Diana W : I am Present / Objects from the Past

It begins with my hands. And collecting. Nothing is worth throwing out. I keep egg cartons and shoe boxes of notes, cards, hair, teeth, seeds, rocks, shells, string, plastic toys, photographs, skulls, dried flowers, dead bugs. glass and pieces of driftwood. Living in the wilderness teaches one to keep everything. There are no neighbors to be offended by rusting machines or even a personal dump to burn at a later date or attract bears. Cars, tractors, wood stoves, rototillers, and lawnmowers can be planted on the front lawn, free to rust and be pilfered for spare parts. Collecting means using every part of the moose, fish, deer, bear and chicken. In fact, moose brains are used in a paste to tan the moose’s hide. It’s the respectful thing to do. All things turn in on themselves.