Gifted and Taken.
Collected Materials and Acrylic Shelves and Boxes. 2024
Relationship development is inevitable over time. Positive or negative, my perception of each object is constantly subject to change. Some of the objects displayed are tokens from past relationships. As I continue to grow, I am able to associate the objects with various memories and people while still being able to use them for their intended purposes.
Location also impacts the perception of these objects. By bringing a kendama to Kenyon, I continued to pursue past interests. By doing so, however, has completely shifted my understanding of the object. Previously, it was a toy that I watched my friends master. As they improved, they taught me new ways of landing tricks. Now, I am the person teaching the ways of the kendama to my people at Kenyon. I transitioned from kendama student to teacher somewhere along the 800 mile journey from my home in Maine.
Some of the objects displayed were gifted to me. They were picked out with me in mind and given directly to me. They represent how the people in my life view me. The gifts are largely decorative. They are colorful, eclectic objects meant to beautify my space. I love them all. Each object fills a different place in my life. While being useful and beautiful, these objects also reflect who gave it to me and the relationship we have. A lighter decorated for me by my best friend, two crystals to protect my mental health from my sister, and a palmistry guide from my roommate. None of these are things that I would have chosen or created for myself but I savor their existence in my life everyday in addition to those who gifted them to me.
Materials:
1: Decorated lighter gifted by my best friend, Gwyn.
2: Pocket Book of Mindfulness gifted by my dad.
3: Brasil Shirt borrowed for a costume from my friend, Eliot.
4: Body Candle gifted by my sister, Meaghan.
5: Bananagrams stolen from my sister, Sarah’s coffee table
6: Bird whistle gifted by my dad.
7: Opinel knife I stole from my dad four years ago.
8: Fidget cube I stole from Josephine last week.
9: The corkscrew that is older than I am and has lived at my house until I brought it to Kenyon.
10: A set of travel watercolors gifted by my mom for Christmas last year.
11: A focus candle gifted by my roommate, Leila.
12: Incense stolen from my roommate, Leila.
13: Crystals gifted by my sister and her fiancé, Meaghan and Ang.
14: Palmistry Guide gifted by my roommate, Leila.
15: Kendama gifted by my friend, Milo.
16: Bean Boot that is older than I am. It has been passed down to four of my older sisters and I now wear them almost every day.
17: Hanging Items that I have been gifted over time. The hair belongs to the only person represented in that box who I still speak to.
18: Crown that I stole from my friend Sidney for a birthday celebration.
19: Bag balm that I took from my mom’s desk at home.
20: A vintage LL Bean mitten that I stole from my sister Sarah right before I left Maine after break in 2024.
21: Headlamp that belonged to my stepdad for years prior to me taking it.
22: Calculator my friend Eliot let me borrow once. I never gave it back.
23: Power block that I borrowed from my friend Milo and also never gave it back.
24: Drinking game, shot glass and lighter. Taken from Sidney and Eliot.
25: Maine themed earrings gifted by my dad and stepmom.
26: Mirror.