This is so beautiful — both the work itself and the discussion of the process. Also the photos. The shared aspect of the work, in the created artistic space that holds it, is moving.
Shall I admit (here and to myself) how much I still live in an earlier era by disclosing that for a moment I misinterpreted the headline? My first thought was, how could this amazing writer and artist be telling people to stop speaking on the phone and to write letters to each other instead, at a time when the cosy habit of phone conversations, which create so much connection, is beginning to fade away?
Of course I figured it out a moment later.
I do wish that phone calls weren't falling out of use among the generations that have mostly had pocket computers to talk into, instead of landlines. A video conversation isn't the same thing as the long phone calls my generation have always had, and heaven knows texts are nothing like them at all.
The thing the title is actually calling for and that the piece shares — real, shared presence — is naturally even more important…
Ah, yes, I get the (mis)interpretation - maybe I should have stuck with smartphone but I got seduced by the phone/pen half rhyme. I share your nastalogia for those long phone conversations that built my youtfhul friendships. I have grown tired of halting, stilted video calls where you just can’t help but get distracted by how huge your nose looks or how your hair’s sticking out on one side and fumble uselessly for a way to turn off self-view. Since I’ve been here in Japan, 9 hours ahead so often calling home very early morning while still sleep-rumpled, I’ve rediscovered long audio only phone calls, and the gentle intimacy they create.
Your title is perfect! I was the one who somehow forgot for a moment that phones are now used much more for scrolling than for speaking. Those phone calls from there sound lovely. I still talk that way too, and would be so sad if the people in my life stopped doing so…
A wonderful project, Sam. I love the single celled organism that has arisen. It speaks of deep time...
What will be the destination for this work - rolled up under the arm on the flight home? How good it would look in the natural light of the central gallery at Pier Arts, flowing into the harbour...
This is so beautiful — both the work itself and the discussion of the process. Also the photos. The shared aspect of the work, in the created artistic space that holds it, is moving.
Shall I admit (here and to myself) how much I still live in an earlier era by disclosing that for a moment I misinterpreted the headline? My first thought was, how could this amazing writer and artist be telling people to stop speaking on the phone and to write letters to each other instead, at a time when the cosy habit of phone conversations, which create so much connection, is beginning to fade away?
Of course I figured it out a moment later.
I do wish that phone calls weren't falling out of use among the generations that have mostly had pocket computers to talk into, instead of landlines. A video conversation isn't the same thing as the long phone calls my generation have always had, and heaven knows texts are nothing like them at all.
The thing the title is actually calling for and that the piece shares — real, shared presence — is naturally even more important…
Ah, yes, I get the (mis)interpretation - maybe I should have stuck with smartphone but I got seduced by the phone/pen half rhyme. I share your nastalogia for those long phone conversations that built my youtfhul friendships. I have grown tired of halting, stilted video calls where you just can’t help but get distracted by how huge your nose looks or how your hair’s sticking out on one side and fumble uselessly for a way to turn off self-view. Since I’ve been here in Japan, 9 hours ahead so often calling home very early morning while still sleep-rumpled, I’ve rediscovered long audio only phone calls, and the gentle intimacy they create.
Your title is perfect! I was the one who somehow forgot for a moment that phones are now used much more for scrolling than for speaking. Those phone calls from there sound lovely. I still talk that way too, and would be so sad if the people in my life stopped doing so…
Slow and steady, she goes. What an incredible project! Regarding the snow, you wear it well ❤️
A wonderful project, Sam. I love the single celled organism that has arisen. It speaks of deep time...
What will be the destination for this work - rolled up under the arm on the flight home? How good it would look in the natural light of the central gallery at Pier Arts, flowing into the harbour...
Thank you Linda! Yes, it's now rolled up ready to bring home with me. Hmm, yes showing it at the Pier would be wonderful - I'll need to work on that!