A time and a place for everything...

Polarities: Lens 2009 (detail)

I've heard this said on many occasions, and the OCD part of my brain that requires order and neatness finds the thought of perfect timing and placement very satisfying. This also goes along with my artistic process to a large degree. As I've said before, there is a cyclical way of working - the gathering or scavenging phase, the thinking phase, the making phase, and then back around again. Often a single work goes through many cycles before it is finished (occasionally with an 'unmaking' phase thrown in). There are lots of things in my studio that I've had for years, but haven't used yet, and despite my need to purge unused things in the rest of my life, I continue to save. Eventually, I am certain, each thing will find its place.

Polarities: Lens 2009 (detail)

For instance, this odd round thing - maybe it's some kind of alarm bell, or a drain cover?  I really don't know, but I found it at Triple M several years ago and have been saving it.  It is rather heavy and awkward, and I kept moving it around, unsure about what I'd ever do with it.  Eventually, though it found a home in a two-sided piece that was part of a series exploring opposites and repetitions, organic/inorganic, macro/microcosm, left brain/ right brain kind of things.  It is beside another odd circular object - a light cover, I think... 

Polarities: Lens 2009
mixed media 21x11x3"

I am thinking about all of this right now because I've started collecting again.  I have a collection of more than 14 birds nests of varying sizes, that I hold on to for some future purpose (maybe an installation one day?) and I've just found a new one.  It is tiny and fragile, made of fine grass, smaller than my palm.  I think it was made by the same bird that made the fur-lined nest last year.  I have added to it a blue robin's egg that is almost whole, save for one tiny hole in one end.  Perhaps they'll become a part of my next new work?  I don't know yet, but it is still important to keep them, for that perfect time and place.