I have been collaborating recently with the multitalented, ethically conscious, conceptual artist Elana Langer who’s brand What I Live By or WILBy creates consciousness raising ethical sweatshops to educate us on our buying habits and a plethora of other interesting goodies that promote living a better life, embracing ourselves and treating the world better.
The project that we have been working on is about the Tools of Life, a concept inspired by her grandmother. Elana writes:
My grandmother was a real lady. I don’t remember a time when her hair and nails weren’t done and she wasn’t dressed impeccably. In the last year of her life she, like many others in her condition, lost the ability to walk without support. And although she had a strong will to live, the idea of using a walker in public seemed unbearable to her. The force of her vanity had come up against the limit of the body. Life compromised didn’t seem as worthwhile living.
My cousins and I were in her kitchen about to have lunch while I suggested going out to her favorite restaurant right across from her home. She refused. We all looked at the walker.
"We can bedazzle it!" I exclaimed. "We can make you the most beautiful walker in the whole city."
My cousins laughed. My grandmother didn’t. In fact this brought on the first and only fight I ever had with her.
"You are making fun." She stared at me coldly.
"True, I am trying to make this situation more fun. What’s the big deal with a walker? And think of how many other people are like you. We could make a whole business. This would make it something to be proud of like jewelry. We can make walkers for weddings, special occasions, one to match each outfit…you can be our model."
My grandmother didn’t laugh. She didn’t see the condition of necessity as something to be played with.
I never made the bedazzled walker for her and I never stopped thinking it was a good idea. We need to have fun within these places that cause social discomfort. To be able to embrace and play with our desire to adorn and enhance ourselves in both actual necessity (like a walker) and chosen necessity (like make-up, nails, hair, clothing…).
These items and pictures are the result of that. One tool of enhancement, like clothing or jewelry, doesn’t have to compromise another tool of enhancement like the ability to hear or walk with greater ease. Both are enriching our experiences in the world and both are admitting that we need and want help with the conditions that exist within us at any given moment. When used to enhance joy and enjoyment, these are all equally and differently tools of life and living well.
I loved my grandmother deeply and I miss her in this world and I hope these pictures would make her smile.
turnnoffyourmind
snowghoul
kianamaiart
pixelskylines
germansingergirl
yousharknotpass
jacobvanloon
izzy806
gummygunk
