Junk Drawer
an exploration of odds & ends
Junk Drawer is a zine and project inspired by objects,
seeking out ephemera and overlooked odds & ends.
It's a place to belong for things with no place to belong to.
It’s an exploration into the histories, stories, and imagined backgrounds
of things, all ready to be discovered, pondered and shared.
Junk Drawer Workshop at Chicago Publishers Resource Center
The latest Junk Drawer workshop was a featured class at Learnapalooza. This neighborhood festival features free classes to everyone.
A fully stocked junk drawer was brought out, and participants got to choose something of interest. Then they filled out an outline about it.
They also brought their own junk drawer items. They didn't actually realize they had brought them, because these were things they had with them at the time. Into their wallets and purses they dug to come up with these random objects:
Harold Washington College Print Card
"All I remember is that it was very confusing how their printing system works. You have to go to a vending machine and put money on this card, whose sole purpose is for printing. Every other library / school I've ever been to lets you use your ID or library card. Printing only costs 10 cents a page, but the minimum cash it took was $5. So I guess I keep it on the off chance I have to print something there again."
Chapstick from Jackson Hole, Wyoming
"Amazing I haven't lost it yet. Not that good, but I keep it just in case I really need it. Also, it reminds me of home and I remember the day I got it. I would never usually buy something so touristy and expensive, but my lips were chapped."
Pretend Ticket
"Object: Small purple rectangle made from construction paper with masking tape
Origin: Preschool classroom- one of my students gave it to me (part of a fantasy play game we were going to possibly continue the next day)
Reason for saving: I forgot I stuck it in the side of my wallet so it wouldn't get bent. Now everytime I rediscover it, it brings back memories of that day.
It is small enough not to take up so much space, so I haven't had to throw it away yet."
Artist Business Card
"Really cool, great design, too artsy to throw away. I want to remember this artist."