*** UPDATED June 20th***
As I promised last week, I’m back in the US from Australia, where I was celebrating my 40th birthday with my family!
And now I’m here, I have a favor to ask:
Regular readers of this blog will be familiar with my series of posts, entitled: Monday – Gun Day, where I have been cataloguing the weapons used in each of the fatal shootings in the US on January 1st, 2017. (There’s more intel as to why in this post.) Thanks to the incredible resources of the Gun Violence Archive I’m almost through the research phase – in which I made drawings of all the guns used in fatal incidents on that day – and I’m ready to start making.
I was going to used objects – containers specifically – that I had to hand, but now that doesn’t feel right. I have objects from all over the place – I’ve picked them up in my travels throughout North America, Australia, Asia and Europe. And that is the problem. The rate of gun violence, as we are now almost constantly being reminded, is unique to each country. So using objects from other places in a project referencing gun violence in the USA doesn’t ring true.
So I suddenly find myself in need of containers from a specific list of places. Fifty-four places, in fact. And if you have a friend or relative in the area, please feel free to pass this along.
This is where you come in. If you happen to live in one of the places listed:
Send me a container to become a permanent part of this artwork, and I will send you a limited edition jewellery piece in return.
I sense your next question: “Container, what kind of container?”
Practically anything accepted – well washed food tins, plastic milk containers or even a yogurt tub, I don’t mind. Upcycle or re-gift me, please! I love a thrift store find, or new things from grocery stores or markets – I seek and find all over. Wood too! I just need to be able to cut or saw-pierce a motif into it, so not too thick, but most materials accepted. (Preferably not stainless steel – the best way to check that tiny, cute but essentially useless colander you have is with a magnet. I love magnetic steels – I’ll cut them for days – but if it doesn’t stick it’s probably regular stainless.)
I’m looking for a single container (though multiples needed in a few places) from each of the places listed below. Or, if you own a souvenir item from one of these places, that you are willing to part with, I would gladly accept it. (And yes, I do consider ashtrays, coasters and trays containers, too. See image at top for a portion of my current stash.)
Logistics:
1/ Get in touch – blog@melissacameron.net
- Please be in contact before you send something, to make sure I have not yet received anything from your place. I only need one container from most of this list, and so I’ll work on a first-come, first served basis.
- If you happen to have an item in mind, please email me a photo of the container I can used for planning. I will also add your object as ‘pending’ on my list for others to see.
2/ Send the item (to arrive by June 20th, 2018)
-
- to:
Melissa Cameron
2212 Queen Anne Ave. N. #412
Seattle WA 98109
- Naturally, include the place name of the object in the packaging, as well as a name/address + email contact to ensure you get your jewel
3/ Jewels shipped in August
- stay tuned to the blog for developments of this very special limited series.
*** List of places still remaining – June 20th update*** (and updated printable list of Places June 8 – this includes all the maybe’s – if you are in a place that I have only a maybe commitment, please get in touch!):
| State | City Or County |
| Alabama | Birmingham |
| Georgia | Allenhurst |
| Georgia | Moultrie |
| Illinois | Rockford |
| South Dakota | Rapid City |
Yes, it’s like a Kickstarter but instead of cash, it’s local objects being turned into jewels. A barter-kickstarter, if you will. Please pass this along, and lets come together and make some art!
Queries? Please email me: blog@melissacameron.net