I was too long away: day 4.

I didn’t get back to Wassaic until 6pm (please double check MTA info if you’re visiting), and that might have felt like a waste but for the excellent conversation I started the day with that prompted a good burst of writing and further clarity about the idea. It even delivered a name for the space, but I’m going to sleep on it before I decide and share.

I think I was the only snowed-on person smiling on 43rd Street.

The later departure from New York meant I was fortunate enough to catch the beginning of the snow storm. It’s my birth weather (hence my name) so always feels special to be snowed upon. I was also reflecting on how much I wanted to be back in the space, in the zone, and realised that it’s not an overstatement to think of this project as a kind of rebirth. I’m excited about the next residents at OlioHouse and all the things that might be conceived of or born here.

But now, digression over. I’ve written about the impulse to acquire, to read, to change, to continue. I’ve written about sharing, connecting, conversing. I’ve written rules for the space that I hope will function like oulipo constraints or oblique strategies. I’ve written about kisses and contamination and death (all unrelated. Insofar as anything is unrelated). The essay, one of my project ‘outcomes’ is heartily underway. With exactly 36 hours until the space receives its first visitors, it’s perhaps time to check in on the other promised outcomes (updates in italics)…

1. An enhanced digital catalogue available to view through the platform libib (intend to add notes about provenance to the records in this catalogue and, where relevant, a quote from the book). The catalogue has 431 books in it, I’ve still to annotate 197 records.
2. A 2000–3000 word essay about the impulses/vagaries/whimsy behind the collection — and what legitimises this as a method of acquisition or what it affords as a cultural repository. Good progress here today! 1330 words.
3. An invitation to the Scenius that outlines the library, its liveness and (non-prescriptive) ways to engage with it. Focus for tomorrow — the ideas are set, the invitations need drafting.
4. Documentation — photographs of the library as it’s being built and installed, and a ‘welcome’ video to give the library a voice. Latest snapshot below (and a peek at a collection in progress). I’d say I had this nailed, but I forgot about the video. Maybe Saturday’s workshop is the practice run!

The piles are getting smaller. Honest.

Returning to the space was utterly energising, and whilst data entry isn’t the most creative part of the project, being heavily tipped past halfway for the records is a great feeling — because, even if nobody else uses the database, it’s my tether to the space whilst I’m in another country. You can see how the collection of irreverent notes and sparkling quotes is stacking up at our home on Libib.

Special collection in progress: It’s shrine like… My favourite things are congregating!

It’s crunch time. Tomorrow we’ll do a few experiments with some generous and supportive folk to get everything set for Saturday. And then we party!