Glass Note

2024

18 x 12 x 11 inches

1:12 scale miniature

Wood, 3D prints, found objects, paper, extruded polystyrene foam

Inspired by Amelia B.'s short story, "Glass", "Glass Note" captures the reality of childhood neglect. Set within the nostalgic backdrop of the late 90s, the broken glass in front of the stove is swept into an abandoned pile. The room box is contained within a gift wrapped present with half-eaten cake to reflect the scene within.

Living the way we did required many specific stretches and maneuvers to move safely throughout the house. There was no such thing as simply walking a straight line between Point A and Point B- even in the short distance between the couch and the piano, a barely navigable maze of stuff teetered ominously. 

The "turn and squeeze" move got you through the piles of junk between the living room and the dining room (although we never ate in there, the dining table also being covered in junk). "Jump, climb, and crawl" got you over piles of old computers, boxes of clothes, and papers in the family room, allowing you to reach the tall bookshelves by the never-lit fireplace.

I was not allowed to move anything or throw anything away without permission and that permission was rarely granted. Mom collected things compulsively and never got rid of anything. She was what is known as a "hoarder," although that wasn't a word I would learn for many years.

A piece of paper covered most of the pile of broken glass, roughly torn, and, like the floor, dirty. “BROKEN GLASS-DO NOT STEP ON!!!” was scrawled on it in green crayon, a smiley face drawn underneath. Mom's handwriting was as familiar to me as her face.

—Excerpt from Glass by Amelia B.