Twomims

Throughout my career I have encountered countless creatives, each with their own distinct collections. I have seen several art directors that collect robots (quite common), photographers that collect old cameras (even more common.) But what always stick out are the really unique collections, the ones no one else has. The largest collection of salt and pepper shakers, Pee Wee’s Playhouse memorabilia, vintage porn. I was once at a lecture given by Mervyn Kurlansky, one of the founding fathers of Pentagram, he collected hotel shampoo bottles. I now work with someone who collects old lunch boxes. That’s the good stuff.

I have always longed for my own eccentric collection of trinkets. I don’t collect buttons, old 8-tracks, posters or vintage toys. I have no eclectic, excentric collection to call my own, but I’ve always wanted one.

Recently as a brainstorm exercise I had to write about something I collected. Once again I was reminded that I was probably the only Creative Director in the world that did not have and exciting collection to talk about.

I dumped out my glass canister of matches, the one collection I do have, and photographed it for the exercise. This this is what I wrote…

I started collecting match books in high school, it was a great way to remember traveling and different meals and occassions that I had shared with others. A lot of people write the date and who they were with on each match book, but i don’t really need to. I can remeber almost every restuarant, where and when it was, whom I was with and sometimes even what I ordered. Each matchbook is a moment in time and a memory for me. Looking through these is like looking through a photo album.

The Red Eye in New York, my husband asked if it was ok to order an entree that cost more than a pair of shoes he bought earlier in the day (it was worth it.) Chilpancingo in Chicago, my account person asked, and received their recipe for Lava cake. My bachelorette party at the Luxor in Las Vegas (enough said.)  Random matchbook from a smokeshop in Zurich where my husband purchased Cuban cigars. Zoe in St. Louis, I was timing contractions on our way to dinner with friends, days before my first son was born.

And thus, I validate my matchbook collection. Alas it is not a collection of tiny tea sets from antique stores and flea markets. It may be standard and boring and definitley not one of a kind, but it is mine.