Overly Familiar
Why do I sign letters to other artists in the manner below?
love
carl
.
The dot is easy. The system that I learned to send email on was HP-UX, and on that system and many other UNIX systems when you were finished with an email you typed a dot on a line all by itself. This sent the email. The reason why I still use it [even though it’s now redundant] is partially habit and also as little mark to announcing those who would recognize it where I came from.
Love is a very flexible word in my culture, with a vast range of meaning. When I use it in the context of letters to Artists I am implying a strong sense of fondness, a respect for and a solidarity with those who try to make new things. This is also a performative move. Similar in some senses to Cindy Loehr’s Love Letters project.
I am not a purist and I must admit to being frightened by the social fallout of saying love to someone who may not be expecting it. A lot of my performative work is hard in this way. Hard is good right?
love
carl
.