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November 7, 2025 Dear Studio friends, I've always collected leftover materials – odds and ends from other processes that nobody else wants, abandoned tools, surplus supplies. This was especially true in my 20s, when my budget was tiny or nonexistent. During one of my first artist residencies, a visiting critic asked why all the young artists they were seeing worked with scraps and discarded materials and whatever we could find for free. At the time, that was just how it was for me – it wasn't really a decision. I've been thinking about that critic's bafflement lately as I go through the familiar routine of asking myself: Can I let go of any of these scrounged materials that aren’t immediately needed? At a certain point, there isn't enough space to save everything that might be useful someday. Surprisingly, the Broken Box project has been helping with my scrap-collecting tendencies. Even though one of the assignment's rules is to use only materials already on hand or found (which you'd think would encourage keeping everything), it's actually made me much more selective about what I save. Since I know most scraps will likely become part of this project, I've started assessing them differently. If I can't imagine how a piece of wood, concrete, stone, or glass might work in this assignment, it can go. I never would have thought that a project based on scrounging would actually help me get rid of accumulated materials. Hopefully, once this project ends, I'll retain the strength I've gained to clear the storage shelves and make room – either for new bits and pieces (but not too many!) or for new sculptures. How do y’all deal with this in your workspaces? I'm really curious what methods or brain hacks you've come up with! Below are some images of October’s Broken Boxes. More photos are here. Thank you for joining me. More soon, ~Lydia
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