Personal Failures Museum

Art show curated by Eyvan of Lost and Found Museum

CBC article

To be filled later

What I responded with to a journalist, though my responses failed to be published.

1. What was your submission to the museum and how does it represent the personal failure that's being showcased?

• A cryptex for my ex which was supposed to be part of his birthday present but we never got to celebrate that day together.  It’s a cylindrical puzzle box that requires a code to open it. Inside is a message to him that I later wrote. The code is a place we both are for each other, i think. 
• The tragedy of this failure is that this isn’t my personal failure. It was ours. Neither of us wanted to break up, but the situation was dire. I tried everything I could to the point of breaking my heart, body and mind. I believe he tried what he could too.
• This piece represents Love lost. Love never opened. Love that remains hidden and locked, wishing it wasn’t. 

• The other piece is a jar I made that says “look in” but got stuck during firing and won’t open. I made it as part of grieving my breakup. It was meant to be put somewhere for public art where people could open it and find hopeful messages and gifts. It took months to fire. I had surgery in between. By the time it came out of the kiln, I didn’t remember if or what I stamped inside it. Ironically, it won’t open. It feels fitting though. It reminds me of when you really want to open up, let someone in to see you and know you. So you put outself out there but then you’re not ready, and you can’t. You’re stuck. And all you have is a frustrated other person that keeps trying but can’t and eventually leaves. 

2. What made you decide (or what motivated you) to take part in the Museum of Personal Failures?

I was doomscrolling on Facebook marketplace when I saw eyvan’s call out post. Going through the roughest breakup of my life, which included a personal health breakdown too, the call for personal failures seemed to be pointing right at me. So I answered. Cause if you’re going to be in the shits, make art. Art has saved me. I didn’t think my “failed” art would be wanted. 

3. Do you feel any sort of catharsis or any sense of relief, closure or a feeling of "letting go" of that failure now that you have taken part in this project?

Yea much more than I thought. I mean it doesn’t change the situation. But someone wants to see and know my failures. It feels like a hug. A big warm heartfelt one that says “I see you”. Seeing other people’s submissions and stories is really touching and helps me feel less alone. Personal failures are all little heartbreaks of ourselves in life. And we all are in this together even though it feels so alone at times.

4. Anything else you would like to share about your experience participating in this project...

The museum is more than I thought it would be. It’s real, handmade and unpretentious. It’s so human. The whole experience of talking directly to Eyvan, without forms or signatures is great. Just people talking and making a scrappy art show to kind of cry together. In this time where perfection and productivity is the standard, we need spaces to just be real humans  

It feels like finding an experimental garage band that you really click with.