In the spring of 2025 I sent out an invitation to dinner with the following text:

I want to tell you
why there is so often a dot
in what I have made
for clients, friends, projects of my own.
People have paid me good money for this dot.
Many times over!

I think it started as a placeholder.
I would throw it in as a note to myself
that something good would go there.
But then often that good thing couldn’t beat the power
of the little circle I had placed.
So I would just leave it.

At some point I started wanting to use dice in everything.
Some of you may know that I have succeeded a time or two.
I love games, I love chance,
I love the sound they make, I tell myself.
If you’re good at dice
you can make some pocket money.
Something to do with your hands at parties.
But also look at all those dots!

A circle is so complete,
so mysterious,
it keeps its own secrets.
A circle placed in or near a rectangle
is an undeniable protagonist.
I keep telling myself that
I should give it a rest and branch out.
But time and time again, when no one’s got me,
the dot’s got me.

Now that I’ve told you,
I’m afraid that you will start seeing it
in every thing I have ever, ever produced.
Even when it is not literally there, it is lurking.
It was probably in the document at some point,
focusing me, exerting it’s strange gravity.

So here’s to the dot,
And other unsung heroes
Or favorite trick ponies
& habits
that become more
than the sum of their parts...

You Are Invited to Recognize & Reconsider

Your tips
Your tricks
Your go-tos
Your standbys
Your hail Marys
Your old faithfuls

Over Dinner and Drinks

And I asked that my guests RSVP by providing their own Tip or Trick,
as well as the slides they would use to present
their beloved fallback at this dinner.
This website is a growing collection of those tips and tricks
that can be added to any time. Some of the entries are immediately actionable,
while some may be life long practices.
Please peruse them with delight, and add your own as you see fit!


Feel free to reach out to eva.claycomb@artun.ee with any questions.