Feb

25

Form or Function?

Filed Under Creativity and Art 

On something of an impulse I ordered “Living Out Loud” by Keri Smith. I have also been making a point of reading through her blog archives to get a better sense of where she is coming from. The more I read, the more I like her approach to art and creativity.

In her book I quickly came across an illustration called 10 (small) Ways to Shake Things Up. Panel 7 is captioned View Your World from Upside-down (which is actually written upside-down). The reminded me of the many times I spent turned over so I could see the world the wasn’t being used. That was how I used to think of it. What came to me today about this is looking at everything upside literally changes your perspective and forces you see things differently. I’ve decided if I have four or five more little flashes like this while reading the rest of the book, my money was extremely well spent.

Reading her journal the Wish Jar, I came across a recent post about uniforms. She wasn’t speaking of actually uniforms but rather of utilitarian ways of dressing.

about a year ago I started writing notes on what constitutes my Uniform.

I prefer multipurpose items. (works in the city or the woods)

they must be very durable and last for several years.

they must be comfortable.

I must be able to perform any task in it, (hiking, biking, walking, etc.)

must be made out of natural fibers.

it must travel well, (look good wrinkled)

I have heard of artists who adopt and particular manner of dressing. O’Keefe famously wore only black or white clothing. The reasons vary of course. This particular post caught my attention because I have recently formalized a process that began unconsciously three or four years ago. I began wearing cargo pants almost exclusively about three years ago. They are comfortable and extremely durable and have lots of pockets which alone is enough to recommend them. Whether I’m working in the studio, the garden or just lying around, I have not found anything as comfortable or versatile for daily wear.

Sometime last year I went shopping for clothes and was going a little crazy trying to find some good work cloths. After an hour or so trying to find the “right” shirts, I decided to just go for simplicity and comfort. So I bought six pairs of pants and six shirts, three black and three off-white of each. That has been my work “uniform” since. I now have six slacks either black or beige and about ten shirts either black, brown or beige. They are all the same brand and I buy them at the end of the season when they are 50 or 60 percent off.

The final piece was to clear out the closet and my drawers which I did in the last week. I have about fifty percent of the clothing I had before I started. I kept a few pieces I couldn’t part with but I did dump everything I hadn’t worn in a year.

This might not sound like a big deal but I have found this to be fairly liberating. I don’t spend any time thinking about how I might dress and whatever I put on is going to be perfect for what I’m doing. It doesn’t get easier. Form does indeed follow function.

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