Present Attendants

Stillness in motion.

a bird making a nest

Weave. Unravel. Burn. Engrave. Lift. 

Horsehair, denim, parchment, wood.

Here is material, here a task. 

Each focal point becomes a counterbalance 

to the surrounding immensity.

Who are these people at these tasks?

They are attendants.

What are they doing?

They are present.

In what? I ask and no response.

In their work.

Why, though?

Because it is theirs to do,

because they are with it.

***

Inspired by some of the installations of Ann Hamilton, featuring attendants engaged in simple, repetitive tasks, which the artist sees as representative of the presence required of art.

Author: Stacey C. Johnson

I keep watch and listen, mostly in dark places.

3 thoughts on “Present Attendants”

  1. As the entire accounting department for a 45 employee nonprofit, part of my job is mindless data entry. For a while I dreaded work like that. Now I find it relaxing. A chance to turn off my mind and just be.

    1. I have learned to appreciate things like this more and more: dishes, laundry, even the commute. I feel your appreciation for getting a chance to turn off the mind, Jeff : )

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