Monthly Statement:
July 2006

OBJECT # 44
DATE SENT: July 20, 2006
SENT TO: John Guarnaschelli
SENT VIA: US Postal Service

DESCRIPTION OF OBJECT: 1 9/16” x 1 7/16” x 11/16” metallic-green plastic, cylindrical viewer. Viewing end is open, without any glass or plastic. Bottom is a grid-patterned clear plastic, slightly convex. Along the edge of the clear plastic are the words MADE IN CHINA. A seam runs from the top to the bottom of the viewer and there is a looped extrusion through which a purple ribbon is tied in a bow.

ORIGIN AND APPROXIMATE DATE OF POSSESSION OF OBJECT: Obtained as a wedding favor on October 7, 2006. The wedding was of my cousin John W. Fesken (see d-acum 10 1st box) and Cicely Negrete.

MOST RECENT LOCATION OF OBJECT: On the top of a bookshelf in the southeast corner of my workroom. The workroom is in my home in Jersey City, NJ.

RELATION OF OBJECT TO RECIPIENT: John Guarnaschelli and I have been part of a men’s group since April 1988. I venture to say we have heard a great deal of each others story over 19 years, and I have had the great fortune to be close to John in many ways and to share many crucial times in my life with him. Whenever I see a kaleidoscope now, I think of John. He has mentioned that when he was young he was so fascinated to look at the world through one, and how, unfortunately, it came to be out of his possession without his consent. Since my hearing that story I have given John at least one other kaleidoscope. This particular one does not specifically fit the definition of kaleidoscope, since there are no bits of reflected glass. Rather, when looking through it, the viewer is treated to a multi-faceted, exploded view of whatever is in front of him or her. The image is cubistic, though more intense and actually more fascinating, since it moves and shifts as the point of view is changed. Besides the fact that John has a particular and long-standing love for the kaleidoscope, it is also somewhat metaphorical for how I think about John. His interests and skills are wide, his passion is intense, his heart and his mind are huge. John has taught me a great deal over the years, one of which is to think about and look at the world in an expanded manner. I am not sure if I am able to do that yet, but my thoughts of John and this kaleidoscope provide both a model and an actual experience for my attempt.

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.