The Games Artists Play

Ric Kasini Kadour | Montreal, Quebec, Canada & New Orleans, Louisiana, USA 

A display of playing cards illustrated how Henry Sheldon used games as a way to connect with his community. A card in the museum states, “Henry Sheldon loved playing games. His diary frequently mentions meeting with friends for games of ‘Old Sledge’ (also known as ‘All Fours’ and ‘Seven Up’).” The decks on display were used for Sheldon’s 80th and 85th birthday parties in 1901 and 1906 respectively. “We might think of them as a continuation of Henry Sheldon’s practice of collecting books and printed materials; the thematic cards are in keeping with many of his other interests, such as the railroad, the World’s Fair, and scenic Vermont.” One wonders how much Sheldon spoke of those things when he got together with friends to play. In his collage, Ric Kasini Kadour makes a connection between Sheldon’s card playing and the sense of playfulness artists bring to their work. He wrote, “I photographed the playing cards and the wallpaper on a visit to the Henry Sheldon Museum in April 2022. Later I found myself doing some research in old issues of the Middlebury Register and I came across an advertisement using the paint can which was the perfect symbol for artists.” “We often think of communities as serious undertakings. People come together to survive the elements, to share resources, to care for one another in times of need. People also form communities to play, because being with other people is fun and joyful. Play is an important part of being an artist. Whether it is trying something new in the studio, mixing images to see what comes of it, or doodling in a notebook, play allows artists to enter a liminal state where new ideas can emerge.