Claire

“Claire” is a story that Coit wrote reversed, filling a wall of an intimate space. The whole story can be read in the mirror, but only if one stands in the “sweet spot.” As it happens, this spot is near the entry door, so if one wants to read the piece, one can’t go very far in. The viewer can only absorb the intimacy of the event by keeping their distance from it.

The prose piece was included in the artist’s text collection “Initially Self Referent,” and appears in full below the image.

Claire

The pungent odor of soap mixed with fading breakfast smells. Naomi and Rose, armored in aprons, were starting their morning minuet when movement in the garden caught them. Claire was on her way to the barn. A solitary four-year-old with sturdy legs and a sweet shyness. She bobbled past the old hand pump and around the stone wall to the dirt driveway with its dust puddles. Snorts and grunts mixed with the known clucks of yesterday. She slowed, peered past the corner, wheeled and ran back for help. An extended  "M-a-a-a" crazed the summer air.

"The bull is out," she trilled.

"The bull is hurting the cow," she whined. 

"He's kicking her on her back," she gasped.

"Oh," whispered Rose, as she eyed Naomi.

"H-m-m," said Naomi, as she coaxed Claire into the kitchen.

"He's helping her into the barn," said Rose, smiling at Naomi.

"Oh," sighed Claire.