D e s e r t E x p o s u r e
November
2008
There's the Rub
Silver City artist Mary Frances Dondelinger erases the world's problems — on paper, anyway.
By Donna Clayton Lawder
Tired of a world marred by hate and lies? Rub them out! Sick of stupidity? Taxes? Those 10 extra pounds that just won't leave? Erase 'em!
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Silver City artist Mary Frances Dondelinger has developed a way to rid society of huge world problems and some annoying pet peeves — on paper, anyway. A fine artist who paints with egg tempera, rendering images ranging from ancient saints to women in boxing gloves, Dondelinger started playing around with the concept of erasing the world's ills and came up with the idea to create colorful erasers with words printed on them.
Imprinted with "Hate," "Poverty," "Hunger" — those well-known scourges of humanity that many would like to see, well, rubbed out — Dondelinger's EraserAways are at once humorous and profound. In addition to metaphorically delivering the message, such as "erase Hunger," the practical, useful desktop items also deliver a sort of literal satisfaction — as the erasers are worn down through use, the words themselves disappear.
"It's an idea that I've had for a long time," Dondelinger says of the eraser project. "I felt a compelling need to do something in my field of art, but somehow improving life. For me, since I deal in images, I felt this was something I could do, a way I could approach it.
"I know it's a tiny contribution in light of the vastness of the world's aches and problems, but I think it's valuable for people to keep these concepts in front of them. It's a really big thing, to think that you could actually erase hunger or hate."
Acknowledging that the world is no easy fix and that there are actually a lot of issues that could use mending — or, rather, erasing — Dondelinger settled on five for her World Concerns set of EraserAways: Hate, Poverty, Hunger, Lies and Denial.
"If just those five things were rubbed out, you've got to admit, the world would be a much better place," she says with a good-hearted laugh.
Sold in packs of five ($4.95), EraserAways come in two themes: the original World Concerns product and a subsequent, more light-hearted set of five called Pet Peeves, featuring the words "Guilt," "10 lbs.," "PMS," "Stupidity" and "Taxes." While less lofty, they strike a chord on the personal level as well as the funny bone.
"When I'd talk to friends and colleagues about the World Concerns erasers, they'd say, 'That's a good idea.' But then they'd add things on a personal level that they'd like to be able to erase. It seems like everyone wants to lose 10 pounds! The World Concerns series is so serious, and that's okay, but I like providing an antidote, too, through humor."
Dondelinger says many people buy the erasers — often 10 or more sets at a time — to pass on as gifts. Numerous schoolteachers have bought them, as well. She knows of one teacher who bought all "Stupidity" erasers for his students, as a humorous way to get across the idea of rubbing out stupidity through learning. The erasers were a fun reward, she says.
Satisfyingly chunky to hold, EraserAways are of the traditional double-angled rectangular shape many of us clutched to rub away our mistakes in grade-school composition books. In addition to the familiar feel, Dondelinger says she chose to have the erasers manufactured in bright, almost candy-like colors so they would draw attention to themselves and bring a friendly feeling to the task of addressing heavy concerns.
"The playful appearance makes it more appealing or less threatening or overwhelming to us to keep these things in our consciousness," she says. "I know how I am — when I see something in form, it brings it to the front of my mind. How nice to have something so daunting, like world hunger, brought to mind in a non-threatening way. And by making it playful, maybe it becomes easier for us to keep these things in our minds to the point where more of us take action and actually have an impact — you know, do some real good!"
Both sets of EraserAways are sold locally at Leyba & Ingalls Arts Supplies, 315 N. Bullard St. in Silver City, 388-5725, and on Mary Frances Dondelinger's Web site, themaryfrances.com $4.95 for a set of five erasers.