a knock from the past

 During the height of my daily Internet procrastination I came across this lovely article about a door. Yes, a door, but not just any door. No, this is a cultural artifact door. How does one's door become a cultural artifact, you ask? It's quite simple actually. Just get a bunch of Bohemian artiste types to scribble all over it in pen. Although finding  an authentic Bohemian artiste in this day an age my not be so simple. 

The door, rediscovered in some storage basement of the Harry Ransom Center at UT Austin was originally the door to an independent bookstore in Greenwich Village circa 1920, owned by one Frank Shay. Though it would be charming enough with its bright blue paint, what really makes it a cultural artifact is the 242 signatures adorning the middle panels (see below). Ranging from  artists to writers to publishers and even one scientist who just liked hanging out with artsy folk, the signatures are a snapshot of a whole generational community. The door is being displayed here at digital exhibition that shows each signature up close and gives a biography of each person. Unfortunately not all of the signatures were identified and the museum actually invites the public to help identify the signatures. Sadly the bookstore closed in 1925, as the NYT article quotes one of the signers Christopher Morley " It was too personal, too enchanting, too Bohemian a bookshop to survive indefinitely,” . Nevertheless its a pretty cool museum basement find. Makes me wish I could hang out in that book shop for an afternoon. It also makes me wonder, just exactly who got to sign the door and how one came upon such a privilege. More importantly what current acts of graffiti will be come cultural artifacts in about 90 years? A scary thought in the age of internet...