List as Spiral
A flung archive
Do you know, intimately, the propulsive generosity of the list?
How it gathers—force, intention, emotion, urgency, mundanity—and gathers its gathering like a rolling stone.
As a form, in my life, the list has been a generous proposition and a steady presence. A container willing/ a willing container for inventory, devotion, query, swerve, doubt, professing, swooning.
Do I use numbers or dashes?
Or no new lines, just slashes, oh my god.
Yes.
(There is a Los Angeles Public Library for every mood and a list container for these moods, too.)
The only inventory I’ve ever kept on my phone: the dates of my period on my NOTES App.
This is the jotted-out title list from my BFA show, have, at Art Center circa 2010.
Please know, these materials listed figure into poems you’ll find in Two Signatures, too.
Which is to say: A list structures my associative ambitions like a prayer.
What is the materials list in the press release of your 2023?
Ok, a few more!
These: Headings or Instigations for a other found lists.
Bodies of Subtle Weather
The Future Names of Dogs
How I’ve Loved is How I Meant to Love
Friends’ Birthdays
I Thought I Should
How the Underwear was Misplaced or Destroyed
I went searching for “Christmas List” on my MacBook and found this gem of a word doc created May 19, 2014. The file is called “CARD LIST,” which it literally is.
love you, love you dad, last picture of my grandfather, Skull of a Gorilla 1957 Francis Bacon Alsatian conductor, photo post card, seductive kitten with orange ball of yarn draped over paw, folded piece of stationery, oval portrait of French novelist (Proust), San Geronimo de Taos, “artwork created by Primary School Students on Pine Ridge Reservation” No Title (I will say) 2003 Raymond Pettibon lace enamel print tucked inside of thank you Patience or Fortitude, Playing the Piano 1944 Milton Avery, misc. friends’ illustrations, portrait of a man with a bleeding nose on a neon background misc. post cards from the Getty collection HOME Eowyn Wilcox HOME Eowyn Wilcox HOME Eowyn HOME Pelota Ponchada (pinched ball) 1993 Gabriel Orozco, Transexualis 1991 Matthew Barney, “BodyBuilder,” Ian Hokin (831)325-9545, First Formal Dress and Shoes 1954 LIFE (insert social networking tool here) told me it’s your birthday! When I need a hug/I know just where to go ---/To Grandpa, of course,/ ‘cause your love always shows! Untitled (Baseball Photographer Trading Cards) 1975 Mike Mandel Sorry I haven’t written but I was hit by a bicycle. misc. post cards from The Metropolitan Museum of Art collection post card scan of bowling shoes by cross-media designer A Lady Writing, c. 1665 Johannes Vermeer card Ed Ruscha On The Road June 11 – October 2, 2011 misc. New York City architectural highlights cards Horseshoe Falls Patience or Fortitude Mercy Medical Center 15 cents Sugar Bowl, Jug and Fruit Paul Cezanne Helen Hunt Falls Stevens House of Gifts, The Dock Sierra Madre’s Historical Quilt Paleta derretida (Melted Popsicle) 1993 Gabriel Orozco Modernity circa 1952, Mirrored and Reflected Infinitely 2004 (detail) Josiah McElheny folded in half Saint Francis of Assisi in His Tomb, ca. 1630/34 Francisco de Zurbaran Portrait of Georgia O’Keeffe 1918 Alfred Stieglitz Coral Triangle Wildflowers of Wisconsin SMARTWEED Polygonum Amphibium Children at the Puppet Theater 1963 LIFE Mount Shukstan Printing a facsimile copy of the Massachusetts Spy, Isaih Thomas Printing Office, Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge Massachusetts undelivered Water lilies (detail) 1916-19 sympathy card Six Frida Kahlo Cards envelope envelope with mare and foal on flap Sincerely wishing/that you/will soon be/ up and well! Here’s hoping each day/finds you/improving more and more/until you’re feeling better/ than you ever felt before! Thinking of you So much easier/to smile/ ever since/ I found out/ you are now/ up and about! Wishing You a QUICK RECOVERY Please get well For someone very dear/special get-well wishes It’s only me… askin’ how ya be! Hope you’re better If wishing can/bring about/ a cure/ you’ll soon be/ better/ that’s for sure! I hope my best friend feels better. Our prayers are with you These things happen… can I help? Six Old-Time Horse Postcards At the Waterhole When Lewis and Clark explored the West, as many as 150,000 grizzly bears… black lab, chocolate lab, yellow lab North American Birds Ecology Cards 100% recycled paper They’re playing our song! bird and cassette tape Key Deer The Mountain Lion (Cougar) Feeding Time, Marine Studios Feast of the gulls anhinga Playmates. Young mule deer fawn being fed by his little friend. Color by Simon two kittens, one with big red bow, matching envelope two puppies in market scene The burly Woodchuck – star performer on Ground Hog Day. Man’s Friend, Color by Franklin kitten in watering can We’re all lined up to say… hope you celebrate your birthday in a special way! envelope congratulations on your new arrival congratulations on the Birth of your Baby envelope Happy Birthday Congratulations! [roses] - all good wishes Sincere Congratulations [embroidered carnations] special wishes just for your birthday [roses] On Your Birthday On Your Birthday Luckily, you’re still under warranty! Happy Birthday Congratulations Congratulations [roses] For a special Godchild fond birthday wishes Hope Your Birthday is Grand! a golden opportunity… to wish you a happy birthday envelope congratulations Happy Birthday [peace blossoms] Wishing you everything beautiful on your birthday! Birthday Greetings. If I were to guess your age by/ the amount of your good cheer/ I’d have to say you were at least a/ thousand. Birthday Treasures Your life is my celebration. Happy Birthday It’s your (insert your favorite expletive) birthday cards! set of 4 birthday cards This is jut a little note/ that we may keep in touch/ But also just to let you know – I miss you very much! Palomino Pony A Montag Note dried flower still life with embroidered ribbon [2] This Space for Writing Messages. This Side for the address only. Official Document Telegram You’re the cream in my coffee Blue… without you Elasmosaurus platyurus Everyone makes mistakes Congratulations Merry Christmas Happy Easter… from me and my chick Just an Easter Greeting from a friend mare and foal envelope [3] envelope with strawberry sticker flower pattern envelope We urge you to get more information on Alzheimer’s disease. A Valentine Message After our quarrel… When I see a beautiful flower… I think of you! Wishing a wonderful friend – a wonderful world of happiness envelope God Bless America Keeping a watchful eye… out for you I woof you xoxo small rose print plain green enamel lace Let’s canoodle Selected from childhood drawings done by Alona Frankel between 1942 and 1947 Forever Yours 78th Street A Cheery Hello I may not always phone or write… but part of each day I think of you. thank you apple envelope oceanside notepaper yes, please [braile] With all affection The design on this note was drawn by a polio patient Citron Always in the market for news. dried flowers [2] roses with black scalloped edging Merci Apricot-Apple Welcome Appalachian Cherry Pie Recipe Century plant Hedgehog cactus May you always/find three welcomes -/ In a garden during/summer/At a fireside during winter/ And whatever the season/ In the kind eyes/ of a friend copy of letter sent to Kyle with check for Megan’s memorial envelope with red outline Hand stitched with love by Sioux Indian quilters Systeme Sexuel de Linnee six daisy postcards The Paper Factory, Inc. Hollister Missouri Isla Espiritu Santo embossed Art Glass Entry Ceiling Light Frank Thomas House Oak Park, IL 1901 Frank Lloyd Wright Collection Thank you/ for being a part of our special day. /The Lord bless you. [5] thank you [dandelion] thank you [dandelion] thank you [dandelion] envelope envelope envelope With Thanks [white duck] Thank you No one can make/my stomach hurt/ from laughing/ the way you can. thank you thank you thank you thank you Thank You Thank You for the Baby Gift Thank You for the Gift Thank You [chalice x 2] Thank You A Sincere Message of Thanks Thank You photograph of white flower still life envelope with ivy inside barn 20 cent post card [5] The mission of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is to stop drunk driving and to support victims of this violent crime. Lakota beaded horse mask, circa 1904 Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota
One more list: A few upcoming things. Would love to see you. I’ve been invited by artist Amanda Maciel Antunes to participate in a Reading Night at Wonzimer on December 6. On December 17, I will read at Hunter Shaw Fine Art in Mid-City in support of Brody Albert’s luminous exhibition, Empty, Except for the Ghost.