Pop-up Memory Shop by Charity Miskelly

Install at 9 pm last Saturday, just as nuit blanche London ramps up...

... memories shared and observed as shop shuts down for the night.

Charity has this to say about the experience:

As soon as the lamps were lit inside the Pop-Up Memory Shop, a man approached the booth, “Can I use this phone to make a call?” He proceeded to call someone, seemingly unaware and untouched by the transformation the booth had just undergone. He was the shop’s first visitor.

The shop was up from 9 pm to 3 am for passerbys to post their memories and thoughts on the walls. Paper, pencils and tape were found in the shop, along with a note instructing people to use the space to share their ponderings.  

The shop was flooded with visitors from the moment it opened. The air was thick with curiosity.  There was no hesistation. The crowds stopped, looked, picked up a pencil and paper, and began to write.  

People weren’t sure if the phone was real. One person asked “Did you bring this telephone booth down here?” 

An hommage to the conversations that have littered the walls of the booth for years, the posted ‘text messages’ took on a life of their own. Messages upon messages piled up, each adding another layer to the booth’s collection of thoughts. People were writing on the paper, on the deck of vintage cards, even on the coasters. As long as they could take part.

Telephone by Paul Hong

There was a click and a buzzing noise. An operator cut in:

"Sir, on behalf of the National Phone Company and Dial-A-Services Incorporated, I am excited to inform you that you are our one millionth caller from this phone booth! Congratulations sir, you've just won a fabulous prize!"

Joseph said nothing.

"Hello?"

"Is this a joke?"

"This is most certainly not a joke, sir. We have been holding a special contest where the millionth caller of a randomly chosen phone booth is awarded a prize of a lifetime and I'm happy to say that special winner is you! Congratulations again and I am certain that this will change your life for the better. Sir, are you excited? How do you feel?"

Joseph hesitated for a moment. "I didn't even know there was a contest… what do I win?"

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This is an excerpt of Paul Hong's story, which takes place inside the booth on Yonge Street, south of Churchill, in front of Thai Bistro, next to Mezzanotte on the south and Owl of Minerva on the north. The full story is in Tel-talk, with copies of the book available at the Telephone Booth Gallery and soon on Amazon Books.

  

Lizz Aston's Lace Flag: up, up and away

Stuart Keeler's curated project for Tel-talk, entitled Flagpole (a meta-conversation), has involved a really diverse raising of flags over the recent weeks. The flags are being raised up between twin booths located at Jarvis and Wellesley Street East. The booths have a unique metal pole jutting up between them.

Two nights ago, Lizz Aston's Lace Flag was covertly raised at about 1:30 am. Here is an image of Lizz just before that, with flag outside her studio. The flag, alas, has already gone MIA and no images of it in-situ exist. Peace and love, flag. We miss you, butterfly wing.

Jamison Food Mart by Alison Fleming

See this bold little oil painting at The Telephone Booth Gallery tomorrow night at the opening of the Tel-talk exhibition.

See this stoic pedestal booth in Winnipeg, in front of Jamison Food Mart at 498 Jamison Avenue.

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