grotequeries and gothic mystic 06 / 26, open culture bottle project
Grotesqueries and Gothic Mystic Images
Bottle Launch from Cape Flattery, WA on December 13, 2016 around noon by Iris Sutcliffe. She writes, "Cape Flattery is the farthest northwest point in the continental United States. It's on the Makah Reservation, about 8 miles from Neah Bay. The tribe maintains the trail and sometimes stations a Makah guide at the platform to talk about the area's history, geography, birds, plants, etc. Gray, humpback, and orca whales are spotted fairly often traveling through the channel here and into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The sun was winter-low and piercing, and it's been a while since I've seen that much bright sky!" 48.3831° N, 124.7144° W
Found? If you found this bottle, please use the form below to contact me with photographic proof, date, time, and place. Then I'll be able to update this section with your FOUND information, including photos. Thank you!
NYPL
THE
BRITISH
LIBRARY
NYPL
THE
BRITISH
PUBLIC
LIBRARY
THE
WELLCOME COLLECTION
ref. L0035474
RIJKSMUSEUM
Wiki-
pedia
Image Key *UNDER CONTSTRUCTION* for component parts of the collage. Click the shapes to see and learn more about the images used.
Vision
This bottle was launched from the Northwestern most point of the United States (excluding Alaska) from Cape Flattery, WA by Iris Sutcliffe, a friend and former manager of mine at Lucky Magazine. She drove 90 miles on icy roads to throw this bottle, and I am truly grateful for her participation in, and appreciation for this project! Working at Lucky forged strong bonds; I have gratitude for the friendships that outlasted the magazine, nearly a decade after leaving it.
Grotesqueries and Gothic Mystic refers to the shadow emotions in our lives. The contrast of dark emotions can help us appreciate the the happier, lighter ones. I provided an evil eye bead in this one so that the finder would not be potentially alarmed by the darkness depicted. The bottle was thrown at a time when I continue to struggle with cognitive dissonance and dark emotions due to the presidential election. There is only slender hope that the electors will consider their actions carefully before casting their deciding votes, and that congress would accept such an action and dethrone the PEOTUS.
The jewels in Grotesqueries and Gothic Mystic further explore the symbolism of excessive wealth and greed as something corrupting, grotesque, enthralling, and powerful. Empirically beautiful baubles, hovering over omniscient ominous owl eyes; pearls distorting and reflecting ugly creatures in their nacreous depths; a dumpster fire golden troglodyte breathing polluting fumes.
The central character of this piece brings to mind Rasputin, a Russian peasant mystical healer who had enormous influence over the Imperial family, especially after 1915. Mystical powers, charisma, luck, and an astute grasp of psychology were enough to grant Rasputin disproportionate authority, bolstered, perhaps by the social environment at the time. People believed in occultism and other obscure mystical-religious sects, which may have normalized bizarre ideas. It seemed to be a time similarly affected by a surplus of cognitive dissonance. Where things that were once normal are now grotesque, backwards, upside down, morphing. Where nightmares become exponentially more awful with every moment...until you awaken, breathless and relieved that it was all just a dream, with more appreciation for your life than you could have imagined.