transformation

In light of artists like Jeff Koons and Tom Friedman - we're doing a transformation project. Take an everyday object and change it. Make it art. Change the meaning. Make a comment.

The first idea that came to me involved tooth brushes (I have a thing with dental care...). I didn't know what kind of message I wanted to send with it though. I started by making these lists:

Formal Qualities:
Long
Skinny
Varied colors/designs
Plastic (able to melt and bend)
Bristles (grouped together at one end)

Function/Meaning/Associations:
Cleaning
Teeth/Mouths
Hygiene
Toothpaste, floss, mouthwash
Bathrooms
Dentists/Orthodontist

Then I scrapped this idea. Because I don't have a desirable number of toothbrushes lying around, and I really don't want to unnecessarily spend money when I know I can find something that I already have.
So what do I have a lot of? I asked myself. Crossword puzzles. Books. Glass bottles. 2 shoeboxes of Pez dispensers. Aha! Pez. Perfect.

Formal Qualities:
Reclining character head
Dispenser mechanism
About 5 in. long
Thin
Base (foot)
Varied colors
Hard plastic

Function/Meaning/Association:
Dispenses candy
Childhood
Uniformity
      - alternately, unique in the variety of dispensers
Playfulness
Collection
Sweet
Reward
Satisfaction (instant)
Proportion

The first thing that comes to people's minds when I tell them about my idea is pills. Dispensing pills. And that's what I thought of, too, at first, and that may be the path I end up taking. However, it just seems too easy. I was thinking of playing with the idea of collection a little bit. Since I have so many (and I don't mind sacrificing most of them), I was thinking I could put them all together and spray paint them - so they lose their value as collectible.

I haven't made any solid choices yet. I'm still playing.