In taking inventory of my desk/office area, I realized what a daunting task this was ultimately going to be. The amount of stuff that I am surrounded by each day, never seemed to count as actual objects before, they just existed. In thinking about my belongings, I began to consider the value either inherent, imposed, implied or created in each object, and how I might use these attached values to find order. This led me to six categories in which I could find a place for each object and that reflect the way I think about my things; Things that hold sentimental value; Things that are aesthetically pleasing; Things that are useful; Things that are useless; Things that have accumulated; Things that garbage. These categories are broad and so in some cases an object may fit into more than one category, though I chose the one that was most relevant. For example, the copper space ship sculpture my father made for me is found under “Things that hold sentimental value”, although I also find it to be stunningly beautiful and it could just as easily be found under “Things that are aesthetically pleasing”. However, my emotional attachment to the sculpture is stronger than my aesthetic attachment. My shifting relationship and interpretation with each object is also not reflected in this inventory, which shares some similarities with a photograph – capturing a particular place at a particular moment.
This inventory is by no means a definitive look at this space, nor at my possession and the ways in which they can be organized, classified, analyzed or understood, but a beginning to a greater understanding of my own attachments to things. Within each category I have attempted to prioritize each object, although distinguishing value between objects that share the same category is far more difficult than the initial classification.
Note: this inventory only includes the surface or my desk, side table and shelves. I have not included an inventory of the drawers, or what can be found on the floor or under my desk.
Things that hold sentimental value – objects that have an emotional meaning or connection. Much of their meaning comes from the stories and memories that go along with each item.
Things that are aesthetically pleasing – objects that can be found in my office, purely as decoration. This category includes art as well as knick-knacks and trinkets that I really enjoy.
Things that are useful – objects that are in my office area to serve a purpose. This includes practical items, tools, and things with a utilitarian purpose.
Things that are useless – objects that are useless either in general, or that are useless in the context of being in an office when they serve no other purpose (aesthetic/decorative).
Things that have accumulated – objects that belong elsewhere is my house, but because I am a messy person, have managed migrate and move into my office space.
Things that garbage - objects that just need to go.
Things that hold sentimental value
1 black framed photograph of Nick & Casey
2 mini red felted mittens - part of an old art project
1 heart shaped sticky note reads “I Love You” from Nick
1 copper space ship – art by dad
2 mini red felted mittens - part of an old art project
1 handmade small green canoe – dad’s art
1 unframed family photo at grandparent’s 60th wedding anniversary
1 small Swiss Army knife & brown leather case
5 plastic farm animals
-1 pig
-1 duck
-1 small cow
-1 large cow
-1 rooster
1 stone carved hippo
1 Canada themed disposable camera
1 handmade small green canoe – dad’s art
1 hackie sack
1 plastic mini pylon
1 program for A Midsummer Nights’ Dream – Port Perry Production 2009
1 blue plaid tin box (contains pencil crayons)
1 small tin box (contains charcoal)
1 mercy blanket from Nuitblanche
2 salt-water taffy
Things that are aesthetically pleasing
2 red Dala Horses - gifts from mom
-1 large
-1 small
3 antique oil cans - part of a larger collection
1 white leather Eames office chair
1 black framed original collage – gift from mom
1 bent, burned spoon - art made by dad
1 handmade collaged Christmas ornament
1 photograph of iceberg in Newfoundland
1 little Ifle tower souvenir – gift from boss, from his trip to France
1 “Luben BoyKov” exhibition catalogue – “The Rooms” Newfoundland
1 jar of deep red ink
Things that are useless
1 iBook – broken, painted Grey play - used as a play prop
1 Playstation 3 Instructions (French Booklet)
1 blue plastic ring
1 plastic bird beak with elastic to be worn
1 broken purple wax teacup cast – experiment from art project
1 pink box full of pink ribbon
5 rough cut metal bird silhouettes (part of abandoned art project)
1 blank wooden business card
1 Art Matters Magazine from the AGO
1 china bird
1 paper bag contains:
1 “L” shaped bracket
4 1/4” wood screws
5 white feathers
1 black feather
1 wooden spoon covered in red wax
1 decorated stick (from children’s workshop)
7 short wooden dowels
Things that are useful
1 Macintosh PowerBook G4, 15” Titanium Laptop
1 old, paint covered drafting table
1 Sony headphones
11 cardboard file boxes
-3 grey
-3 plain cardboard
-1 blue spotted
-5 burgundy & white pattern
5 clipboards
1 moleskin notebook
1 pad of graph paper
1 printer with paper
1 black cardboard IKEA file box (contain school papers)
1 painted wooden IKEA box with drawers
1 speaker system (2 speakers)
1 small spiral note pad
1 unopened letter from The Power Plant (probably containing membership
4 black, fine felt tip markers
1 skinny red marker
2 blue ink ballpoint pens
1 black ink ballpoint pen
2 2HB pencils
1 mechanical pencil
4 litho crayons (No. 1,2,4,5)
3 Steadlter blue pencils (4H, 4H, H)
1 pair scissors
7 new/unsharpened 2HB pencils
1 wire cutters
1 round needle nose pliers
1 stapler
1 open package of photo mounting corners
1 red elastic band
5 palette knives
-4 plastic
-1 wood/metals
1 roll of toilet paper (for nose-blowing)
1 soft measuring tape
1 HP Premium Photo Paper Box of 100
1 pink halogen desk lamp
1 HP refill Ink Cartridge
1 pad of blue post-it notes
1 Mac dongle
1 3 hole punch
1 sheet acetate
1 ashtray made from a coke can
1 original “Chapstick”
1 PKG blue sticky tack
1 Toronto Public Library Card
2 eyeliner - charcoal and jet black
1 pink lighter
1 bobby pin
10 paper clips
14 pennies
4 nickels
1 dime
1 quarter
3 fountain pen tips
1 alligator clip
2 white erasers
Things that have accumulated/migrated
1 flat cutout wooden painted puffin – decoration from Newfoundland
2 carved wooden bracelets – purchased in Kensington
1 jar of buttons
3 cheap metal bracelets
1 envelope containing 66 old black & white photographs
5 cards
-1 from Grandparents, Christmas 2009
-1from boyfriend’s Mother, Christmas 2009
-1 from boyfriend’s sister, Christmas 2009
-2 blank, still in plastic
3 “Sophisticated Finishes” 350ml bottles – copper, patina, iron surfacer
1 pair of black shoelaces
1 matchbox
1 button ring
1 pink Dodo Lab pin
1 guitar-tuning key (glow in the dark)
1 nightlight and light bulb
9 CD’s
-burned Sin City
-Almost Famous Soundtrack
-John Mayer “Heavier Things”
-Lord Of the Rings
-2 blanks CD’s
-burned “The Machinist”
-HP photosmart printer installation CD
1 House and Home Magazine, Feb 2010
1 C Magazine
1 dust mask
1 unopened PKG of 10 Picture Hanging Screws – Lee Valley Tools
1 “BASICS” cooper paint tube
2 large industrial metal clips
1 pink nail polish
1 chocolate ball – gold foil
Things that are garbage
1 screwdriver missing all bits
1 “class 2 power supply” –belongs to a missing lamp
3 pay stubs from FRANK at the AGO
1 “Beautiful Fictions” pamphlet from the AGO
1 cardboard DVD cover – collector’s series “Amelie”
1 Newfoundland and Labrador “License Renewal Application”
11 used (dollar store) paintbrushes
2 black fine felt tip markers that don’t work
1 black ink ballpoint pen
1 bottle cap (Keith’s)
1 2009 desktop calendar
1 broken, rusted exacto knife blade
1 comment:
Your blog is so original...I really enjoyed this post...I wish you would post more often to your blog.....GREAT MIND!
Dianne
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