Expect the unexpected

After spending last weekend shuffling and re-shuffling the pieces of debris, trying to act like a matchmaker between you and them and wanting to be sensitive to the initial ideas many of you communicated to me, I realized how silly I was being. Too many preconceived ideas - mostly my own - weighed them down. Instead, I sealed them all in envelops, shuffled them into a pillowcase, and pulled them out at random; isn't this how I had come by them in the first place? One by one I tugged them out by their corners and addressed them without knowing who was to receive what. The first batch finally went out on Friday to those of you for whom I had an address. (The reason for the delay? I had to turn in the first portion of my written thesis this week!) You should be receiving them early this week (with the exception of those of you overseas, of course). If you haven't yet emailed your address, please do so as soon as possible so you have the maximum amount of time to think and work.

So that you are aware, each envelope contains two copies of a permissions form that must be completed upon your review. It will be clearer when you have it in hand, but:
- the nature of the material should be noted as either an original artwork or work of writing;
- the source is you;
- please give as specific a description of the work as possible at this point;
- and note this year as the date of its creation.
Note how you would like to be acknowledged and contact me with any further concerns or questions. The form will legally allow your work to be included in the project, including a possible exhibition and/or being reproduced in a traditional book or catalog about the project.

I'm a little behind in responding to your individual emails from this past week, so please bear with me. Again, thank you all so much for the time, thought, and spirit you've already invested into this project. It is significant.

Below is the note I found attached to a garbage bag full of debris one morning when I walked into St. Paul's for work. Indeed, it was not rubbish.