Jon Haddock: The Things (that do not spark joy)

The Things (that do not spark joy), a mural by the artist, depicts Santa Ana-born actor Robert Webber (1924 – 1989) in his role as Ikar in the television show The Outer Limits episode Keeper of the Purple Twilight from 1964. In the episode, an unearthly being approaches a driven scientist with offers to exchange his alien intelligence in return for the experience of human emotions. Their experiment, however, has unforeseen consequences for both, as soon a team of alien enforcers arrives to destroy them, along with the scientist’s girlfriend, Janet.

In what appears to be a time of societal decluttering, Haddock considers the role of intelligence and emotion in our strategies as a culture for keeping, or not keeping, parts of our abusive history. As many begin to follow advice from individuals such as Marie Kondo to “only keep items that spark joy,” the artist questions if there is any wiggle room for retaining potentially toxic objects, ones that connect to an individuals or societies history? If so, what extra care, defensive protection, and awareness of the object’s lethality must be employed? Are these steps worth it and how do we decide, with our hearts or with our minds?