In which the Wreckage has begun in Earnest...
"Are you pretending to be one of those people who doesn't care about books?"
~Savannah, age 6 1/2
I could quote my sweet girl a million times for this post - this first full week of Wreck-age....we've had the most interesting conversations as she's watched me spill, sticker and gloop sticky things all over this book. She has gleefully participated - coming up with new and dangerous ways to abuse it - volunteering to toss it down the stairs a few times, she has even *guest*-scribbled in it, theorizing that "Grown-ups don't know how to scribble" and therefore had to demonstrate her technique. It has made me realize, and thank the gods for that, that despite my best efforts to the contrary, she can still recognize the difference between book worship and creative energy in action.
So it's been an interesting week. I think I've done quite well. It seems I have a fairly lively Inner Vandal and have taken much joy in many of these instructions. I've even branched out a bit...
First, of course, the carrying-around-everywhere - -which, in my case, things stuffed into my backpack tend to get bedraggled fairly soon so it was an easy and fairly non-threatening way to get started. I will confess to using a tip from the lovely Toni - and put Ye Olde Wreckee in the dryer with some clothes on the 'wrinkle care' cycle -- added a bit of extra dog-eared-ness to the edges...very satisfying.
Of course, it wouldn't be a journal if I hadn't actually written something in it...something of my thoughts on this particular leg of my journey....
Here's where I went a bit mad and veered off in my own direction....bit of tape here, bit of word- alteration there.....
Outdoor wreckage really adds to the graffiti-ish theme....
Rebellion abounds......I had some *wrong* prescription labels from work and thought they should get stuck somewhere....
Here's some more of my efforts from when I was supposed to be *working* - it was a slow morning, what can I say? Did a bit of drippage with my Dip-Quik stains (meant for staining blood smears etc.) Pretty colours, huh? Also blobbed a bit of tea on there too....Funny, I've made some interesting *discoveries* along the way and now have a little stash of those stains to be used in future art projects....
Here's another science-meets-art experiment....enthused by the Dip-Quik stains, I rooted through the cupboard and sloshed on some methylene blue....brilliant! Made a lovely stain-sandwich...
...Which of course stained through many layers of pages...so I incorporated a little dirt-rubbing (also an excellent medium) to make this lovely ink-blot-ish Portrait of a Lady With a Large Nose....*grin*
It wasn't too bad...really.....
A few more ramblings...note the methylene blue staining and the proclamation - I Heart the Wreckage...feelin' pretty jazzed at this point...
Despite all my wild wanderings in graffiti and spillage, I still find myself balking at any of the ripping and tearing and disposing-of-through-various-means pages. Something in me really does NOT want or simply CANNOT bear to do that. Why? Not sure yet. Maybe because then the pages will be gone and there will be no record of what's been done...maybe because that is considered cardinal sin in my particular cult of book worship....still gotta work through that one.
BUT, I did go as far as to poke the holes in a page.....
It wasn't too bad...really.....
Whoa... it took me a while to find the comment box way, way down here but I did - yay!
What an awesome journey. You must have psychically been sending me messages about that one page! Will this week be the time? The adventure continues!
The science meet art theme is so totally cool and I love the way you made your own instructions - brilliant!
Jamie Ridler said...
June 12, 2009 8:50 AM
I love what you've done with yours and I really like that idea about the dryer. I've been obsessively taking photos of the whole process. I also worried about doing certain things that really there would be no record over, it's that obsessive need to take photos that has prevented my from doing the spontaneous destructive movement with it. I'm still trying to get outside of the box on this whole project, but my daughter also helped out a little with the destruction and it helped me to see past the instructions and structure.
Jessica McKelvin said...
June 12, 2009 9:25 AM
Most EXCELLENT Wreckage! Mine is completely boring compared to yours.....I think I have to kick up the wrecking a bit!
Bohemian Single Mom said...
June 12, 2009 9:42 AM
It's true, most grown-ups don't know how to scribble! You however seem to be doing a lovely job. Great wrecking! :)
Lesley Denford said...
June 12, 2009 10:00 AM
Awww, I love that your little girl said, "Grown-ups don't know how to scribble." Kind of true, isn't it?
justatitch said...
June 12, 2009 10:45 AM
mine is going very well! and i see that yours too!
for more! cheers!
mermaid musings said...
June 12, 2009 10:59 AM
Fantastic--and so beautiful! I love what you're doing!
Karen said...
June 12, 2009 11:40 AM
I think your sweet girl is right about grown-ups not knowing how to scribble. It's amazing how limited I was in my own destruction. I don't even feel like I can call it destruction. You are off to a great start!
sherrileigh said...
June 12, 2009 11:44 AM
I love you lady. Is she Cyrano's sister? :)
themetaphoricalmagpie.com said...
June 12, 2009 11:58 AM
The quote is brillant! Cool art/science combo.
The space may have something to do with the order in which you added the pictures & the text. If you move things around Blogger remembers the number of lines used, even if they are empty now.
Paula - Buenos Aires said...
June 12, 2009 2:06 PM
i love this Mel! *laugh* I can hear your glee! I love Savannah's quote and the lady with the lovely long nose *grin*
Rose said...
June 12, 2009 5:29 PM
Your ink stains are very beautiful actually! and I'm glad your rebel got to play! by breaking the rules. Very clever :)
Cynthia said...
June 12, 2009 7:26 PM
Why don't you let Savannah walk it? *grin* You don't have to go anywhere public. Did she want to walk it before or after my post? *laugh*
Looking forward to something exciting in the post *grin*
Rose said...
June 13, 2009 5:33 AM
ooohhh got to try the dryer thing!!
Alex said...
June 13, 2009 7:35 AM
The dryer idea is brilliant! Also I love the rebellion of NOT not leaving the page blank. Breaking the rules means breaking this book's rules too! :)
Genie Sea said...
June 13, 2009 10:31 AM
Great wreckage Mel. Love the blue leaching all over.
I'm behind - a kidney infection and report cards just about did me in this weekend. Now I am home for 2 days. Maybe a bit of rest and wreckage will help! lol
Beverley Baird said...
June 15, 2009 3:38 PM
Yeah it's funny how that dye stuff soaks through pages!! Lol. Had same experience but the cool thing was ... it didn't matter in the slightest, in fact it was unconscious wrecking which adds a whole new dimension to the experience. I thought you completed some excellent wreckage this week and particular kudos for doing it at work too..
WrightStuff said...
June 15, 2009 5:01 PM
"Grown-ups don't know how to scribble" You have a wrecking master living with you!! And you jumped right in and did some fantastic wrecking!! It is interesting, isn't it, that so many of us eventually hit a wall - that one page that we aren't quite ready to do yet.
Kim said...
June 15, 2009 7:57 PM
Your daughter is hilarious - and very helpful. I adore that methylene blue - and how it took on a life of it's own, even drawing a picture of a lady!
Also loving the "so there take that" page and the fact that your hands are covering in all kinds of paint or marker or dirt or who knows what it that picture! Very good job.
Kavindra said...
June 20, 2009 5:52 PM