From the dusty corners...

phone booth.jpg
Originally uploaded by Caitlin Emma Perkins

And, here is the phone booth that will will appear as an apparition in a formal garden in Society Hill in Philadelphia. It may not look like much, and perhaps this will take away some of its magic - but I do love to share.

It will have an interactive audio piece installed along with a complete LED light installation. Banging.

Rising to Ubiquity

After what seemed like an eternal hiatus - my thoughts have returned to the ephemeral telephone booth.

In preparation for next installment (and perhaps final, dare I write it?) in the Playing Telephone with Ghosts project of ever expanding proportions, I have procured a lovely glass and aluminum booth. I hope to transform this booth into a ghostly interactive apparition over the next three months so that it may appear on June 21st in the formal garden of the Powel House, located on 3rd Street in Philadelphia.

After a long hiatus from Playing Telephone with Ghosts, I return with fresh eyes and ideas.

And so, after many months - a sketch for an idea. Above is a before and after view of an idea that I would like to realize - out of my haunted visions. This desire to create a scenario, garden vignette a ghostly reminder from a technological past not so far from our today. But, as ubiquitous the cell phone is today, the phone booth was just a few decades ago.

My vision is to create a phantom phone booth that has seemingly landed in Society Hill in the backyard garden at the Physick House on 4th Street, just up the road.

In the booth would be an interactive audio piece.

artblog

Check out this article by Andrea Kirsh about the Playing Telephone with Ghosts installment at the Delaware Center for Contemporary Art.

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Foolscaps and Inkshed

I took it upon myself to create an almanac to facilitate portable reading and entertainment for men, women and children of leisiure and toil.

Toiling in the print shop...I was screenprinting a daily almanac inspired by those of the early 18th Century from Philadelphia until midnight last night. This particular almanac is daily almanac including strange facts, a collection of writings and random bits of information collected over the last few weeks to get ready for an event at the Delaware Center for Contemporary Art in collaboration with the Landmarks Contemporary Projects--and tonight we will print together a BROADSIDE for your ephemeral pleasure.

Come participate in Playing Telephone with Ghosts. I will be hosting several collective investigations relating to the themes of the project. Contact me by sending an email to playingtelephonewithghosts (at) philalandmarks.org to get on the mailing list to particpate.

These activities will take place in private collections and libraries and are inspired by the activities of the Society for Collective Investiation. Participants will spend 3-4 hours with the artist collecting and reading from materials on a theme relating to the project of Playing Telephone with Ghosts.

Hope you would like to participate.

Marginalia, mischief and hugger muggers

I recently participated in an event with the Society for Creative Investigation, through the Locally Localized Gravity show, at the Institute for Contemporary Art. This society creates a structure to do a group exploration of a library or book collection with the intention that participants can take the method and repeat it in other collections. It is based on Duchamp's random acts.

It works by a group of people (maximum of 10) going to a library and collecting material, gathering back together, further exploring the texts and culminating in a informal performance/presentation. It is a wonderful method for exploring the energies of texts. My intention is to use the method of creative investigation at the Powel House library and others in the coming months to gather more raw material for Playing Telephone with Ghosts.

The theme of these investigations will be "secrets" books contain. This may be finding texts relating to secrets, or the chance serendipitous occurrences, when the reader uncovers those small bits of marginalia, notes, inscriptions and general mischief left in books by the hands of the past. These can serve as clues to the provenance or path the book has led to its current place.

My hope is that the investigations will turn into more formal performances. All texts, pictures notes etc. will be documented for the project and the participants will each get a copy of the materials as well.

Please contact me through the comments if you are interested in participating, or email playingtelephonewithghosts (at)philalandmarks.org to get on the mailing list to participate in upcoming investigations.

Warm wishes, Caitlin

Secret Cafe for Playing Telephone with Ghosts

On Sunday evening a festive crowd gathered on 4th Street at the Powel House for the first Secret Cafe...a perfect crowd of 36 joined us for soup and supper in the first formal dining room in Philadelphia. This evening was a dinner and literary journey in four acts inspired by the 18th Century.

Bill of Play
Act One 1st Course: Because the Revolution has upset the eating habits of this city.

This included: Mincemeat Pie, Pigeons Transmogriphied, Pickled Red Cabbage, Vermicelli and Cheese, Meagre Soup, and Water Crackers.

Act Two 2nd Course: Because in its baldest terms, food is a barometer of social change.

The Second Course included: Indian Pound Cake, Artichoke Hearts in Cream Sauce, Stewed Pippins, Mrs. Powel's Famous Muffins, Hysterical Water and Carrot Pudding.

Act Three A Toast: In order to feel a suffusion of a finer kind.

Act Four The Journey: What a large volume of adventures may be grasped within this little span of life.

The participants enjoyed a feast and an evening of readings after we retired to the ballroom. This was the first public performance of Playing Telephone with Ghosts and I considered it a sketch for things to come. I was inspired by Thomas Paine's Common Sense of 1776, the secret society known as the Junto and thinking about generosity.

"Instead of gazing at each other with suspicious or doubtful curiosity; let each of us, hold out to his neighbor the hearty hand of friendship, and unite in drawing a line, which like an act of oblivion shall bury in forgetfulness every former dissension."

The Junto was formed by Benjamin Franklin and his drinking co-horts. They gathered weekly on 4th Street in Philadelphia, to read and socialize. They shared a library of books, which became the foundation of the first library, known as The Library Company of Philadelphia. In addition, they started the first fire company and police force.

They shared food, drink and good times. Their generosity and intellectual stimulation mobilized social change and fanned the flames of a revolution.

In content, the readings selected for the evening were selections about beginnings of journies from four texts, including Don Quixote, a Phyllis Wheatley poem, A Sentimental Journey and Some Memoirs of the Life of Job. The context of the Powel House, where Benjamin Franklin once ate supper, gave us a special opportunity to enjoy the simple act of reading aloud. Because as Lawrence Sterne, who inspired many secret societies, said in A Sentimental Journey:

"What a large volume of adventures may be grasped within this little span of life by him who interests his heart in every thing, and who, having eyes to see, what time and chance are perpetually holding out to him as he journeyeth on his way, misses nothing he can fairly lay his hands on."

Thanks to the fantastic crew of conspirators helping my collaborators, Katie Baldwin, Curt Sauer and I, the evening was a smashing success. I will be posting photos and more memorabilia from the evening over the next few weeks.

Yours, truly

Caitlin

ignore the crash, keep breathing

In preparations for an upcoming event as part of Playing Telephone with Ghosts, I and my collaborators on a "secret cafe event," including fellow artist, Katie Baldwin were visiting the Powel House. We were in the process of going over logistics and poking around in the catering kitchen in the basement. There were 4 of us walking through the house last night, and might I point out what a cavernous basement it is. We were looking at some serving dishes in a strange little room, and then went on to the next room. As soon as all four of us entered the next chamber there was a crash in the first chamber. Now, none of us actually touched much of anything in there, and somehow there was a crash. Was there someone else with us? There are rumors that the house is haunted by both a cat and a one of the Powel women (she appears in a beige and purple dress). My bet is on the devious cat causing the crash.

What demolition reveals

A friend recently passed along an abstract by Isabelle Lehuu called, Carnival on the Page, which explores Popular Print Media in Antebellum America (yes, my tastes do tend towards the esoteric). The author makes some wonderful points about printing, ephemera and ritual or the carnival - which reminded me of a little taste of history that was discovered behind the mantle of the fireplace at the Physick House (where I will have an exhibition in November).

A tiny snippet of newspaper from 1795 was discovered lodged behind the stone of the fireplace with an image of a horse jumping through hoops. I love that path of discovery which led me to the Library Company where I learned that the Rickets Circus of Philadelphia. The circus spent the winter in Philadelphia (October 19, 1795-April 23, 1796).

Rickets was actually the first circus in in America, established by John Bill Ricketts, and was a blend of equestrian feats and theatrical performances - thrilling audiences with his acts such as the Flying Mercury and the Egyptian Pyramids. Hell, even George Washington attended this circus (it is a small world).

Another fragment of a message passed through time by ghosts of the past...

And, by the way, Rickets also went by the fantastic names of Attitude of Mercury and Johnny Gilpin in Stile.

whose mom had the biggest house?

In the coming months my fellow conspirators will be helping me to unveil a series of happenings in Philadelphia to entertain, question and celebrate our community past and present. Inspired by the Junto and their weekly meetings which featured drinking and intellectual conversation for their "mutual improvement"

The Junto are elusive but through investigation I have found the following names as founding members, three of which were coworkers at Samuel Heimer's print shop in what is now known as Old City including Benjamin Franklin, Hugh Meridith, George Webb (apprentice to the printer), Stephen Potts (bookbinder), William Maugridge (shop joiner), Thomas Godfrey, William Coleman (a merchant, also said to be cool headed), Philip Syng and Robert Grace (said to be lively, witty and wealthy).

Reading about this group i'm reminded of some secret clubhouse of my youth - they met at Grace's grandmother's house (because she had extra rooms) which was "four doors down towards the river from Edgell House (near Pewter Platter Alley) on the portion fronting the alley.

Over time, the Junto put together a collection of books from their personal collections, gathered them together at a room at 120 Church Alley, next to the Bears Head Tavern. This collective material became the first project of a public nature for the group, as this collection of books became the Library Company of Philadelphia - the first public library by 1731.

Candlelight Performance

I recently sent out packages of screenprinted luminaria across the country to friends and family with the nonsensical idea that theoretically all the luminaria could be lit at the same time, and how that idea made me smile. I just recently put one of the packages (4 luminaria, card, inspired by the Powel House chandalier, and instructions) into a pollyanna gift exchange at holiday work party - the person that chose it said that he was so excited about them that he would send me pictures of the luminaria lit up - and I realized my mistake - that I should have asked everyone to collect images of them and send them to me! Alas, so, if you read this and you received them, take a photos and I'll put it up.

Luminaria

Information feedback loop

Is it possible to create a scenario where I can create an information feedback loop. My project is called Playing Telephone with ghosts...what would happen if i built an installation of a telephone booth in old city Philadelphia, merging old technologies with new...stand in a telephone booth, dial your cell phone with the number provided, the phone in the booth rings and the person picks up the receiver, is it them, is it an art piece, are they calling themselves? How much can i mess with this?

traces of pigeons mark the concrete

traces of pigeons mark the concrete
Originally uploaded by Caitlin Emma Perkins.

Pigeons were a menu item in the 18th century, long since removed from our modern dietary memory. I was reminded of a dish I found at the Library Company recently called "pigeons transmogrified". Myself and artist Katie Baldwin will attempt to revive this dish soon...although through art, not culinary devices.

Strange Reflections

Eerie Christening Gown with Ghostly Head
Originally uploaded by caitlinemmaperkins.

Eerie floating heads with street reflections in another historic neighborhood, though this one is in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island. Caught this snapshot of the storefront display walking by. Check out the other images on flickr.

The House that Wine Built

I'm finding that the history of Philadelphia and perhaps our nation would not be what it is had it not been for the love of social drinking. Franklin founded the Junto a secret society in Philadelphia whose members gathered weekly to drink and talk of revolution. They went on to found the first library, The Library Company, the first insurance company, the first police force, and much more.

The main exhibition of Playing Telephone with Ghosts will be at the Physick House in November of 2007, and here is a brief history of that building, from their archives:

"Philadelphia, since its founding has been a town that has liked to tipple. And a favorite spirit of drinkers in the 18th century proved to be Madeira, a fortified grape juice and brandy beverage. Importer Henry Hill made enough money as a Madeira merchant to build this elegant free-standing mansion in what was becoming one of the more fashionable neighborhoods of a post-Revolutionary city better known for rowhouses. Thirst for Madeira made Hill so wealthy that in addition to building this abode, he could also maintain a country estate called Carlton which overlooked the Schuylkill River, complete with a private racetrack. Though that manse is now covered by a reservoir, the Hill-Physick-Keith house endured — just barely though."

Inkshed

William Goddard started his own battle in his paper against the Junto in Philadelphia,

"The Junto, after several private meetings and adjournments at the Theater of Scandal, in Fourth Street, during two long weeks past, and at a prodigious waste of paper, and much inkshed, have at last sent forth one Benjamin Towne with a stink pot in his hand."

Ink is the great missive weapon

"Now, it must here be understood that ink is the great missive weapon in all battles of the learned, which conveyed through a sort of engine called a quill, infinite numbers of these are darted at the enemy by the valiant on each side, with equal skill and violence, as if it were an engagement of porcupines. This malignant liquor, which are gall and copperas; by its bitterness and venom to suit in some degree, as well as to format, the opinions of the combatants."

So said Swift in his Battle of the Book of 1604.

And now, I with my virtual ink on your screen shall the battle shall be studied.

And, if you are so inclined, please visit the Gutenberg Project to read a the Battle of the Book.