Debt: Visually

I remember reading an article in HOW about keeping an illustration journal (which I did for all of a week). One of the suggestions was to draw everything you own as a way to drum up creativity.

While blog surfing, I came across Kate Bingaman's Obsessive Consumption (also mentioned in HOW here) and was reminded of that article...and how much Dwight thought the idea was an interesting way to become intimate with your own bad spending habits. It really became a commentary on consumerism in America - which tends to be a hot topic around our house and in his classroom.

*Dwight I thought you'd like this as she had a studio in Lincoln while getting her grad degree*

I admire Kate Bingaman, for having the guts to embrace her spending and turn it into art - including the gut-wrenching credit card statement. Money and personal debt represented visually for everyone to see (I feel fat and naked just thinking about it). She is able to transform the sick feeling debt can produce in the pit of the stomach into something to be admired, talked about and, in the end, accepted and possibly resolved.

Maybe it's time to start back up with that journal.

In a separate but related thought - thru Kate's site I came across etsy.com. I have a hang-up when it comes to art - unless it's a favorite artist of mine like David Goines - I try to only display signed prints (it's amazing how many wonderful artists live in Midcoast Maine*) and original art. That being said...we are a young family with a 3 month old which leaves little money to spend on art by known artists (or any artist for that matter). This is where a site like etsy (or Kate's for that matter) can be very useful. Affordable and wonderful original art.

*Anthony Venti, Paul Caponigro, Alan Magee, Jamie Wyeth and Andrew Wyeth (and father/grandfather NC)