Hi. I am working on a project and I would appreciate your participation if you feel your heart is in it. Your heart really has to be IN it though. It really can't work without you. It's you that matters... you exist to me. So, here is the project... I know it may sound silly, but yes, I am serious.
I am collecting souls. I am looking for individuals that are willing to give me their soul for one year. Don't worry. You will still exist. Think about what a soul actually means. Your soul may come to me in anything. It must be contained in some sort of package. You can stuff it into a jar, you can give it to me in a locket, you can mail it to me in an envelope, you can bake it in a pie and I will consume it if you wish. I am open to you. I am willing to cater to your needs. If you are a friend, then great. If you are a stranger to me, wonderful. I do not need to know you at all to get to know your soul. If you are interested in the project, then here are the steps. If not, thank you for reading this far.
* PLEASE NOTE: I have received a GREAT response already. This excites me! I am excited that you are excited! There is a bit of confusion I am finding however. I am not interested in animism. I do not want your soul to become a physical object that you give to me. I would like you to put your soul into a container, and give me the container that has your soul inside. I will not be opening the container, nor will I be showing anyone the contents of the container. I do not want to release your soul or see what it actually is. I am interested in the vessel and your description, as well as taking care of it, and placing it where you ask. The vessel will be in an installation in about one year. The container can be anything you wish and should reflect the nature of your soul.
Instructions:
1. Mail me your soul, in it's container, or arrange to leave it in a location where I can find it. I do not want to meet you or see you when I receive the parcel.
2. Please include a note with a description of what your soul looks like.
3. Please include another note with a description of where you feel your soul should be kept in my home for one year. If your soul has any specific needs (does it need to be spoken to, does it need to be watered, would you like me to sing to it, does it need to interact with another soul in my house, etc.) please include these instructions as well. Please only request what your soul actually needs.
4. Please include your name, your location, your wishes, your souls description, and a return address with the parcel.
My Promises to You:
1. If you take me seriously, I will take your requests seriously as well.
2. I will love your soul like I love my own.
3. I will keep it safe and out of danger.
What I Will Be Doing With Your Soul:
1. I will carry out your requests and place your soul in my care, in the spot of your choosing for one year.
2. I will photograph it in said spot.
3. I will mail your soul back to you in April of 2010.
4. Please note that your soul and it's vessel will be in an installation, however, I will not be opening the vessel, or revealing what is inside the vessel to anyone.
5. I will be keeping journals about each soul I receive. I expect to have a great deal of resources/research/information to share with you at the end of this journey.
Serious Responses Only Please.
Please arrange for me to receive your parcel by emailing owleyescrowsfeet@gmail.com
If your soul is large and you are concerned about postage, I am willing to help you out. I am also willing to pick up your soul anywhere you are willing to leave it (I live in Toronto). All submissions will be returned a year after the day I receive them.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: So, if someone tells you to bake their soul cookies everyday, are you going to?
A: I am choosing to put my trust in friends and strangers. I am choosing to put my trust in you. If that is truly what your soul needs, then I will. But please, be conscious of what I am offering. Please be conscious of the loving time that I am willing to invest in your soul.
Q: What's the point?
A: I am taking time out of my day to invest time in you. More than that, if you know me, you know I am full of love for a lot of things. I want to get to know you. I am taking the time to nurture your soul. Perhaps think about what a soul actually is. Perhaps think about what it means to you. Maybe then, the answers will come. If then the answers have not come to you, please email me and we can talk about it. I encourage you to read about what a soul is and the varying contexts of it's meaning. A further description of my intent for the project will be stated in my artist statement at a later date.
Q: What if someone sends you something perishable?
A: Do you think your soul is perishable? Perhaps you are telling me then that your soul is dying. If so, I will do my best to comfort it in it's time of need. I will do my best to prolong it's life if that's your wish. I will document it's life and keep a record of it's death, if that's your wish. You may include these wishes in the descriptions I asked for.
Q: A soul is transparent. How can one describe it?
A: I would then question you as to why you think a soul has to be transparent. I may agree with you, and I may not. Really though, I am looking for a description of how you view your soul, or how you feel your soul may look if it can indeed be seen. You may suspect that your soul looks like air, or you may suspect that your soul looks like a piece of wood. It is really up to you and what you feel in your heart. If you know your soul is transparent, then you know. If a book told you it is, then you don't.
Q: If a soul is there with you for a year and you are caring for it, how are we to be soulless for a year?
A: Firstly, I will tell you that I am more interested in what you would choose to contain your soul in. The vessel itself. But, a soul is more than a spirit, a body without organs. The soul I am asking for is more than your soul. Do not fret. You will not be soulless for one year. You will feel it still, I assure you. I can do that for you. I can promise you that. Perhaps question the perimeters of the soul and how your body without organs may function on it's own for awhile. There is also a gift, a gesture, loving kindness, and trust in what I am asking you. I would ask you to maybe think about that for awhile. I only want your soul if you are willing to give it to me. I will never outright ask you for it, I am just putting a call out.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at owleyescrowsfeet@gmail.com.
Serious Responses Only Please.
Please arrange for me to receive your parcel by emailing owleyescrowsfeet@gmail.com
If your soul is large and you are concerned about postage, I am willing to help you out. I am also willing to pick up your soul anywhere you are willing to leave it (I live in Toronto). All submissions will be returned a year after the day I receive them.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: So, if someone tells you to bake their soul cookies everyday, are you going to?
A: I am choosing to put my trust in friends and strangers. I am choosing to put my trust in you. If that is truly what your soul needs, then I will. But please, be conscious of what I am offering. Please be conscious of the loving time that I am willing to invest in your soul.
Q: What's the point?
A: I am taking time out of my day to invest time in you. More than that, if you know me, you know I am full of love for a lot of things. I want to get to know you. I am taking the time to nurture your soul. Perhaps think about what a soul actually is. Perhaps think about what it means to you. Maybe then, the answers will come. If then the answers have not come to you, please email me and we can talk about it. I encourage you to read about what a soul is and the varying contexts of it's meaning. A further description of my intent for the project will be stated in my artist statement at a later date.
Q: What if someone sends you something perishable?
A: Do you think your soul is perishable? Perhaps you are telling me then that your soul is dying. If so, I will do my best to comfort it in it's time of need. I will do my best to prolong it's life if that's your wish. I will document it's life and keep a record of it's death, if that's your wish. You may include these wishes in the descriptions I asked for.
Q: A soul is transparent. How can one describe it?
A: I would then question you as to why you think a soul has to be transparent. I may agree with you, and I may not. Really though, I am looking for a description of how you view your soul, or how you feel your soul may look if it can indeed be seen. You may suspect that your soul looks like air, or you may suspect that your soul looks like a piece of wood. It is really up to you and what you feel in your heart. If you know your soul is transparent, then you know. If a book told you it is, then you don't.
Q: If a soul is there with you for a year and you are caring for it, how are we to be soulless for a year?
A: Firstly, I will tell you that I am more interested in what you would choose to contain your soul in. The vessel itself. But, a soul is more than a spirit, a body without organs. The soul I am asking for is more than your soul. Do not fret. You will not be soulless for one year. You will feel it still, I assure you. I can do that for you. I can promise you that. Perhaps question the perimeters of the soul and how your body without organs may function on it's own for awhile. There is also a gift, a gesture, loving kindness, and trust in what I am asking you. I would ask you to maybe think about that for awhile. I only want your soul if you are willing to give it to me. I will never outright ask you for it, I am just putting a call out.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at owleyescrowsfeet@gmail.com.
