"measuring trade"

When rulers become rules, beavers become hats...

It's been said that beavers are responsible for the growth of international shipping. Or rather the selfish needs of human consumption as it relates to the beaver is responsible. Historically a single beaver could be traced from it's origins in North America, through a network of processors and hat makers in Europe and Russia, and then back to the Spanish colonies in the form of a hat. In many ways, similar to what we do with pork and corn today. We haven't learned yet, but I'll save that concept for another piece.

The small box labeled "British Rules" is actually an antique box that held measuring devices we call rulers. I had never thought about the various uses of that word until I found this box in an antique shop in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. On the side of the box it states that there were a dozen British rules in the box and all of them are warranted. I kept that part hidden to keep the box from becoming too important.

The pears were chosen because they mimic the shape of the beaver. Their arrangement is loosely meant to mimic the process of a falling tree ala Eadweard Muybridge. Look it up kids, this is supposed to be an interactive process. And yes I left the label on the pear to bring it back to the process we still use of producing something and then shipping it in various forms all over the planet.

The croquet ball represents the leisure class that always seems to benefit most from the superfluous steps of commerce methods. The placement at the edge of the table is that little bit of hope that I always have that we learn.