Monthly Statement:
May 2006

OBJECT # 33
DATE SENT: May 19, 2006
SENT TO: Miko Almaleh
SENT VIA: Hand delivered

DESCRIPTION OF OBJECT(S): (1)A sack 10 1/4 inch by 8 inches. Blue satin exterior is embroidered with gold and silver thread on one side with a sun-like central image which has several Hebrew letters above in an arc shape. The embroidery forms a rectangular shape, with each corner quite intricate. There is a zipper on the top of the sack, which is broken, and the opposite side is plain blue satin. The interior of the sack is white satin cloth and is stained. The stain is oval, blue and ringed by a yellow water stain. (2) A prayer shawl, or tallis, 29x69 inches made of white satin cloth, fringed (3 1/2 inches) on either end. Each corner is reinforced with a square patch of white cotton, embroidered with a Star of David and other white thread design. From the center of the Star of David is a longer (16 inches) group of fringes. The bottom of each end is white then there is a blue stripe 1/2 inch wide, running the width of the scarf. There is a separation of white of 1/2 inch and then another field of blue of 6 1/2 inch on which there is a patter of the Torah (7 samples) underneath which are Hebrew letters. There is another white separation and then the blue band is repeated. This same pattern is on both ends of the scarf. A field of white separates the two blue fields. The Torah pattern is repeated in 5 rows of 7, all in white on white embroidery. The scarf has been folded five (5) times to form a 10 1/2 x 8 1/4 inch rectangle. On one long side of the scarf is a 28 x 3 inch long band, embroidered with white thread in a pattern of long leaves. The ends of this band are cut at a diagonal angle. (3) A white satin yarmulke, approximately 6 inches in diameter with gold thread embroidery along the edges. Yarmulke is made of four sections which have been pieced together and which are joined to form a circle with seams connecting all pieces. Interior of yarmulke is of cotton cloth and embroidering is visible as well.

ORIGIN AND APPROXIMATE DATE OF POSSESSION OF OBJECT: Given to me by Miko in (approximately) 1999 as a gift. The cloak and hat were used for Miko’s Bar Mitzvah.

MOST RECENT LOCATION OF OBJECT: In a white plastic bag on top of the far left table against the east wall of my studio. The bag was under various photo boxes.

RELATION OF OBJECT TO RECIPIENT: Miko studied photography at Jersey City State College. He was in a few classes I taught, and declared himself a commercial photographer, though much of the work he did was decidedly fine art. Miko was a hard-working, thorough student in class and volunteered a great deal of time to the department as well. He worked as a limousine driver, and often drove me and my wife, Leslie Kippen, (see d-acum #16 kitchen clock) to the airport when we needed a ride. He was fun loving, jocular, teasing, sarcastic, and the kind of student who was always more than enthusiastic. Miko is originally from Turkey and he liked the fact that I had some knowledge of Jewish culture due to my long-term relationship with Leslie. He teased me if I did (or didn’t) fast on Yom Kippur, if I attended temple, or any of the other cultural trappings of the religion. Miko seemed less than observant, though he retained a fair amount of awareness of being Jewish. He gave me his Bar Mitzvah garments without fanfare, and I initially thought it inappropriate for me to have them. However, he and I said I would keep them for a period of time, until it seemed appropriate to return them. In May, Miko will be married to a wonderful woman named Erin. They have been together for a long time and seem to be quite happy. I have no idea as to their plans for a family, though their dog Finster seems quite loved. However, it seems to me that at this point, it is time for me to return these sacred – or at least nostalgic – items to Miko, so that he may pass them along to whomever seems to need or deserve them most at this time or in the future.

RESPONSE OF RECIPIENT:

DATE OF RESPONSE:

Process: My plan is to de-accumulate objects I now own during the course of the exhibition year. I will photograph the selected object then send the object with a letter to a person who has some relationship to the object or whom I think might be interested in the object. The letter will discuss the project and tell the receiver they can keep the object, destroy it, give it away, recycle it or anything else they choose. I will ask them to document it in the place they now have it and send their image and/or written description back to me of what they did with it and where it is. I plan on de-accumulating an average of one object per week. The new images/descriptions will be placed in a plastic folder and exhibited along with a photograph of the object as it was in my possession.