When "Inanimates" Attack

For some folks, it's the random crack in the sidewalk that fouls up the footwork that is the catalyst for the chance encounter of one's nose to the pavement, others, the door that forgot to get out of their way when they ran into it, for me, it was a few shards of glass glitter that decided to get stuck in my eye that did me in. I think Russell Baker had it right when he said, "The goal of all inanimate objects is to resist man and ultimately defeat him..."

I sincerely believe that people think crafting by proxy is "safe". Seriously, how can pictures of dripping ice cream cones and smiling faces be all that bad. Paints, glue, paper... they all seem unassumingly "safe". Well, folks, there is a reason why I have all sorts of safety gear in my studio... fire extinguishers, work gloves, safety glasses, and heavy duty protective wear... art supplies can indeed be hazardous and throughout history artists have indeed suffered for their art (thinking pigments and all the heavy metal poisoning when folks did not know better... the colors were AMAZING yes, but when the hair fell out and people went bonkers because of lead, mercury and arsenic well, you catch my drift).

Today I was working with glass glitter. It is truly beautiful stuff and it photographs like no tomorrow however, it's tiny pieces of crushed glass... Well, I wore the goggles and took precautions but, as kismet would have it, I managed to get some in my eye while taking my apron off. Hurt like the dickens every time I blinked (it was scratching my cornea every time). The moral of the story here is, there really isn't a reason one should suffer for their art, just be prepared for when, not if, inanimate objects attack.

Incidentally, inanimate objects happen to be wonderful for decorating... they can't run away. Eye patches love to be decorated and it makes the nurses laugh.

Comments

[sue pieper]

Having had a scratched eyeball myself (attacked by a plant no less!) I can feel your pain, but the decorated patch did make me laugh. I'm trying to catch up & have been reading here for awhile tonight-like visiting an old friend. but I;ve missed a lot-when's your book coming out (I need it) and when is the PBS show? And have to say, have been loving your posts that I've been reading tonight, seriously, Ill be back to read them all over. But right now I need to have a serious chat with my muse, we have work to do!

[kathy]

well said!! i once got glass glitter under my fingernails and now i wear plastic gloves when i use it. regardless, i love you!!!! hope your eye is ok!! we all need for your eyes to work at optimum performance levels!