Curious Things

TAoN No. 174: Your weird decor. Plus a new Missing Word, and more.

I was going to save today’s topic for the next Objects Quarterly post, but I can’t seem to stop thinking about it, so here goes.

The Washington Post had piece the other day (gift link) with the headline, “The ugly rule: Why every room needs something weird to make it pop.” That sounded like my kinda thing — I’m a big fan of weird objects! And I’m particularly interested in their potential attention value: One of my favorite prompts in the book is to “ask about the weirdest thing in the room,” because it’s likely to yield a good story.

But while I agree with the article’s premise, I was surprised that it proceeded to offer instructions on how to shop for weird objects that will add up to what one designer called “an organic, collected look.”

Hm.

The specific shopping advice seems fine, but I want to question whether most of us really need to head to the store (or even a yard sale) to find something weird. That doesn’t sound “organic” to me. Your best weird stuff is the weird stuff you already own. It’s the weird stuff you’ve held onto precisely because it means something to you, and possibly to no one else. It has a story — one that no one would guess by looking at it. (And the story isn’t “my interior designer suggested this.”)

So with all due respect to the design experts¹, I’ll offer three suggestions for a more mindful materialist alternative to appreciating weird stuff without any additional shopping.

• Liberate Something Weird. Probably you have odd, curious objects around already. Consider these, in a sort of mental inventory: What is on display in your living space, where, and why? Now consider what unusual objects you might have hidden away — in a drawer, a box, or just a low-visibility corner. Consider moving things around: Liberate the neglected weird stuff and make it more prominent. (Or use it: Find a kitchen implement you haven’t touched in ages? Make something with it!) If you have kids at home, get them to nominate their own weird objects for display. Turn a mantle into a de-facto museum plinth for a rotating exhibition of strange possessions with noteworthy back stories. Invite friends to a party for your weird objects. Encourage them to do the same thing.

• Get Inspired by One Weird Object. As part of this process, take a little time to set aside the entire issue of display, and single out the odd object that means the most to you. Draw it. Write down its short biography — or a poem about it, an ode to it. Write a letter to someone it makes you think of. Become aware of this object in a new way; attend to it; appreciate it. Repeat with different objects, from time to time.

• Weird-Hunting. Having honed your skills at engaging with curious objects, apply them wherever you go. Notice the unusual and unlikely objects in others’ homes and offices, and ask questions about them. Go to yard sales and seek out the most unpopular wares; imagine their stories. Be alert to natural objects you don’t really understand; try to figure them out. Pay attention to the discarded objects you encounter all the time and remember that they, too, once had meaning. Discuss.

If you have more ideas for displaying and appreciating your most curious possessions, I’d love to hear them!

Addendum Friday November 22, 2024: In the comments, Amy Gray wrote: “I wish we could share photos of our favorite weird possessions.” Good idea! You can do so now, here:

Thanks Amy!

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Dictionary of Missing Words is an exercise in paying attention to phenomena you encounter — sensations, concepts, states between states, feelings, slippery things — that could be named, but don’t seem to be. More here and here.

This week’s missing word is from Amy Rice, via the comments:

I'm a foodie who loves to cook or bake something new when inspiration strikes. Unfortunately, I often find myself short of just ONE key ingredient in a recipe. And it's almost always at a point in time when I can't leave the house to get to an open store. I've always thought there should be a specific name for this situation/state of being. Something more descriptive than “frustrated.”

Describe your Missing Words in the comments, or send them to my email below.

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IN OTHER NEWS

• I’m @notrobwalker on Bluesky. Not sure what I’ll do with that, as I pretty much stopped with Twitter a while ago and haven’t missed it, but we’ll see. N.B: This newsletter will definitely remain my primary venue!

• Art show in a dumpster. Via.

• For the museum files: A series of paintings of people looking at Vermeers.

• Also for the museum files: “‘People Matching Artworks,’ an ongoing photo series by Stefan Draschan.” (Thx Roxana!)

• Advice on bragging.

• Area codes as “cultural symbol,” including insights from TAoN favorite James I. Bowie.

• Moon-rise / Moon-set tool.

• An animation made on 10k+ post-it notes.

• Reminder: The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy has published a book of 20 of my columns for them on cities and technology. City Tech is for an audience interested in urban policy and planning, so if you or someone you know might be into it, more here.

• In the spirit of recent posts on looking at art, here’s a “guided somatic meditation for emotional release,” from MoMA:

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• As always, I value your feedback: suggestions, critiques, positive reinforcement, etc. Constructive insults may be directed at me, not at anyone else. I also welcome your tips or stories or personal noticing rituals, things we need a word for, and of course your icebreakers, at consumed@robwalker.net. Or use the comments.

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1. I mean that sincerely! I particularly respect the Sight Unseen founders! And I’m not out to pick on anybody, just adding to the conversation :)