Imbued Value in Incidental Items
August 15, 2014
Digger in a Potato Field, Vincent van Gogh, 1885
Gas by Edward Hopper, 1940
“The incidental items of reality remain without value or common recognition until they are symbolized, recreated, and imbued with value. The potato field and the auto repair shop remain without quality or awareness or the sense of community until they are turned into literature by a Faulkner or a Steinbeck or a Thomas Wolfe or into art by a Van Gogh.”
— Ben Shahn, The Shape of Content
“The commonplace is miraculous if rightly seen, if recognized.”
— Charles Simic
Yesterday’s post about objects that tell the stories of cities has me thinking about the deeper meaning of objects. How they seem to absorb something of the life of their owners or creators. How they can be so cherished, so beautiful even if worn and well-used. How you can’t take them with you! These days I am thinking that it is time to start letting go, not of the meaning or memories, but of the physical objects I’ve come to own. Perhaps it would be a worthy project to photograph them or paint them before getting rid of them, turning them into another kind of value.
Rosemary's Blog 
August 15, 2014 at 6:05 am
But don’t forget — objects also can be a pathway for memory. Precisely because they become imbued with memories and meaning, certain items deserve a place in our lives just as they are. A dozen kitchen gadgets from Target? That’s one thing. A mother’s heavy, green glass juicer, or a rhinestone pin remembered from childhood? Those can stop us, and cause us to reconnect with our past.The thing itself always is more than itself, and capable of unlocking our hearts.
August 15, 2014 at 8:49 am
I’m at the point where I want to trade quantity for quality. A few, well-loved, well-used, cherished things and out with the rest!
August 15, 2014 at 7:50 am
What a good idea! I wake each day to be inspired by your thoughts. Love Mary
>
August 17, 2014 at 8:10 am
I’m interested to read how your minimizing journey progresses. I’m a big believer of parting with things that you don’t 1) love or 2) use regularly. That said, I have a hard time parting with gifts from people I love, even if they don’t fit into either of the above two categories.
August 17, 2014 at 8:29 am
I have a feeling that getting rid of my stuff will be a long, slow process! I know what you mean about the difficulty of getting rid of gifts from friends and family. The older I get, the more I want and appreciate gifts that can be eaten or an experience that leaves only memories — no more stuff!
August 15, 2018 at 6:07 am
[…] Imbued Value in Incidental Items, August 15, 2014 […]