A Collaboration with Leslie Samson-Tabakin. http://www.lesliesamson-tabakin.com/
Paradise Lost is a monument that comes to terms with all we have lost, built, destroyed, discarded, found, loved and lost again over a timeline of being immersed together for three years, building a friendship through art making.
The structure relies on a collection of memories as its support system: a balancing act made of objects that we have created, collected, cherished, and hated throughout our layered experiences and friendship. The objects function as both architecture and an archive of what we have lost and gained: a signed book commemorating a once-in-a-lifetime meeting with a hero, an old decrepit log dragged from the northern seaside trip, failed sculptures we poured our excitement and insecurities into that are now our pseudo trademarks, and the sounds of a summer mix tape that kept us driving on. For all the objects we can see and touch, we are reminded that all that is tangible can be lost.
The organization of the objects also represent an ode to idolatry: comparing the Utopian expectations to the physical realities of our experiences. We lost Eden in the exchange for knowledge. But can Paradise be regained?
Sound Transcript:
Two debit cards
One drivers license
Two school ID’s
Four pairs of glasses
A ring
Two grand parents
My self confidence
Sleep
Sense of Style
Aslan the cat
Ability to drink tequila
A beanie
Friendships
My dignity
Curiosity for dating
Money
My Nalgene to the fucking T S A
A heterosexual identity
Freckles
The ability to pass as 18
A polka dot rug
A hot body
An army of skanks
My California I D
Red left handed scissors
My heart to a guy we called Wayne
My camping knife (again to T S A)
Countless lipsticks
Steven
Free time
Idealism
Always only one sock
Casual Laughter
Sexual inhibition
A big chunk of ugh prints to mouse pee
My tan
Personal space
Five separate earring studs
A friendship due to distance
A friendship due to envy
Two pillows
A warm ocean
A sense of humor for public transportation
Oberon
A lot of plants
The length of my hair
My favorite pair of glasses
My appetite
The ability to listen to a sigh
The lid to my hydroflask
Patience for wearing real bras
Many hours
Tropical fruits
My list of things I’ve lost
Headphones
My patience
Faith
Frequency of hugs
Four wisdom teeth
My local accent
The fear of admitting my destiny
A lot of chapsticks
An acceptance of death
Friendships
My dignity
Curiosity for dating
Money
My Nalgene to the fucking T S A
A heterosexual identity
Freckles
The ability to pass as 18
A polka dot rug
A hot body
An army of skanks
My California I D
Red left handed scissors
My heart to a guy we called Wayne
My camping knife (again to T S A)
Countless lipsticks
Steven
Free time
Idealism
Always only one sock
Casual Laughter
Sexual inhibition
A big chunk of ugh prints to mouse pee
My tan
An Ovarian Cyst
Personal space
Five separate earring studs
A friendship due to distance
A friendship due to envy
Two pillows
A warm ocean
A sense of humor for public transportation
Oberon
A lot of plants
The length of my hair
My favorite pair of glasses
My appetite
The ability to listen to a sigh
The lid to my hydroflask
Patience for wearing real bras
Many hours
Tropical fruits
Headphones
My patience
Faith
Self Respect
Frequency of hugs
Four wisdom teeth
My local accent
The fear of admitting my destiny
A lot of chapsticks
An acceptance of death
A lot of tears
A lot of pens
Another beanie
My Daria pin
My voice
Glass Tupperware
My relevance