So, adding a slightly tinged layer of the colorful haphazardness of life to the project, as if there wasn't enough already to obscure whatever original impulse there was, like, man I can so use some cash, I walked by a fountain on the way to drop off a job application. This fountain, oh I'll include a pic (sometime) because its nice the area is nice and it was a beautiful day, this fountain had in it LOTS OF CHANGE. LOTS. People throwing pennies away like it will bring them luck. *sigh* *Don't they ever think of the poor penny? Whose life is created for a transaction, not a watery grave?* *sigh* *And a penny is wonderfully sculpted, I might add.* When did people start throwing money away? That I've got to ask. Not during the Great Depression, that's for sure!
So, afterwards, contemplating the futility of seeking employment in the desert of financial opportunity that is Providence, Rhode Island, I decided to do more sketches. Why not. I've got these scarred pennies to consider. Hence, and I have the sketches for it, the Fountain Ring. The poor (an adjective not applied loosely) ring will make its appearance in a week or 2. I just had to talk about it now. And show off my perky in house model, my Little Fish Charm.
This means, you know, I will have to go fishing as some point. Oh dear. Picking up the ignored droppings of bipeds is one thing. Fishing out coins from a fountain at a tourist destination..... oh dear. I will become even more nocturnal it seems. Here is Stoney Charms' good luck charm, the Original Fish...
4 comments:
My penny collection told me to tell you that they appreciate your efforts on behalf of their less-fortunate brethren. They said it's especially important to rescue wheat pennies, since they'll sprout if they get thrown into water!
A bit heavy on the anthropomorphizing, huh? maybe i'll edit a bit.
You really want to know when the tradition started? Long before the great Depression, I'm afraid. It's as old as coins themselves, and older! It began with the custom of tossing tokens-- shiny rocks,flowers, berries, and later bits of metal- into bodies of water to pacify the nature spirits that lived there. In Rome, at least, people threw coins into lakes and fountains as offerings to the gods (Mercury was common!). The tradition mostly continued in Europe with wells.
These days, the gods-and-fairies aspect is mostly forgotten. I bet not one person in ten could tell you just WHY they hucked those coins in the fountain! But I love your way of dealing with it!
Thank you Carapace for the explanation! That sounds right. I prefer picking up coins off the sidewalk or street. Fishing them out of a fountain is rather intrusive, and obvious. I know if I spoke to the people around the fountain they'd understand (my hang up), but I don't particularly relish the discussion!
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