
Lesly Esparza
While working with everyone at the Coe, we dug deep into our memories and found a lot of things in common that made us feel happy and nostalgic. One of those things was watching cartoons on VHS tapes. I wanted to make everyone remember those good moments. I asked Cameron, Veronica, Roan, Bess, and Amanda for videos of times when they felt happy, or videos of things that bring them nostalgia. Then I decided to make a comfortable mash of all of our memories together. Hopefully my video will make you crack a smile.
"Mash.mp4", Video, 2020
One of the objects I chose was a book made out of birch bark from a tree. It's an old book, and I had never seen anything like it. I was intrigued by the fact that a lot of the pages were written in, and even though some of it was difficult to read, we were able to decipher a few cute poems and notes from friends. The owner of the book was named Helen. I wanted to capture some of the cute things her friends had written in her book, there a few notes speaking about nature and growing up. I hope you feel like you're looking through her brain and memories as you watch the video. I feel as if somehow I connected all three of my objects through this video, as I feel it conveys some sort of feminine concept. The objects I chose feel all personal/feminine in a way, and I hope you get that sense as well.
Birch book entries






"Helen's diary", Video, 2020
Chosen Coe Items

Artist Unknown (Ojibwe, attrib.), Birchbark Page Journal, c. 1900. Birchbark, porcupine quills, sweetgrass, thread, with pencil and ink writing, 6.5 x 4.375 in. NA0037

Artist Unknown (Unknown Tribe, Maine attrib.), Crooked Knife with Joan Blondell Photo, c. 1940. Wood, metal, glass, newspaper photo, 4 x 1.75 x 9 in. NA0330f

Artist Unknown (Diné /Navajo), Pair of Earrings, c. 2003. Silver, 1 x 2.875 in. NA1700. Gift from Patricia M. Newman.