Sunday, May 10, 2009

My Pensive Woman

I
DID
SOMETHING
TONIGHT
THAT
IS
VERY
TYPICAL
OF
ME.

I scavenged something out of the garbage!
I’m sorry – I’m sorry friends.
Someone else’s trash has become… well, a meaningful piece of art on my wall. Near the entrance, in my apartment.


I’m calling it My Pensive Woman©.
I wonder what the real name of this thing might be.
There is some artist’s name scribbled into the top right corner, looks like “Modiglam” or something like that!

Here’s how it happened.
See, from my parking space in the underground depths I have to walk right past the huge-normous garbage and recycling area. So, when I have the time, I climb right in there and just find stuff. Like, just a while ago, some perfectly good toothbrushes. Still had a lot of mileage left in them!
Stuff like that.
It’s amazing what people throw out! They obviously make more money than I do.
Anyhoo, so tonight I noticed this picture leaning against the big blue bin. Intrepid scavenger that I am, hell… this thing stopped me in my tracks.
And this is it. Above. Already on my wall.
[I had to take the photo at an angle to get rid of the glare from my flash.]

Is there something wrong with me, morally, hygienically, or otherwise? In doing these kind of things?
CONFESSION: Half of the stuff in my apartment I have scavenged from the trash at one time or another.
Should I attend some kind of Twelve-Step Program?
Scavengers Anonymous?

No matter what you say though, I’m keeping My Pensive Woman.
She just whispered to me, from her new home, “Oh, thank you! Thank you! I’ve still got a lot of mileage left in me. I’ve still got a lot….”
************

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Modigliani!

Cipriano said...

Ah!
Thank you Rhapsody.
And another has already written to say that the original painting is in the Cleveland, Ohio museum.
Soon I will probably learn of the actual title of the painting, which I am suspecting to be something like.... "Virginia Woolf, Retrieved From Garbage Bin."

S said...

Amedeo Modigliani. Portrait of Woman in Hat (Jeanne Hébuterne in Large Hat). 1917. Oil on canvas.

Beth said...

The only difference between going to garage sales (socially and hygienically acceptable) and finding treasures in the trash is the fact that trash items are free!
Enjoy Your/My Pensive Woman.

(but stop collecting toothbrushes)

Merisi said...

Modigliani? Great!
Tootbrushes?
I know you threw these only in there for the shock value! ;-)


I swear, "whosedig" is my word verification - this little robot does have a sarcastic sense of humor! :-)

Anonymous said...

Toothbrushes....
You are one heck of a class act, Cippy!
Looking through that bin for art is ok, for toothbrushes...not so much! That's the last time I allow you to french kiss my dog!
C.

Stefanie said...

Love the new art! I think there is nothing wrong with scavenging. When I lived in California people would put perfectly good stuff from their apartments that they no longer wanted but were too lazy to take to Goodwill next to the garbage dumpsters with the intention that others would take it. I acquired quite a number of books that way.

Cipriano said...

Thank you, "S".
Good point, Beth!Merisi, you are right. It was actually toothPASTE I scavenged!
"C" --> It's your DOG that always starts with the necking! Preceded by Nose-In-Groin action!
Stefanie, thank you! You have endorsed my continued scavenging ways!

Melwyk said...

I've found a ton of good stuff in the garbage as well. Montreal was a great place for it; just leave your unwanted stuff on the curb and it disappeared in hours.

Jen@FIRR-Kids! said...

You are the planet's best friend with your reusing and recycling. I have done a bit of dumpster diving myself and don't regret it one bit. Now that you mention it, I could use a new toothbrush ...

Cipriano said...

Ahhhh.. thank you, thank you.
I SHALL KEEP ON WITH MY SCAVENGERY WAYS!