WHY DO YOU LIKE AND COLLECT MATCHES?
I went on this psychotic wormhole where I tried collecting old torn-up matches every time I went somewhere. This usually meant thrift stores but occasionally meant pulling over in the middle of a road trip to run to the dodgy motel from the 1970s to see if they still had any merchandise (surprisingly they usually do).
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE ONES AND WHY?
My favorite ones are usually from my travels. I have a box I especially like from Paris. That being said generally, I actually care less about the location and am really passionate about the graphics. They remind me of outsider art or QSL cards. The collection is so beautiful because each matchbox is actively trying not to be. The older matches have a utilitarian or old-world advertising feel to them that makes me feel more like I'm collecting antiques as opposed to a functional object. Transparently this collection came about because I'm attempting to build a full-scale art piece with them (if that makes me sound any less fanatical).
WHEN AND HOW DO YOU LIKE TO ENJOY YOUR MATCHES?
I usually enjoy my matches when the workday is finished. My home is directly above my office so once all of our employees leave for the day I light a few candles as a way to form a mental boundary and designate space. I've also been known to pull them out if I have any design-centric person come by in order to show them off. I just recently stopped burning my vintage matches and have transitioned to only burning my more modern matches for the sake of preservation.
