1/21/2015 *** updated 1/22 to correct grammar and the image layout went a little wonky
Sometimes the way we think we are going to go about building a work, especially when it is one that contains source material that is straight from ones life, well, it is just brutal. I am willing dumping salt all over fresh wounds for the sake of art.
I've begun transcribing bits of texts and emails onto the pages. And this is just plain awful to reread what I wrote, what he wrote, and what should have never been written by either of us. I only have bits of texts that screen grabs were taken for one reason or another. In haste and anger I deleted all messages from him on 1/16 after it was decided that things we not going to progress forward. I am sort of wishing now that I had not done that, however, knowing how I am, I am glad I did, least I be tempted to transcribe all 1412 texts (along with the 9 messages between us that occurred on 1/19/15)... there has been no contact since then.
Here are some of the pages that are to be included. I will not photograph them all, certain things need not ever be read by any other parties besides those involved. I am only including shots of what falls under the she said category. As much as I want to include some of what he said... especially a comment about apologizing and groveling, I am not going to go there. I know what was written, I have it documented and know that it will be included... and that is all that is important.
Pages of what she said are from the books "The Chemistry of Organic Compounds" by James B. Conant published 1939. Chapters titled The Alcohols, Compounds Containing Sulfur, and Aromatic Acids (and yes, I'm aware I've directed those chapter choices at myself) and "The Human Mechanism" by Hough and Sedgwick published 1918. Chapters included will be Sense Organs and Sensations, and The Nervous System. Read into that what you will, I never said this project was going to shed a kind light on it's maker.
Pages from what he said are coming from the book "Lords of Press" by George Seldes published 1946. Chapters used were: The Sun Grows Cold, Special Interests in Chicago, and "Treason" on the Times. Oh, and did I mention that he used to be a newspaper reporter... a member of the press, I am not sure about a Lord of the Press.
I bought all the books being used for this project well over a year ago, so it is ironic how well the titles are fitting into the current context of the work. I bought them based on the price (cheap) and the quality of the paper in the books. Sometimes things just fall into place perfectly.
And yes, I will fess up to having a sharp tongue when I've had the rug pulled out from under me. When I told him to feel free to post about this on his blog, which happens to contain lots about his dating trials and tribulations, at that point I had not yet considered using it as source material for my work. Irony at it's best perhaps... or at it's worst.
Above are some of the page shots.
Sometimes the way we think we are going to go about building a work, especially when it is one that contains source material that is straight from ones life, well, it is just brutal. I am willing dumping salt all over fresh wounds for the sake of art.
I've begun transcribing bits of texts and emails onto the pages. And this is just plain awful to reread what I wrote, what he wrote, and what should have never been written by either of us. I only have bits of texts that screen grabs were taken for one reason or another. In haste and anger I deleted all messages from him on 1/16 after it was decided that things we not going to progress forward. I am sort of wishing now that I had not done that, however, knowing how I am, I am glad I did, least I be tempted to transcribe all 1412 texts (along with the 9 messages between us that occurred on 1/19/15)... there has been no contact since then.
Here are some of the pages that are to be included. I will not photograph them all, certain things need not ever be read by any other parties besides those involved. I am only including shots of what falls under the she said category. As much as I want to include some of what he said... especially a comment about apologizing and groveling, I am not going to go there. I know what was written, I have it documented and know that it will be included... and that is all that is important.
Pages of what she said are from the books "The Chemistry of Organic Compounds" by James B. Conant published 1939. Chapters titled The Alcohols, Compounds Containing Sulfur, and Aromatic Acids (and yes, I'm aware I've directed those chapter choices at myself) and "The Human Mechanism" by Hough and Sedgwick published 1918. Chapters included will be Sense Organs and Sensations, and The Nervous System. Read into that what you will, I never said this project was going to shed a kind light on it's maker.
Pages from what he said are coming from the book "Lords of Press" by George Seldes published 1946. Chapters used were: The Sun Grows Cold, Special Interests in Chicago, and "Treason" on the Times. Oh, and did I mention that he used to be a newspaper reporter... a member of the press, I am not sure about a Lord of the Press.
I bought all the books being used for this project well over a year ago, so it is ironic how well the titles are fitting into the current context of the work. I bought them based on the price (cheap) and the quality of the paper in the books. Sometimes things just fall into place perfectly.
And yes, I will fess up to having a sharp tongue when I've had the rug pulled out from under me. When I told him to feel free to post about this on his blog, which happens to contain lots about his dating trials and tribulations, at that point I had not yet considered using it as source material for my work. Irony at it's best perhaps... or at it's worst.
Above are some of the page shots.
Actually reading my tone over the course of texts and emails, I keep noticing my voice getting more and more timid. Perhaps he is right and there has been a bit of groveling going on. Time to head into the studio, make work and burn the book that this rejected story resides in... and make something beautiful from the ashes.
So, this is gist of the sorts of things that will go on the pages, the books will be carefully dismantled, and the pages will be formed and then dipped in to the encaustic medium. I could just use the crumpled pages, but dipping them in wax will tranparentize the paper, making any text more difficult to read; give the pile a grater volume and structure; and it will also provide a great deal of stability to the old paper, making it less fragile. Which is also ironic, since the words that I am transcribing onto the pages are so full of fragility.
I have yet to decide which book of the 15 the 11 or so submitted rejected stories will be transcribed into. I want to finish up with the painful part and then move on.
So, this is gist of the sorts of things that will go on the pages, the books will be carefully dismantled, and the pages will be formed and then dipped in to the encaustic medium. I could just use the crumpled pages, but dipping them in wax will tranparentize the paper, making any text more difficult to read; give the pile a grater volume and structure; and it will also provide a great deal of stability to the old paper, making it less fragile. Which is also ironic, since the words that I am transcribing onto the pages are so full of fragility.
I have yet to decide which book of the 15 the 11 or so submitted rejected stories will be transcribed into. I want to finish up with the painful part and then move on.