Small: Wooden Japanese Doll

It seems that, no matter how hard we try, little things always start accumulating around us. The compulsion to collect things appears to be an innate quality of being human. Some people see this instinct and are purposeful about the things that they gather…stamps, beanie babies, coins, baseball cards, animals. There doesn’t seem to be a limit to the tiny things that clutter our homes and take up our time. Here is an attempt to examine the small things in our lives. I’m not saying that this need to collect and surround ourselves with “things” is bad or good. I just simply want to explore.

It's only fitting that I should start with some of the needless, tiny collectibles that are in my own life. This doll was given to my wife and me as a wedding gift, bought by some friends in Japan while they were teaching there. I think it is meant for good luck, but to tell the truth, I have no real idea. It sits in our living room on a shelf where it looks very pretty, and blends in with the rest of the room nicely.