month in objects: december

paper glasses: because sometimes a pop-up museum is just kinda meh / copa soaps and spices and tease: because christmas shopping at the holiday markets is one of my favorite things ever / fedex: because I took deep breaths / cork: because it's not new year's without a little bubbly / baggage claim: because home for the holidays / stamps: because who doesn't need a little charlie brown in their lives / cookies: because baking with the girls was a most wonderful time / ticket stub: because sometimes you see a show and it's truly awful / hair clip: because these clippys are my everything right now / key card: because I can't quit that place / plastic glasses and ticket stub: because the force awoke in 3d and it was really, really cool

So a year ago I decided to do this 2015 documentation system. I collected little items and remnants that reminded me of each month and put those things into 12 different collages over the course of the year, which I then photographed for posterity. The majority of the items went into the trash, allowing me to clean and declutter once a month. I actually completed this project in it's entirety - I never missed a month, I never had to backtrack and do two or three months at a time, and I was surprisingly consistent in my entire approach to the whole thing.

But now that 2015 has turned into 2016, I can say that I have mixed feelings about the project. While I truly did enjoy the collage-making and photographing process (it gave me an excuse to pull the tripod out way more than I normally do), I feel that the end results were fairly anti-climactic. Or maybe that's too strong of a word. I was looking to tell the story of my 2015 through images and items, and while I did just that, I am now realizing that what makes up a year is not the physical things you use each day - it's the emotions and feelings and people. And my collages don't indicate any one person or human encounter.

Sure, a ring box is a physical representation of an engagement - but what about the selfie I took minutes after he proposed? Surely that tells a much better story that a generic velvet box. And ticket stubs prove that I was at a particular event, but where is the energy and excitement that came with each concert and play? The irony, I'm discovering, is that within my 2D images are 3D emotions that are just screaming to be let out.

Again, I'm glad I did this project. I learned a whole lot about composition, white balance, and the power, or lack thereof, of pictures. But I won't be continuing my collages in 2016 - I miss the weekly pictures I took in 2014 and want to continue in that spirit. I'm really attracted to something like the my week in objects project from Reading my Tea Leaves, but I doubt my schedule will allow me enough good light on a weekly basis. So maybe I will go back to one picture each week. Or maybe just do selfies? Is that a terrible idea? As I write this, it's Monday morning of the first week of January - so I have approximately 6 more days to figure this out - and I know you can't wait to see what I come up with ;)

month in objects: november

photos: because analogue surprises are fun / film: see #1 / koop: because we're talkin' wedding rings / iPad: because book club rocks my socks / rush: because I finally got a haircut I'm happy with / ID: because I can't seem to stay away for long / mary: because thanksgiving is not complete without place cards

month in objects is my documentation system for 2015 - each month I create and photograph a collage of items that represent that month - and then toss most of the actual items in the trash. By the end of the year, I'll have 12 photographs and (hopefully) a lot less clutter. read january's story and the origin of this project here. want to see previous months? february / march / april / may / june / july / august / september / october

month in objects: october

lanyard: because there's a trade show for everyone / crumpled paper: because shopping lists are my jam / cough drops: because 'tis the season / bhldn: because I bought the dress / stamps: because we're making (tiny) strides to get this wedding going / concert ticket: because a free ticket to the Roots makes for a good night out / tea bag: because sobetober meant a trying some new beverages / stubs: because I'm still finding these in all my coat pockets / seat assignment: because our friends got married and they served pie

month in objects is my documentation system for 2015 - each month I create and photograph a collage of items that represent that month - and then toss most of the actual items in the trash. By the end of the year, I'll have 12 photographs and (hopefully) a lot less clutter. read january's story and the origin of this project here. want to see previous months? february / march / april / may / june / july / august / september

month in objects: september

clothing tag: because it's really fun to shop on the champs élyées / metro stubs: because I bought a carnet / key cards: because hotel stays are lovely / jameson: because whiskey is delicious / euros: because the exchange rate was good / coaster: because irish pubs are cozy / curious incident ticket: because it really was one of the best shows ever / mad ticket: because you can never have too many art museums (and because smithsonian day live) / dingle map, kilkenny map: because it's fun to be analogue / metro map: because I rode that thing like a boss / musée d'orsay, guinness, eiffel tower, sainte-chapplle stubs: because being a tourist really really really fun / 6a: because sometimes your seat assignments are handwritten

month in objects is my documentation system for 2015 - each month I create and photograph a collage of items that represent that month - and then toss most of the actual items in the trash. By the end of the year, I'll have 12 photographs and (hopefully) a lot less clutter. read january's story and the origin of this project here. want to see previous months? february / march / april / may / june / july  / august 

month in objects: august

met ticket: because I hadn't been there in a few months / doubletree: because we picked a venue / colored papers: because it's not just a job search it's a lifestyle change / bhldn: because I may have picked a dress / path pass: because surprise parties are even better when they're in jersey / whitney ticket: because we needed some culture / chopsticks: because spiritual quests often lead to culinary quests / lottery tickets: because I've never laughed harder / ravinia tickets: because family + jazz + summer nights = awesome / lct3 pass: because happy closing (and one more workshop after that) / receipt: because it's good to grab a drink with an old friend / trainwreck: because it's a great way to spend a saturday night

month in objects is my documentation system for 2015 - each month I create and photograph a collage of items that represent that month - and then toss most of the actual items in the trash. By the end of the year, I'll have 12 photographs and (hopefully) a lot less clutter. read january's story and the origin of this project here. want to see previous months? february / march / april / may / june / july

month in objects: July

lush spa: because sometimes you need to cash in a gift certificate and #TreatYoSelf to a fancy schmancy massage / photos: because analogue cameras and long walks over the q'boro are my jam / shell: because solo day trips to the beach are oh so necessary / library receipt: because I've rediscovered my love of libraries and I want to shout it from the rooftops / burnside flag: because getting a table at one of astoria's hottest new restaurants is reason enough to celebrate / flashlight: because my trusty light finally kicked the bucket but that didn't stop me from carrying it in my back pocket every night / inside out: because it is one of life's little pleasures to sit in a darkened movie theater on a hot and hazy tuesday afternoon and let the tears roll down your face because the new pixar movie is just that darn good / binder tabs: because it's time to get serious about the wedding binder / tennis ball: because ball + wall = diy back massage

month in objects is my documentation system for 2015 - each month I create and photograph a collage of items that represent that month - and then toss most of the actual items in the trash. By the end of the year, I'll have 12 photographs and (hopefully) a lot less clutter. read january's story and the origin of this project here. want to see previous months? february / march / april / may / june

month in objects: June

mets tix: because days off are for baseball games (and also go cubs!) / garnier: because sometimes you think you're going burgundy but it turns out purple but hey these things happen and I'm just gonna rock it / oregano: because sometimes you manage to keep the plants alive for yet another month / rach in sunglasses: because happy opening! / whitney ticket: because art museums are my jam / lipstik: because I'm unabashadly rocking the coral this summer / physique 57: because trying a new workout never hurts / heart: because #lovewins

month in objects is my documentation system for 2015 - each month I create and photograph a collage of items that represent that month - and then toss most of the actual items in the trash. By the end of the year, I'll have 12 photographs and (hopefully) a lot less clutter. read january's story and the origin of this project here. want to see previous months? february / march / april / may

month in objects: May

Ireland: because we're already planning our next vacation / tiny playbill: because when your show closes early you open up your opening night bottle of wine and drink to a job well done / get to work book: because organization is key / kate spade: because sometimes a girl needs a new wristlet / preludes: because that first preview was actually pretty stellar / chapstick: because it is sooo dry backstage / rope/tape/plastic flowers: because the random assortment of crap that ends up in your pocket during tech is astounding

month in objects is my documentation system for 2015 - each month I create and photograph a collage of items that represent that month - and then toss most of the actual items in the trash. By the end of the year, I'll have 12 photographs and (hopefully) a lot less clutter. read january's story and the origin of this project here. want to see previous months? february / march / april 

month in objects: April

campaign flyer: because winning a local election is always cause for a celebration / wristband: because snorkeling while on vacay is a must / key card: because for a week, that was our home / book: because I'm getting back into poetry / toms: because quality over price / lanyard: because royal service rocks my socks / ID: because I'm back at LCT / ticket stub: because b'way cares / passes: because ancient ruins are cool / box: because he put a ring on it

month in objects is my documentation system for 2015 - each month I create and photograph a collage of items that represent that month - and then toss most of the actual items in the trash. By the end of the year, I'll have 12 photographs and (hopefully) a lot less clutter. read january's story and the origin of this project here. want to see previous months? february / march

month in objects: March

b&r spa: because sometimes you need a massage. or maybe even two chipotle: because a steak burrito on a rainy double show saturday is often the only thing that gets you through the weekend dia: because a day trip to an art museum is always a good idea met museum: because you need to revisit your "friends" in the oceanic wing An American in Paris: because it's a ballet and it's gershwin and it's beautiful garnier: because dark chocolate is the color for spring flower: because flowers are for opening nights nysc: because it's time to bite the bullet and get yourself a gym membership pencil: because how often do you work hard enough to actually wear down the entire eraser? Heidi ticket: because every once in a while you fulfill a lifelong goal and work a broadway show palm: because your mom wanted you to go to palm sunday mass and you obliged travel IQ: because it's tradition MoMA: because it's fun to teach your parents about modern art

month in objects is my documentation system for 2015 - each month I create and photograph a collage of items that represent that month - and then toss most of the actual items in the trash. By the end of the year, I'll have 12 photographs and (hopefully) a lot less clutter. read january's story and the origin of this project here. 

month in objects: February

headest: because some girls get flowers and chocolates, others get brand new featherweights / country living: ...thanks mom / Hedwig ticket stub: because it was magical and perfect / hello kitty: because working a 16-hour day on Valentine's Day is made (slightly) better when your boss hands out temporary tattoos / cork: most people drink beer while watching the Super Bowl. my friends and I drink champagne / rar bar: because brunch is a thing that needs to happen / spike tape: because how else will you know where the furniture goes / ftbit: because sometimes a girl needs a teal-colored wristband

month in objects is my documentation system for 2015 - each month I create and photograph a collage of items that represent that month - and then toss most of the actual items in the trash. By the end of the year, I'll have 12 photographs and (hopefully) a lot less clutter. read january's story and the origin of this project here. 

month in objects: January

camera: I've been wanting one of these plastic analogue cameras for a while, and a Christmas gift certificate made it a reality / fortune: a new voyage will fill your life with untold memories / gold stars: tracking 10,000 steps per day is much more fun when stickers are involved / benefits guide: seven hours in a library is a really long time to wait for an IDNYC card / top 10 guide: we booked our next vacation - april can't come soon enough! / travel show: because there's a trade show for everyone / ticket stub: from the oh so wonderful "A Gentleman's Guide To Love and Murder / key: a back-up prop from my last show that I literally carried around in my pocket for weeks on end / dvd: I don't get the chance to watch a lot of movies, but on new year's day we sat down and did nothing but that all day long

Ok just go with me for a second here.

Last month I found myself at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This in and of itself is not an especially interesting fact. I'm a big fan of art museums in general, and that museum in particular, and their "pay what you wish" admission fee means that I can, and do, frequent it's halls every few months or so. On that particular afternoon I had taken my usual route - a left into Greek and Roman Statues followed by a sharp right into Arts of Africa/Oceania/Americas (my favorite gallery), and then a quick loop around both floors of Modern and Contemporary Art. But it was then I found myself very lost. Not metaphorically, but actually confused as to which direction I needed to take next in order to go towards Asian Art (my second favorite gallery). In theory, one can cut right through European Paintings to quickly find herself in the middle of a relaxing Zen Garden, but in reality the European Painting wing is a dizzying labyrinth of more religious art than I saw in my five months in Florence. And while I thought I was making progress, leaving all portraits, still life's, and bloody beheadings in my wake, I was instead going deeper and deeper into the belly of the beast. A few wrong turns later and I somehow found myself in the middle of the American Wing. Deciding my quest for all things Asian was fairly futile by this point, I decided to take a look around - and saw these three paintings:

images courtesy of www.metmuseum.org

The Artist's Letter Rack by William Michael Harnett, and Office Board and Old Souvenirs by John F. Peto - three still life's done in the style of trompe l'oeil (trickery of the eye) that depict ordinary, everyday objects in deliberately staged arrangements. I'm not 100% sure what it was about these paintings that made me stop in my tracks and take such notice, but I stood there for about 10 minutes simply contemplating the images. I loved that each painting so clearly described the artists' lives - I know who they recently corresponded with, what performances they had just seen, and what they were reading. And I loved that though the objects in each painting are seemingly small and inconsequential (an old ticket stub? a ripped envelope?) they were clearly important enough to each painter that he spent the time and energy to actually paint them. These images are not merely a show of technique - artists paint bowls of fruit and stacks of boxes in order to hone and show their technical skill. Instead, these are paintings of items that really meant something to the artists, so much that they felt the need to memorialize them forever on pieces of canvas.

And for some reason, this really resonated with me.

I did eventually find my way out of the American Wing and over to Asian Art, but I just couldn't shake the idea of these collages. Luckily, this all came at a time in which I was struggling to figure out what I was going to do for my Year of 2015 Documentation Project. In 2013 I took one picture per day, but that stressed me out to no end. In 2014 I scaled it back to taking one picture per week, and while I totally loved that project and was immensely pleased with the outcome, I wanted something different for 2015. And that's where the first picture in this post comes in (see? I told you to stick with me for a minute). Each month, I'm going to photograph one collage made up of items (from that month) that hold special significance to me. By the end of the year, I'll have twelve pictures that, if all goes as planned, tell the cohesive story of my 2015.

So if you're somehow still reading at this point, then thanks for sticking with me (in true Mary-fashion, I took 1,000 words to describe one photograph) - and I hope you enjoyed this journey through my love of art and my past month ;)