Workshop


Nothing is in its proper place. That is, we have to ask: Where are the
proper places for all the tools at our disposal? Signs, labels are
taped on drawers and cupboards. Still we walk back and forth, back and
forth, asking the air, Where is the garlic press, the small saucepan,
the knife sharpener? I’ve tied my apron on, but how do I open the chest
freezer. Is the oven working. Is my brain working. Would it help if I
sharpened a pencil?


Everything is in its proper place. That is, we say: Here are the proper
places for all the tools at our disposal. Signs, labels are taped on
drawers and cupboards. Still we walk back and forth, back and forth,
pointing out, Here is the garlic press, the small saucepan, the knife
sharpener. Look, I tie my apron on and open the chest freezer. See, the
oven is working. Notice my brain working. Let me draw you a diagram.


Nothing is in its proper place. That is, we have to ask: Where are the
proper places for all the tools at our disposal? Signs, labels are
taped on the wrong drawers and cupboards. Still we walk back and forth,
back and forth, asking ourselves, Who lost the garlic press, the small
saucepan, the knife sharpener? What is an apron, a chest freezer. How
does an oven work. Is my brain working. Would it help if you drew me a
diagram?



* Cynthia Barlow Marrs is an artist. For her most recent solo exhibition she drew on her previous experience as an environmental planner, her current career as an artist and her experience in creative writing to create a five metre-long work of art Undercurrents – Ten Views through a River of Words. One of Cynthia's newest paintings will be displayed as a poster in this month's Art Below exhibition on London Underground (tho at which Tube station she does not yet know!) This prose poem was originally published on the Arvon website. 
www.cbarlowmarrs.com
www.artbelow.org.uk