Collecting

Collecting

We humans gather things around us that we like and with which we feel comfortable. Whether it turns out to be tools, toys or teapots depends on the individual. Collecting is a pleasant ailment that afflicts nearly all of us to some degree. The cure to the disease is not reaching the point where we have enough but rather when we find something else to collect… and the symptoms begin anew.

Why we collect is not as important as what we collect says about us. We reveal our most personal selves by what we collect. We can view a person’s soul when we view their selections and tastes. A collection grows over a lifetime of hunting through estate sales, art galleries, bookstores, antique shops, jewelry shops, artist’s studios, museums, battlefields, ghost towns, archaeological digs and backcountry hikes. We are on the scent of our prey sometimes fed and sometimes left hungry.

Some of us collect items of common interest with great number of others. Some of us collect items of interest only to a select few. Value of these items is sometimes dependent on a generation of people sharing a common knowledge. Some items in collections gain value with passing generations because they show origins to larger movements. Some collections gain value because of their narrow focus on a certain artist’s early work while other collections gain value because they shed light on a broad scope of work by an entire school of artists.

There is an association or group for nearly any item a person might collect. Membership in these organizations gives the collector access to knowledge, supply and advice. Organizations sponsor magazines, events, shows and seminars. Collectors may use the organization network to increase their collections or gain advice on preserving their collections.

I share the affliction of collecting. I am in full acceptance of my foible. I wonder why not everyone shares my interests.



	Collecting We humans gather things around us that we like and with which we feel comfortable. Whether it turns out to be tools, toys or teapots depends on the individual. Collecting is a pleasant ailment that afflicts nearly all of us to some degree. The cure to the disease is not reaching the point where we have enough but rather when we find something else to collect… and the symptoms begin anew. Why we collect is not as important as what we collect says about us. We reveal our most personal selves by what we collect. We can view a person’s soul when we view their selections and tastes. A collection grows over a lifetime of hunting through estate sales, art galleries, bookstores, antique shops, jewelry shops, artist’s studios, museums, battlefields, ghost towns, archaeological digs and backcountry hikes. We are on the scent of our prey sometimes fed and sometimes left hungry. Some of us collect items of common interest with great number of others. Some of us collect items of interest only to a select few. Value of these items is sometimes dependent on a generation of people sharing a common knowledge. Some items in collections gain value with passing generations because they show origins to larger movements. Some collections gain value because of their narrow focus on a certain artist’s early work while other collections gain value because they shed light on a broad scope of work by an entire school of artists. There is an association or group for nearly any item a person might collect. Membership in these organizations gives the collector access to knowledge, supply and advice. Organizations sponsor magazines, events, shows and seminars. Collectors may use the organization network to increase their collections or gain advice on preserving their collections. I share the affliction of collecting. I am in full acceptance of my foible. I wonder why not everyone shares my interests.