right out of the seat cushion! I'm going to use it in the Sator Arepo Tenet Opera Rotas quilt that I had planned to make like five billion years ago. The material will form a dichotomous union with a few pieces of some curtains that hung in the window of my very first place of employment, The Record Den, which went out of business (Oddly enough, that is also why I'm leaving this job.). Thus, the "First/Last Job" square will materialize.

Initially, I had planned to create the entire piece within twenty-four hours on an appropriately palindromic date; specifically, the 20th of November, 2011. I think that was just a procrastination tactic. Also, there's a chance that I will manage to get another job by then, in which case the former constraints of this project would not permit me to use this rogue cushion stuffing. Eh, maybe such a breach from the fundamental formula derails the overall function of the endeavor, which is to analyze the relevance of the piece to any time other than the present (or the time of it's fabrication), but I don't know...that defiance says a lot about me, for better or for worse. Will the meaning be severely altered because of this adjustment? Nngh. It's possible that the significance of the entire undertaking was exhausted, squashed, immediately after its inception. I'm still going to go through with it.

The notion of constructing this thing within as many palindromic constraints as possible is still very important to me. I think I'll try to adhere to a somewhat palindromic date as I sew each individual square. Tonight, at 11:32 pm (May 7th, 2011, seven minutes plus five minutes past 11:20), the "First Job/Last Job" square will take shape.

The period that I spent working at this store was, in many ways, laden with awful events. I became involved with a person who, before moving to another hemisphere, conveniently sought me out, most likely with the intent of impressing his status as a grounded individual upon someone who didn't know him from Adam's off ox. This assertion was far from true and things ended pretty shittily, but I'm glad that the relationship ended (otherwise I wouldn't be with Felix, who is the one major exception regarding this ridiculous treatise on August-May distress). In addition, this period marked the passing of both my grandparents and an uncle, as well as the augmentation of hostility between housemates. A light dusting of suicide attempts amongst friends and job-related suspicions was thrown in, for good measure. Thus, this rogue cushion fragment is quite significant; it has supported my ireful butt for months.