Episode 69 — Alexandria: Mother's Ceramic Tile Lost Then Found (2023)

SLII: Surveillance, Life Invasion, Interference

Excerpt (bullets)

• Attended multi-week ceramic course at Fairfax County library supervised by seasoned ceramic artist.
• Around time of mother's death—decided to design tile in her honor.
• Tile to be delivered to library for pick-up.
• Went several times—told still being worked on, even though all other attendees received theirs.
• Staff emailed artist inquiring about whereabouts—she said delivered to them.
• They disputed.
• Head of program became involved—artist still said delivered to that Library.
• They disputed.
• Spoke to a Fairfax County librarian who contacted head of arts and crafts events programs who contacted artist.
• Artist finally relented, returning tile.
• As isolated event seems nondescript, but needs to be added to other events that popped up—could never relax for extended period.

Full Narrative

In 2023, I attended a multi-week ceramic course at the Fairfax County library supervised by a seasoned ceramic artist. This occurred around the time of my mother's death so I decided to design a tile in her honor. The tile was to be delivered to the library for pick-up. I went there several times attempting to do so but was told it was still being worked on even though all of the other attendees received theirs. Then, the staff emailed her inquiring about its whereabouts. She said she delivered it to them. They disputed it. The head of the program became involved with the artist still saying she delivered it to that Library. They disputed. Then, I spoke to another Fairfax County librarian who contacted the head of the arts and crafts events programs who then contacted the artist. The artist finally relented, returning the tile. As an isolated event it seems nondescript. However, this event needs to be added to other events that popped up where I could never relax for an extended period of time. Even a memorial to my deceased mother became a site of interference and emotional manipulation.

Category Codes

• SUR.PUB (Institutional manipulation)
• INT.TIMING (Grief exploitation)