fanciful devices

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.

4/8/12

OK, OK- how about the end of May? Just cuz the art and soul I'm thinking of applying for is the end of April and I don't wanna stress myself with all kinds of travel plans piled up on each other.
And yes, it would be the one in Virginia Beach!!!
Also, guys- go do the paper swap in the forum- what a fantastic idea!!! Exclamation point!

6 comments:

Beatnheart said...: Whaaa....April won’t work for me...Could it be end of March???; 4/8/12, 3:23 PM
artandsoulobjectsblogspot.com said...: I'm Gonna be there in April at the Art and Soul- Richard Salley, class, are you going? Would love to see you there!; 4/8/12, 3:54 PM
Numinosity said...: I'm kind of stuck with the winter months. Nov- April.
Sorry. I wish I could make it work but can't commit to May right now. I understand totally why you wouldn't want to stack up too many big travel plans so close together. Staying hopeful that something can work out.
xoxo Kim; 4/8/12, 4:48 PM
Jackie said...: WOOT, YIPPIE, FnA and more!!! Virginia Beach...I can so do that!! I'm happy dancing!!; 4/8/12, 5:13 PM
Aqua Junko Artworks said...: If you are going to be in VB Art&Soul I will try to make it. As for the road trip I am open! Just don't want it to be too chilly!
You could open a facebook account for the road trip folks that are serious and chat on that - maybe?
Lori; 4/9/12, 10:28 AM
Subconscious Dad said...: I highly recommend March
It's not too hot, not at all
It will let you, with no effort, enjoy the beaches of Montevideo, which are not at the same level as further East, but nice nonetheless (I know, Marina will hit me for using "nonetheless" and tell me nobody does).
And finally, you get the tail end of Carnaval, something totally awesome. Ask Marina about "Queso Magro".; 4/9/12, 11:48 AM