The Office Assistant - So, what do you DO?
It has been a social weekend, with the usual predictable question surfacing frequently when interacting with strangers here. "So, what do you do?" is the common opening line in coversation. If I say that "I am an axe murderer looking for my parole officer" then the curious party noticeably backs off. If I say "I am the Senior Manager of Accounts at blankety blank corporation" then the conversation goes much further. If I say "I am an Artist", it usually draws a blank stare - especially in this town, where at times the word 'artist' seems to be an euphonism for 'unemployed'. Aren't there other mechanisms that you can start a conversation with? Why does it always have to be about 'what you do' - as if your job is the only thing that defines you!! How do you talk to a homeless person? By asking them 'what they do' - if you talk to them at all.....
And while I am typing this post, the NPR program, "The Splendid Table" is keeping company in the background. The story of the book, 'Julie - Julia' sounds a lot like the kitchen version of my living room habit of crochet. :-) this is good....
Friday was another wonderfully social day too.
Jebra and I met when she asked me about information for the ATM machine. Thankgoodness I didn't know the answer, because our conversation continued. 
My meighbor Woody came in to see what all the brooha was all about, and promptly received an earful from someone else that just doesn't seem to listen (to anything except himself....). 
Karl drops in frequently and it is always an interesting chat.
Kendall shared some of his photographic images which have the same hue in them as his eyes and shirt;
Brenda shared her humor and spirit and our collaborative photographic endeavours. 
Jennifer made the effort to come to the Portlandia building to specifically to see the Project, 
while Beth and her daugher Katie came by to see the Artist. 
Ruth the security guard helped me document the work done this week - I took this image in overtime, when there literally was nobody in the building.
This is my last week on the job. You can help the project by completing a Performance Appraisal - on the website between the blog and the Portland Tribune link. Have fun!
And to everyone that wants to bring their knitting and crochet projects in - please do. It will be really enjoyable to share the space, time and occupation of doing hand work. My fingers are crossed that there is a modest candy haul on Monday morning...
And while I am typing this post, the NPR program, "The Splendid Table" is keeping company in the background. The story of the book, 'Julie - Julia' sounds a lot like the kitchen version of my living room habit of crochet. :-) this is good....
Friday was another wonderfully social day too.
Jebra and I met when she asked me about information for the ATM machine. Thankgoodness I didn't know the answer, because our conversation continued. 
My meighbor Woody came in to see what all the brooha was all about, and promptly received an earful from someone else that just doesn't seem to listen (to anything except himself....). 
Karl drops in frequently and it is always an interesting chat.
Kendall shared some of his photographic images which have the same hue in them as his eyes and shirt;
Brenda shared her humor and spirit and our collaborative photographic endeavours. 
Jennifer made the effort to come to the Portlandia building to specifically to see the Project, 
while Beth and her daugher Katie came by to see the Artist. 
Ruth the security guard helped me document the work done this week - I took this image in overtime, when there literally was nobody in the building.This is my last week on the job. You can help the project by completing a Performance Appraisal - on the website between the blog and the Portland Tribune link. Have fun!
And to everyone that wants to bring their knitting and crochet projects in - please do. It will be really enjoyable to share the space, time and occupation of doing hand work. My fingers are crossed that there is a modest candy haul on Monday morning...
4 Comments:
I stumbled across a short quote from Amelia Earhart that i thought you should hear: "The woman who can create her own job is the woman who will win fame and fortune."
It's hard to believe that the project will finish this week. While i'm not there to see it, thanks for forcing me to rethink who i am and what i do. Soo... just what is it you 'do?'
I wish I could come out and sit and knit a while with you. But geography prevents it. Know that I will be thinking of you sometimes as I knit. As well as thinking about my occupation as a Mother.. and how I am stretching outside that role to find the artist that has always been inside me through knitting and design.
Hi Dave,
You are the one doing the thinking work - not me! The quilt is creating another life though - and will be in City Hall for the first week of December, and also for First Thursday in December. You can visit 'it' there !
I like your quote - thanks! And thankfully fame and fortune are relative things - I feel so lucky to be able to do what I really want to do. Make Art.
ciao
z
Hello Sorka,
thankyou for your comment/post. What a wonderful notion to think of - to be doing something similar, such as hand craft, across a wide geography. I completely believe that putting in that work to stretch outside of yourself allows you to see what is inside. What is surprising me, is that even after 8 hours of crocheting each day, for 5 days a week, and now for almost 4 weeks, I still want to go home and do some more! There is something about the process that brings profound peace inside. I can't stop smiling. Really!
z
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