David R. Guenette

       ARCH ART

Memento Mori & Memento Viva

Well, admittedly, "Memento Mori"--which means (according to the American Heritage Dictionary) "...any reminder of death or mortality"--may not be the most marketing worthy name, but I do believe that shrine-like objects (a.k.a., assemblages) are compelling to many people to retain and present important aspects and memories of their selves, family, friends, and experiences.  Not everything has to be a death head, of course, and several commissioned works celebrate life, not death (even while there may be a memorial part to them), and hence the term I use for this, "Memento Viva."  

While confession is on the page, I will happily also confess that I really love these types of commissions.  Typically--not that there is anything necessarily typical about any of these efforts--the process starts with the collection of materials from the patron, and as much conversation about the objects and family, friends, or experiences that are the focus.  Other matters to discuss can be whether or what furniture form is of interest and related "utilitarian" matters, such things as favorite colors, wood, and so forth.  Basically, I'll have a lot of questions for you, and a number more as the creation process moves forward.  By the way, I'll feel free to add my own materials, whether found or created by me, to serve the piece if need be, unless, of course, there is a request not to do so.  I'm also happy to do the collecting myself, since going through people's drawers, attics, closets, boxes, basements, garages, photo, movie, record, and slide collections, etc., is a fascinating endeavor, although it may take a special sort of patron to hand me the keys to the kingdom so freely.  Of course, I'm happy to supply references from previous commissioneers, to put you at ease.

Personal objects are of any and all sorts, such as photographs and slides, watches or jewelry, ticket stubs, fragments from documents, diaries, or letters, bits of things found in old drawers, favorite small things like stamps, coins, toys, keys and key chains, books, etc., etc., etc., --all may be grist for the mill.  The more I have to work with, the better; all material will be returned, although some will be within the commissioned piece itself, of course.  

Light Panels & Slide Displays

Memento Mori & Viva

Image poems for the concrete world.  Copyright © David R. Guenette, guenette@comcast.net

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