[Draft for a submission to “Propositions for a City,” a competition to create an original artistic policy for the redeveloped Défense district, Paris. Sponsored by L’Établissment Public de la Defénse, Départment des Arts Plastiques Documentations, L’Établissment Public du Centre Beaubourg. The proposal went through several versions and the list was eventually reduced to 234.]
1. CLOTHING
suits—men’s, women’s and children’s, shoes, socks, t-shirts, hats,
raincoats, gloves, women’s wig, etc.
2. NON-PERISHABLE FOODS
instant, powdered, and imitation foods, etc.
3. MEDICINES AND CHEMICALS
aspirin, cold tablets, first-aid kit, safety goggles, hot water bottle,
ice pack, etc.
4. PERSONAL ITEMS
toiletries, shaving gear, hair spray, briefcase, hand-gun, scissors,
flashlight, greeting cards, etc.
5. HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
garden supplies, kitchen equipment, cleansers, broom, American
flag, Revere ware, folding beach chair, roach powder, etc.
6. BUILDING MATERIALS AND HARDWARE
tools, automotive goods, cans of oil, hammer, nails, screws, screw
driver, hand saw, car tire, blender, bricks, glue, electrical equipment,
etc.
7. OBJECTS OF INFORMATION
current newspapers and magazines, best-seller books, best-seller
phonograph records, typewriter, stationery, radio, camera, clock,
adding machine computer, bible, music sheets, burglar alarm
(that works!), etc.
8. OBJECTS OF ENTERTAINMENT
toys, sporting goods, games, playing cards, baseball hat, yo-yo,
checkers, monopoly, camping equipment, football, musical instruments,
basketball, bowling ball, tobaccos, etc.
—from a project for a stone time capsule containing “popular products immediately available to all American consumers of the year 1974”
the evening redness in the west 