fanciful devices: Visiting Lecturer, Professor Fanci of Shimmery Ballsacks University

A Stone Is Nobody's

A man ambushed a stone. Caught it.
Made it a prisoner.
Put it in a dark room and stood guard over it for the rest of his life.

His mother asked why.

He said, because it's held captive, because it is captured.

Look, the stone is asleep, she said, it does not know whether it's in a garden or not. Eternity and the stone
are mother and daughter; it is you who are getting old. The stone is only sleeping.

But I caught it, mother, it is mine by conquest, he said.

A stone is nobody's, not even its own. It is you who are conquered; you are minding the prisoner, which is yourself,
because you are afraid to go out, she said.

Yes yes, I am afraid, because you have never loved me, he said.

Which is true, because you have always been to me as the stone is to you, she said.

Russell Edson

FAQs

1. Are you a Southeast Asian dancing girl from the 1800s?

No, sorry to disappoint. My avatar and banner images are from an ancient book I found in the depths of my grandmother's cabinets. More on that here.

2. How do you make everything look so old?

First, you need a good oxidizer to brush on every bit of metal you can reach. I'll tell you all about it here.

Then there's this wax. I first mentioned it here. You'll have to scroll down a lot.

3. How can you be so productive?

I'm insanely obsessed and I have no offspring. I do nothing else- I don't have a day job, I don't clean my house or cook, I spend all day in pjs, often completely abandoning personal hygiene... I only interact with other humans when I walk my dog. And I like people! But I prefer dogs.

And I'm sloppy- but I make that sloppiness work for me.

4. Any tips you'd like to share?

No! Except for these 16 posts about techniques and this one about how to find your aesthetic.

5. Would you be offended if I took some inspiration from your designs?

Well, I'd be happier if you outright copied them.

No really, imitation is how we learn. I have enough ideas to go around. And even if I don't- please. No one's going to do this obsessively enough to threaten my business. (Probably.) I learned by copying others and I've seen others copy me as a step toward developing their own voice. So feel free. (I'd love if you tossed me a link in my comments, so I can feel like a proud momma.)

6. What do you look like?

Why, what have you heard? Really? Wow.

4/13/14

Visiting Lecturer, Professor Fanci of Shimmery Ballsacks University

My little uni visit has its own facebook page.

Presentation by Chicago artist, blogger and Etsian, Fanciful Devices

(AKA Marina Rios).

Oh and underneath this pic, where I guess an artist bio would go, is my friggin' about from here on my right sidebar. So very important information about how I enjoy sitting and lying down, and forcing Mr. Devices to laugh at my jokes.

4 comments:

neshuma said...: The entire Fancicorps awaits yer Youtube channel.; 4/13/14, 1:17 PM
Unknown said...: Sitting and lying down are underrated, friend. Hopping over to facebook link now. See you soon, Norma, x; 4/13/14, 3:12 PM
Thoughtfulhands said...: This is really pretty dang cool...

By the way I just love your blog can't wait to see what you'll say next... Makes my day while I'm enjoying sitting and lying and forcing my dogs to laugh at me.

And I'm obsessed with your jewelry..; 4/13/14, 7:28 PM
Beatnheart said...: The lucky lads and lassies at the uni will have their lives change forever after your lecture....they'll all drop out Make make stuff outta dog poo and resin.

Just be yiur adorable self and bring lots of your work to show and sell...; 4/15/14, 9:29 AM