What if everything you ever owned was put on display???
- Thread starter Jonathan
- Start date
ClubVintage
VFG Member
Wow, that is something....I thought I was bad keeping too much stuff but I see what I have accumulated is really nothing. :fainting:
Thanks for sharing.
Cat
Thanks for sharing.
Cat
I unknowingly was at that exhibit this morning, although they called it an estate sale with *rare* antiques.
Someone liked to save a lot of toothpaste tubes. I bet with all the plastic bottles, if there was a deposit in that area, it would be enough money to store whatever was worth saving after the exhibit
fuzzylizzie
Alumni
This actually happened to my mil after her house flooded. Everything she and FIL had acquired over 54 years was on display on her lawn. 50 years of Chemical Engineering and Popular Mechanics magazines. 100s of plastic containers. Enough vintage barkcloth to make any of us cry. 100s of books....
Of course everyone else in the neighborhood was in the same boat.
They had to put up a police roadblock because people were going into the floodzone at night and helping themselves.
Of course everyone else in the neighborhood was in the same boat.
They had to put up a police roadblock because people were going into the floodzone at night and helping themselves.
ivycompany
Alumni
Wow.
I actually found this arrestingly beautiful and was brought to tears looking at the slideshow. Obviously I was the intended audience. Having been through the very recent loss of everything I own including the home and contents of the place where I grew up surrounded by antiques and family history, this exhibit completely resonates with me right down to the message to the absent father. Wow.
Thank you, Jonathan.
I actually found this arrestingly beautiful and was brought to tears looking at the slideshow. Obviously I was the intended audience. Having been through the very recent loss of everything I own including the home and contents of the place where I grew up surrounded by antiques and family history, this exhibit completely resonates with me right down to the message to the absent father. Wow.
Thank you, Jonathan.
pastperfect2
Alumni +
That was wonderful, sad and odd. My house emptied out would not be nearly as emotionally charged or visually interesting.
The message to the father was touching.
Hollis
The message to the father was touching.
Hollis
Your post reminded me of a wonderful photo book that came out in the mid 90s called Material World. The authors took pictures of families from around the world in front of their homes with most or all of their possessions arrayed around them. I googled and found a few of the photos on the website for PBS's Nova. Be sure to click on the small photos to see the complete picture.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/worldbalance/material.html
The contents of my eBay room alone could compete with that American family's stuff, I'm afraid!
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/worldbalance/material.html
The contents of my eBay room alone could compete with that American family's stuff, I'm afraid!
I hear you. I didn't know if losing just about anything would make me a hoarder when I acquired things going forward, or would it make it easier to part with things. I am still in a transitional phase of "it remains to be seen." Some things are so much easier to let go of now, some not.
very interesting, the more i read, the more i got "pulled" into it. love the message to the dad, also.
did you notice this article there, too??
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/07/17/arts/20090717-BASS_6.html
dreamy!
did you notice this article there, too??
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/07/17/arts/20090717-BASS_6.html
dreamy!
dorotheascloset
Registered Guest
I think that just makes me sad.
I also think I see Swatches!
Ang
I also think I see Swatches!
Ang
That's amazing. A beautiful, complex, multi-layered piece of art, I'm truly moved and impressed. Thank you Jonathan.
Ruth
Ruth
Jonathan
VFG Member
I normally hate 'installation' art but this one had a fascination and sadness about it I thought was special, not unlike the AIDS quilt but not as manufactured. It has an accidental beauty of order out of chaos about it- perhaps its more poignant because it comes from a culture where possessions are seen as antisocial. However, I think almost anyone's life could be made sad and beautiful like this when you start lining up the toothpaste tubes.
It's definitely a moving piece! It was wonderful to hear that he could convince his mother to do this with him. What an experience to share between mother and son and to then include the father as well with the note, very touching!
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing!
lkranieri
VFG Member
I looked at the original post quickly and when I clicked on the link I saw only the photo of the exhibition in which we look down on the items. It was that that reminded me of my own lifetime accumulation--only that one is neater. I hasten to add that I don't accumulate toothpaste tubes.
When I read other replies and saw that there was a slide show of other images and accompanying text, I went back in later and was so moved by the exhibition. I was also sorry for my original flip reply and wish I had been more careful in looking at the link.
It was very touching and it underscored what I learned a couple of years ago about what compels us to accumulate beyone what seems reasonable. So sad.
When I read other replies and saw that there was a slide show of other images and accompanying text, I went back in later and was so moved by the exhibition. I was also sorry for my original flip reply and wish I had been more careful in looking at the link.
It was very touching and it underscored what I learned a couple of years ago about what compels us to accumulate beyone what seems reasonable. So sad.
I think I've been there too!! Only it was in the guise of a small town thrift store ;)