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Laurie Anderson, 1974

I never understood the density of an electric socket until it became one of my last possessions

things stolen from me in August 1974 through a hole cut in the concrete wall of my loft on Second Street, New York City: violin paintings by my grandmother stereo system radio diaries (1959-1965) amplifier blank checks fiberglass rocks made by Bronx Zoo workshop shoes tripod tools tennis racquet color tv set tape recorder box of love letters from 1968

things destroyed in the break-in: films (cut up) lights and windows (broken) records (smashed) musical scores (shredded) books (burned) clothes (shredded) things retrieved from a small suitcase dropped on the stairs during the break-in: five year old pair of jeans (missing zipper) bongo drums an electric socket