Day 336

I was contacted recently by an Artist about taking part in a “participatory art project” which is apparently art in which the audience is involved in the creative process.  I had never heard of this before, but it has its own Wikipedia entry, so I guess it must be an actual thing.

The project is called Possessed.  Basically they will make a photo of an item you have emotional attachment to in exchange for you giving it up. Although they say that in a much more thoughtful and…artistic fashion.

From their website

Our aim – to explore the idea of possessions used in forming identity and specifically what possessions represent on an emotional level. Various possessions and objects have a variety of roles, some of which are purely functional, others are deeply linked with our idea of self. We want to specifically look at possessions of symbolic value.

I thought the project sounded like a good idea in general.  Plus it is for a group of artists that don’t appear to be famous, YET.  So I thought I would hedge my bets.  No one wants to be THE ONE that told a young Andy Warhol he couldn’t paint their soup cans or Ansel Adams he and his black box weren’t allowed to trespass on their land.

“Mr. Pollock, please stop spattering paint all over the place.”

However, if you are a frequent reader of this blog, you know that I currently don’t have many of my possessions with me, so I didn’t think I had anything of emotional value with me.  All of my sentimental treasures are packed away in boxes right now.  (I know, I know, that is a problem unto itself).

Then, I saw this in my closet.

Photo by Marcie Miller Art

I have this jean jacket from a different life. It was perfect. A photographer friend of mine took this photo and I shipped the jacked to  them in England. I asked them, “Can a photo capture the great joy and terrible sadness that are both woven into the fabric of this jacket?”  They posted my photo and the rest of that story on their blog here. 

I imagine everyone out there has a couple of items they are hanging onto with blind and binding emotion. Ultimately,  I was  happy for the opportunity to let go