running around in your dorky khaki outfit. I miss you. It’s strange to never see you. I hope you don’t take it personally when I say it feels like you’ve died.
M
2/21/1979
Dear Miranda,
It’s winter, you dork, so no it’s not very hot right now. And yes I wear my “khaki outfit” but it’s NOT embarrassing, thank you very much, it’s FOR SCIENCE.
Yes there are rattlesnakes. Saw two huge ones mating yesterday on my morning run. I stood there watching them for a long time, the way their scales shone in that weird morning darkness, and thinking how if they hadn’t been fucking they’d have wanted to kill me.
The city sounds amazing. Glad you’re so in the middle of it all. It’s lonely out here. The only other people I really see are the other team members. This month it’s all men, mostly named Mike. Vomit. Sometimes they have literal pissing contests—seeing who can piss farther in the sand. In other words, this might be the last letter you ever get from me. I might gouge out my eyes with my camping spoon before the month is over. But then how will I read your reply??
Lynn
June 14 1979
Dear Lynn,
OK, I’m a bad pen pal. My schedule here is crazy since I got a job waitressing. Usually I’m at the restaurant until ten, end up too wired to sleep so I go out for a couple hours, get home and crash, then wake up early the next morning to take photos until I go back on shift at two.
I’m exhausted. The other day I tried to take my day’s tips out of the register and I accidentally took twenties instead of ones. The manager almost fired me for stealing. Which made me think maybe I should steal after all. My tips aren’t going to get bigger on their own, and the cops here have better things to do than chase down a diner waitress.
Anyway …
Don’t gouge your eyes out until you
A) look in a mirror while wearing the khaki outfit so you can finally admit I am right
B) discover a new rock and get it named after you
C) see my latest work.
C is important because I’m making BIG PROGRESS here. I’m in the middle of a new series. Photographing empty spaces with little slivers of women at the edges of the frame. And I have an idea for another series—still working out the details—but the key element is blood. So I’ve been experimenting with various forms of fake blood, going to all the costume shops in lower Manhattan to get all the different brands. I have to get the texture right, make it shine right in the photo.
Give my love to the rattlesnakes. Honestly, they probably liked that you were watching.
M
SERIES 1, Correspondence
BOX 1, Personal correspondence
FOLDER: Brand, Jake (Downtown Studios notes)
* * *
Miranda Planchart
Mailbox 19
Miranda,
Will you go out with me? Check one.
__ Yes
__ No
Jake Brand (Mailbox 4)
Jake Brand
Mailbox 4
September 27 1980
Jake Brand,
I didn’t know they rented space to 12-year-olds.
What a rad enrichment program!
Stay in school.
Miranda
P.S. I assume that since you have a mailbox here, you’re an artist of some kind. Sadly, I have a strict policy against dating other artists.
P.P.S. Who are you? And how do you know who I am?
Miranda Planchart
Mailbox 19
How do I know who you are? You are the great Miranda Planchart! The vision, the visionary! The household name!
Someday, I trust.
Actually I’m friends with Jimmy. That’s why I doubt this claim that you don’t date other artists. Poor Jimmy IS an artist, Miranda, even if the miniature-houses-for-mice market is slow at the moment.
I won’t tell him what you’re implying about his work … if you go out with me.
J
Jake Brand
Mailbox 4
September 29 1980
Jimmy and I didn’t date. Jimmy and I fucked.
Do you want to fuck or do you want to date?
M
Miranda Planchart
Mailbox 19
Are they mutually exclusive?
I guess I would be happy with either but I would prefer BOTH.
A little about me to help you make up your mind.
1) I’m a painter. I’ve been renting space here for two years. Before that I was in Italy doing an apprenticeship.
2) I won the Gramercy Award last year.
3) I’m from Buffalo originally. I dream of living somewhere without winter.
4) I smoke too. That’s how I first noticed you. My studio has a WINDOW (not to brag) and I saw you smoking outside. You smoke well. Neat little streams out the side of your mouth. You have a good mouth.