#mandatory divination

[astropress]

I have a strong suspicion I know who submitted this anonymous card as part of my “Suggestion Box” installation. You can read the rest in my gallery book.

[astropress]

In January 2015 I had an art show called MANDATORY DIVINATION at Black Spring Coffee Company in Oakland, CA. As part of the show, I installed a suggestion box on the wall. I will periodically post suggestions people left me in the box. [More info on Suggestion Box.] Shown here: "UR GAWD AMEBIX" My response: Incomprehensible scrawl, incoherent message. Reference to a band I like. OK.

[astropress]

In January 2015 I had an art show called MANDATORY DIVINATION at Black Spring Coffee Company in Oakland, CA. As part of the show, I installed a suggestion box on the wall. I will periodically post suggestions people left me in the box. [More info on Suggestion Box.] Shown here: "STOP PEOPLE SMOKING AT THE TABLES OR AROUND THE CORNER. I'D LOVE TO HANG OUT OUT FRONT BUT THE SMOKE IS DISGUSTING." My response: No. I'm pretty busy, and though I do have a bossy streak, it does not extend to regulating this particular type of behavior. The only time I have ever endeavored to stop someone from smoking is when they were doing it very close to a pregnant friend in a confined space.

[astropress]

In January 2015 I had an art show called MANDATORY DIVINATION at Black Spring Coffee Company in Oakland, CA. As part of the show, I installed a suggestion box on the wall. I will periodically post suggestions people left me in the box. [More info on Suggestion Box.] Shown here: "Old School Ninja Turtles" My response: It is unclear how you wish the OG TMNTs dispatched or implemented. Your finger is on the pulse of today's selective recollection of what the late 80's/early 90's were like, and the consequent nostalgia for that era. Other than that salty observation, I cannot take issue with this suggestion. I personally was a big fan of the TMNT franchise as a child. It casts a long shadow over my tastes - even now, I catch myself evaluating the coolness of show spaces in comparison to the TMNT lair. The closest I've come is playing at a warehouse I think was called the Broken Neck in Austin, at around 3am.

[astropress]

In January 2015 I had an art show called MANDATORY DIVINATION at Black Spring Coffee Company in Oakland, CA. As part of the show, I installed a suggestion box on the wall. I will periodically post suggestions people left me in the box. [More info on Suggestion Box.] Shown here: "more velvet...less plastic." My response: OK.

[astropress]

In the month of January I had an art show up at a wonderful local coffee shop, Black Spring Coffee Company. The show, MANDATORY DIVINATION, included letterpress prints, book art, and watercolor drawings. It was about mysticism, refusal, and predictions.

One component of the show was a suggestion box. 

The box, which has a dial that is always pointing at "OK," was installed on a small shelf with a stack of blank cards, a pen, and some of my biz cards. On the wall above the box were posted simple, broad directions for interacting with the box, along with examples (see above). I came up with the examples on my own with significant input from friends. I had a few motives for installing this box. In general, I was intrigued by the idea of having an interactive component to the show. Selfishly, I wanted a momento of my month on the walls, to combat post-show malaise. Primarily, I wanted some way to communicate with people who passed through the space that month. At the beginning of every year, I reflect on the trends and tendencies I've seen in the previous year and imagine what I'd like to see more or less of in the coming year. I wondered what other people thought - specifically people who were located close enough to me socially or geographically to be there. Because Suggestion Box appeared on the same wall as the title of the show, the price list for pieces, and even some art in the show, and on a shelf with my business cards, it probably appeared related to the art show (or as part of the art show) to many. Despite this, perhaps because the shelf was also installed proximate to the coffee condiment bar, or en route to the bathroom, I received a number of suggestions I assume are directed toward the cafe, because they would be improbable or impossible for me as an individual (or us as a society) to implement. Since people often become meaner and more vicious in proportion to the anonymity of the forum, I expected to get responses like "U SUCK!!!!" or "STOP MAKING ART." Surprisingly, I did not, and only received a few cards that seemed to address me as a specific person. I will periodically post suggestions people left me in the box on this tumblr.