15. Earth Measuring

Black Friday, November 27, 2020

Ten years ago, Tender Loving Stuff was launched with a YouTube channel. The Coordinates of Home blog extended from projects about Stuff to Land and has begun travelling. The first stop was the Greenwich Prime Meridian in 2018. More posts about that and other trips will follow in 2021.

10. Past and Future Masks

Even though I’ve stopped photographing and counting masks, their numbers still rival water bottles and dog poo bags in city gutters. The one below inched closer to the curb overnight. The title photo features a Lynne Heller Pill Flower Mask.

Medical equipment has been a part of my work since I hauled a tangle of tubes and masks left from my father’s oxygen tanks to graduate school. Masks have popped up in Breathworks (air and breathing), Risky (experiences of a dyslectic croupier) and Tender Loving Stuff (the agency of material objects). 

9. Last Masks of Summer

Past masks 148 + September masks 45 = 193 masks

Summer Statistics: 7 fabric masks and 186 disposable masks

Located on streets 82, plants 48, sidewalks 40, (or near) garbage bins 9, subway tracks 5, street grates 3, railway underpass 3 and in puddles 3, tree planter box 1

When I started photographing masks, I didn’t have a plan. Putting them on this blog seemed a departure from usual Tender Loving Stuff content. The other pieces are on based at my home as I endeavour act responsibly in relation to things rather than see them possessions. The gutter masks do fit with older projects about ew factor body dirt (e.g. hair in this post) and giving stuff one more chance as art before they’re dumped in a landfill. These PPE’s not only protect us, they are with made with human labour from valuable resources created from stardust just like we were.

September 21, 2020 – End of Summer and a few brief walks, nights will be shorter than days. Some masks are still visible on night walks: 8 masks

September 19, 2020 17 – The feet in “south mask” are near “middle mask”. From there you can see the other 2 masks: 17 masks

September 11, 2020 – I just stepped out of the car at the library on one of only two occasions I got a ride in the last months and September 15, 2020 Nighttime in front of my home: 2 masks

September 1, 2020 – Walk a few blocks to hair cutting appointment: 18 masks