My Wallet is Entering its "Return to Jon" phase

[Haydn Shaughnessy]

Since I got the wallet I have used nothing else to store and carry my money. It's been the subject of quite a few conversations - I notice in cities when I pay for something people ask questions about it so I get a chance to talk about art and about the gallery. But I also get the chance to look like a funky guy again - after all these years. My wallet is purple with leopard spots on a yellow background.

What does it mean to spend money through a piece of art? That's an important question to me. Every time I take it out I am reminded of art and the overlooked possibilities for artists to intervene in many aspects of our lives at many different times.

By comparison the art I have on my walls at home is now background. I hardly see it. I am not forced to look. It no longer entices me. I look forward to a world where artists can remind me constantly of beauty, novelty, interest and warmth.

Where might that be? The obvious place is on clothes and of course that is to obvious. Obvious too is the screensaver or the mobile wallpaper. Far too obvious. Who would have thought of a wallet and what other options can we come up with?

[Jon]

I loved reading this. I know that over the last few years I have worn out many wallets. I hope to include them into the artwork too.
My favorite aspect of this whole project is that these wallets really make you think about art more. Even myself being the artists, I have had so many conversations with people. I feel a kinship when this happens. The feeling is beyond just normal conversation because it opens my mental art door. After an experience, this still lingers with me and allows me to think more about things in terms of art. Art is always a good thing and art allows us to nuance our lives like nothing else we do. Art is truly a gift to ourselves because we have to make room for it.