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Sock Animals are, in my opinion, one of the most beatiful and holy expression of humanity's inner-self. To understand the Socktopus is to understand the plight and suffering of all of us. To understand the Sock Monkey is to understand the beast within. To understand, nay even to glimpse the Sock Billed Platypus, is to glimpse heaven itself, nestled safely in a fluffy cloud and all awash with the golden light of setting sun on the last day of the world. Over the past several years, I've led three Sock Animal Symposia, wherein the particpants create sock animals...and in a way, they recreate themselves. |
 A Sock-Billed Playtpus and two Socktopi
Several animals I've made, including what is perhaps the first sock-billed platypus ever made by a human being. |
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First Symposium
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Second Symposium
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Third Symposium
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| The following is the inviation to the third symposium, copied here because it still makes me giggle. | ||
| I propose that each of us has a totem animal. A spiritual guide that can teach us about the world around us and also about that slightly more confusing world inside our own minds. One chilly eve, I realized that my totem animal might be a platypus and so, instead of planning for a trip to the other side of the world where I might perform a sacred vision quest to find a wise and helpful platypus to show me the path to enlightenment, I took the easy path and made a platypus with the only tools I had available: A pair of Rockford Red-Heeled Socks and a whole mess of love. Yes, a whole mess of it. The platypus I made wasn't the smartest platypus or the fastest platypus or really even a particularly nice platypus, but he was mine and I loved him for as long as I could. As I passed him on to another soul-searching sock animal lover, I realized that I could share my gift with the world... That's where you come in.
It's a matter of public record that a motivated individual can make a sock animal in an afternoon and still drink a couple of beers. I've seen it done. This in mind, I'm inviting people over to my new digs in SF to make sock animals. Seriously. It's easy and really fun. This third symposium will again focus on the three sacred forms: The noble Sock Monkey, the elegant Socktopus, and the elusive Sock-Billed Platypus. However, feel free to improvise... We'll be kicking it off around noon and working until everyone wants to go home cursing my name for this ridiculous idea.... This usually takes about three or four hours. This event is BYOB and BYOS (Bring Your Own Socks), I suggest the traditional sock monkey socks (Rockford Red-Heeled Socks), but they can be hard to find and it really does not matter what kind of socks you have. I've seen a dapper sock monkey made from a pair of men's dress socks and another made from a pair of slightly soiled gym socks. You be the judge. You might also want to bring some buttons for eyes and two or so packages of embroidery floss. If you don’t know where/how to get these things, let me know.... Something can be arranged. Also, feel free to invite whomever you'd think would enjoy this kind of tomfoolery, just let me know how many people will be coming. Seats are technically limited, though it shouldn't be a problem. Cheers, PS: Instruction will be provided for those who don't know what a sock monkey is or how to sew or whatever. |
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| Credit where credit is due: The idea for the Socktopus came to me from seeing Clarity Miller's online store at buyolympia.com. Supporting her and the buyolympia.com is a great idea, because they both sell super-cool stuff! | ||