treasure box

Last week I attended the opening of City Space's new exhibit "Wish You Were Here!" at the OffBrava Storefront Gallery in the Mission. Artists were asked to reimagine the souvenir and mail their submissions on post cards. Selected artists fabricated their idea for the show, and many were available for sale. Among my favorites are a working miniature Giant Camera near the Cliff House and bottled fog.

Of course, I couldn't resist buying a knitted Coit Tower! Why just buy postcards of historic buildings or places, when you can recreate them in wire, jello, or lego blocks??



Since I can't attend the evening of souvenir storytelling, I'll share one of my favorite souvenirs: my "treasure box." The "treasure box" is a ticky-tacky treasure chest I bought while vacationing in Galveston along Texas' Gulf Coast. Its coated in tiny shells and has a red velvet lining. I have no idea why I love it (it's hideous, for sure), but I've hauled it all over the country for the past ten years or so.



The treasure box contains inside: a golf tee from the northern most golf course in Alaska, a miniature swiss army knife, a "dragon tear" from a Renaissance festival, two shells from places I don't remember, a wood token for a free visit to the Dr. Pepper Museum in Texas, an arrowhead, a crystal, a glass teardrop, various foreign coins, tokens from the House on the Rock, at least half of my smashed penny collection, a small die, a folded purple star, a penny that I "transmuted" into gold in my high school chemistry class, a guitar pick, various good luck charms from my high school marching band days, two miniature Star Wars figures, and an old key chain with my baby pictures. Enjoy!