This is the cabinet in the eye of the storm: shelves of perfect stillness and order, of beautiful and oddly fascinating objects. In times of need, buffeted by high winds, I gaze upon its contents, soaking up its shades of blue and green and earthy brown serenity. The handmade oak cabinet contains the meaningful, the gorgeous, the sentimental, the peculiar, the magical, the historical, the silly, and the symbolic. There is a simple glass door (open here) that encloses these treasures in a shelter from the chaos of the universe.A partial inventory includes:
1. A cobalt blue and white Norwegian vase that my mother bought for me when we were in NYC when I was a teenager.
2. A miniature silver devil sculpture that my brother gave me. It should be placed near a fireplace, to protect the house from any spirits with bad intentions that might swirl down the chimney. Supposedly it repels the devil with his own mocking image. (Okay, so I don't have a chimney. It protects my collection from evil drafts that come in through the kitchen door.) My brother has the other of the pair.
3. Two fantastic vessels made by artist John Glick of Plum Tree Pottery, Michigan. Visit his Web site to learn about his work, his philosophy, and his creative process.
4. A pregnant-looking, incised vase I bought in London the year I graduated from college.
5. Four tiny turned wood vases, three from one of my oldest friends and one a treat to myself from another artist.
6. Two intricately detailed Native American vessels, one small, one even smaller, given to me by my husband and younger daughter.
7. Two Cyclops-like creatures from the Open Studio Art Gallery in Catskill, NY. This is a wonderful and strange place to visit, full of unusual creations. (See photo in article.)
Now, where is my cabinet of contained chaos to balance my cabinet of perfect order? Can a poem be either one?
