Received from De Villo Sloan, USA--Haptic Poem in Beige Finish

[Bifidus Jones]

Nothing better than getting a Haptic poem in the mail. De Villo's poem gives me a chance to contemplate the ordinary out of context and elevate it to new frontier levels, yet the fact that it comes in a baggy gives it an artifact-like presence. It reminds me of the artist Candy Jernigan who put objects in baggies such as dust, cob webs and cigarette butts from her travels and used them in her Evidence exhibit. De Villo's Haptic poem has a low-maintenance and easy-to-display appeal to it. For anyone who has also received one of his Haptic poems in this style, I offer the following advice:

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR SLOAN HAPTIC POEM

Haptic poems come in ceramic, wood, metal and plastic, for the most part, and installing and caring for them is a little different in degree and what you may use to clean them.

If everything goes right, all you have to do is put the haptic poem over the light switch, and that should be the end of it. But that's what happens in a perfect world, and most the time that's what happens in the real world as well.

The only really important step in screwing in a haptic poem involves the pressure you exert when tightening the screw.

Quite a large number of people think they have to torque that thing down to get it to stay, when all it takes is a gentle, but firm tightening until it snugs up to the wall.

People have broken and ruined their haptic poems by doing this.

Where you really have to watch this is with metal haptic poems, where it is really easy to dent the cover by tightening it too hard.

So what happens if your haptic poem doesn't lay flat? That's not an uncommon occurrence.

There are two things it could be. The one will be difficult to deal with, because it would entail the installation by the electrician doing the work. If the box isn't inserted into the wall far enough, there's nothing you can really do unless you want someone to come in and do it all over.

The second thing, which will more than likely be the problem, is the outlet box itself may not be screwed in tightly, and may have loosened. In that case, just take the haptic poem off and check the screws to the switch box. You'll find them loosened, which when tightened, will take care of the problem of the haptic poem not lying flat.

If your screw is too long for the installation, if it’s the nylon type, all you have to do is snip off the end with a scissors, and you can put it in. If it’s a metal screw, you'll just have to go get a shorter one to fit.

Cleaning a haptic poem is very easy to do. Take a soft sponge and a type of cleaner that will not scratch the surface of the haptic poem. Water or mild dish soap will do the trick.

Tips & Warnings

Resist the temptation to tighten the screw too hard, as it could damage the haptic poem.

I'm awfully glad to have received my own copy of the Sandpo Manifesto too. What a weekend that was when this came out! Thanks much for your inspiring and unique take on Haptic Poetry, De Villo. In the words of Walt Whitman, whenever I see something from you in my mailbox "I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world."

 

[Marie Wintzer]

If this is not creative then I don't know... I'm glad hole-ism is not dead!

[De Villo Sloan]

I'm glad you were here Marie. I was inspired to send electric socket covers as mail-art in response to your famous holes too. In the end, I couldn't match you in creativity. So Bifidus received haptic holes.

[Marie Wintzer]

That's an unprecedented one for sure! :-)))  Bifidus, it looks like you had a lot of fun writing that up, too.

[DKeys]

Bifidus is definately plugged into current events here with the commentary. I say you run for office. Whatever it is, I'll vote for you.

[Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)]

This Haptic poem by Sloan has electrifying potential! And Bifidus, the commentary sends off sparks of laughter! Thank you, both! ;-)

[De Villo Sloan]

Has anyone ever written more eloquently about haptic poetry than Bifidus? I think there is real commentary here yet it's found text in a way and I'm nearly falling out of my chair laughing at the same time. Will there be a central Haptic Archive for these amazing and unexpected documents? I'm sure we're all documenting in our own collections. The Whitman quote is perfect, BTW. Thanks Bifidus and haptic friends for your pun-ishing comments.

DK - You weren't serious about rescinding the 16 points of sandpo? OMG. I'll talk to you elsewhere.

[DKeys]

but I wish DVS hadn't retracted the 16 points of sandpo. I told him to retract it and he did, but I was only joking!

[DKeys]

score for Lisa-that's hilarious:)

[DKeys]

This piece is shocking.