Recently, I was walking through a furniture and accessories store to find some items I needed. As I passed through an area with inventory on display as it would be in one’s home, I saw a sign that read, “A Passion for Things.” It struck me as being quite sad. How ironic that our collective desire for convenience and to amass beautiful things is part of what is causing a great and irreparable impact on the one thing we truly cannot live without: our environment.

I feel that irony. I live that irony. Here I am, a person who cares deeply about the planet that will be left to my son, and yet, here I am, also shopping in said store for the frames for this very exhibition: a display of things I made and want people to enjoy thoughtfully. Before leaving the check-out area, my purchases were placed in a bag emblazoned with the words “Thank You.”

Lindsey Lord
*ThankYouThankYouThankYouThankYou*
Watercolor, acrylic, and ink on paper
20" x 16" (framed)

Thank You. It’s a simple, universal phrase expressing gratitude. However, I find this gratitude misplaced—both by individuals and the corporations from which we buy. When I take the time to examine what I have versus what I need (and I mean really need), I find frivolity and excess: single-use containers, cheaply made clothing, seasonal knick-knacks, the latest gadget, and sadly, so much more.

Lindsey Lord
*Misplaced Gratitude Series: Flyaways 1*
Paper, ink, wood found object
12" x 8"

It isn't easy to separate ourselves from the conveniences that make up our daily lives. Many of these habits are so ingrained in our routines that we don’t stop to interrogate them. I find that taking the time to do so is a sort of mindfulness, connecting me to others and our environment.

See this show on our online gallery, or in-person through the month of April.

Misplaced Gratitude