PocketReb

People Matching Artworks: An Unusual Photo Series By Stefan Draschan

Bessie Stringfield (1911-1993): The Motorcycle Queen of Miami

She was a great woman. Full entry here. Book here. Art notes after the cut.

Tombili: Istanbul cat and worldwide meme honoured with statue

‘Tombili’, a rotund cat beloved by Istanbul’s Ziverbey neighbourhood, has been commemorated by the city authorities after local demand for a tribute to his memory. Tombili - a Turkish word often used for chubby pets - was known by residents of Ziverbey, part of the district of Kadıköy, for his nonchalant demeanour towards people who wanted to play with him. The cat became world famous earlier this year after a photo of him reclining in one of his favourite spots on the pavement was shared thousands of times on social media. Kadıköy’s deputy mayor said in the inauguration ceremony that 17,000 people had demanded a memorial sculpture.

and then i checked their names

they’re all NAmED aftER fOOD

EXCEPT kEVIN

WHY

THE PAINT IS GLOW IN THE DARK

THIS LITTLE DOGGY RAN AROUND ALL NIGHT LIKE A GLOWING SKELLY REAPER PUP

-As a toddler exited the store, he turned around and shouted, “Thank you, come again!” Until today I came here for a paycheck, but from now on, I come here for you, my friend.

-A woman’s total came out to $20.16. She remarked, “wow, that’s a fantastic year!” I do not know what world she is living in, but it is definitely not 2016 there. 

-I was approached by the most lethargic and morose family I had ever seen. Each of them seemed to have simultaneously just gotten out of bed and been awake for fifty-three hours straight. I understand where they are coming from, but I am not quite sure why purchasing a single can of Febreze was worth such emotional exhaustion. 

-As I turn back to face the sad Addams family, I notice something out of the corner of my eye. The fifteen year-old son had walked around the counter and was swinging his fists right behind my head, pretending to punch me repeatedly. I had not been aware of this. This was not some strange kind of joke. He simply decided he wanted to imagine assaulting a part-time retail worker and that the best way to do so was to physically emulate it. He put his fists down and looked at me. He saw the confusion behind my eyes. I saw a void behind his. He put down his fists and backed away. I handed Mrs. Saddams the receipt and did not turn my back on this family until they were safely out of the store. 

-A woman seemed torn, faced with the decision of either a $10 gift card or $10 off of her purchase. She did not understand that she was receiving both. Once I was finally able to convey this to her, she shouted out in joy. I am grateful to have been the one to give her this good news. I am slightly less grateful to have had my ear near her when she received it. 

-I am brought a Twix frappuccino. Once again, my managers prove to be able to do things no human should be able to do behind the counter of a Starbucks.

-Today I learned that Cat Lady has recently overcome cancer. I learned this by watching her spot a guest in scrubs, hurriedly hobble towards him, and, with his back still turned to her, regale him with her entire medical history. I am deeply impressed with both Cat Lady’s wide knowledge regarding lymph nodes and Scrubs Man’s genuine compassion for this stranger’s well-being. 

-I met a woman who told me that her four year-old daughter’s legal name was Doom. This shows a great lack of faith in her moral compass, yet a great show of faith for the scale of her achievements in life.

-Noticing how differently people act at different ages has become my new favorite part of the job. A couple in their twenties had an exchange that included, “This is my card. This is my PIN. Your hand is going nowhere near me or this ice cream.” A couple in their fifties had a similar conversation, “You can either pay for this or sweep the floors. You have to choose this time.” 

-Today I was kept company by my new friend, a skeleton wiener dog. I love this dog with my life, but I question the research of the person who designed a dog skeleton with long rigid ear bones.

-While walking, I dropped a security device. In a desperate attempt to catch it before it hit the ground, I swung my hand downwards. I managed to catch the security device, but not without injuring a personal device which could have used more security. I am grateful for the years of my life I have spent pursuing a degree in theatre, as the level of acting required to not let on that my entire lower torso was burning with the flame of one thousand suns would have been nigh unattainable otherwise. 

-As a woman finished checking out at my register, she recognized another woman a few guests back in the same line. Without picking up her things or moving, they engaged in a loud conversation regarding funerals and death. They could not have been more excited to be having this discussion. Those between them could not have been more uncomfortable with it. 

These Skater Girls In Kabul Are Inspiring — & ADORABLE

“Skateboarding in itself is an education,” series photographer Jessica Fulford-Dobson said. “You fall off — we all fall off things in life — and you bounce back up. We all have to learn that.“ 

Photos: Jessica Fulford-Dobson