Author: Alicia

Parking Lot Oceans Swallow Me Up

Find parking spot. Pull in. Stop the car. Unbuckle the seat belt. Gather belongings. Open the door. Left foot first. Then… SPLASH!!! You’re in the parking lot ocean. Do you know how to swim? I do. I watch for cars pulling in and backing out of spaces whose drivers might or might not see me.… Continue reading Parking Lot Oceans Swallow Me Up

Knife Rack Death Trap (Fear of Tools)

In general, I have fear. I’ve always been a pretty cautious person, thinking ahead, aware of my surroundings. My feet tingle when I’m near a cliff, I picture myself falling over. I use an x-acto knife, I picture myself slicing off my thumb. And I hate our knife rack. In our old apartment it hung… Continue reading Knife Rack Death Trap (Fear of Tools)

Keep Calm and Carry On Tree

I was just riding my bike down the Bike Boulevard in Palo Alto. Right at Lowell and Bryant I came across a pair of trees flanking the road. Each was decorated with playing cards, and on the back of the cards read “Keep Calm and Carry On.” Just below the cards were signs declaring, “2012:… Continue reading Keep Calm and Carry On Tree

Airport bathrooms at the dinner table

We’re having dinner with the family over the holidays. After a couple bottles of wine, the conversation quickly devolves into potty talk – literally a discussion about toilets. We got into public toilets, and then more concretely, we really dug into toilets at the airport. Not only did I learn that I have been placing… Continue reading Airport bathrooms at the dinner table

Tarof and Other Christmas Rituals

We were raised in an Assyrian-Iranian American household. “Tarof” takes up a large part of the day. It’s a set of rules to follow in social situations. Just Wikipedia that shit. You can’t come right out and say what you think or ask for what you want. That’s rude! It often involves insisting that others… Continue reading Tarof and Other Christmas Rituals

Cubicles are the New Cigarettes

In twenty years we are going to look back at cubicles and shake our heads. A magazine spread promoting cubicle-esque office furniture will be today’s equivalent of finding an ad that touts the relaxing effects and medical benefits of Camels or Virginia Slims. “What were they thinking?” The youngsters will say. I sit all day… Continue reading Cubicles are the New Cigarettes

Canceled Exhibit at Artissima Reeks of Censorship

          Arte Povera did not exist. This was the central thesis for an exhibit developed by Triple Candie which was to be included in the Artissima Art Fair in Turin last November. Triple Candie gained approval and developed its concept for months. The entry which was accepted for publication in the… Continue reading Canceled Exhibit at Artissima Reeks of Censorship