“…I truly believe that for every imaginary problem, there is an imaginary solution.” (pg 23)

Theo Ellsworth’s CAPACITY is far too artful and magical to be adequately described in some layperson’s social media review. Yet here I am, the quintessential poster child for the dull and unimaginative, giving it a go.

“I created another version of myself, then abandoned him.” (pg 78)

The Artwork: Ellsworth draws as though ink is abundant and paper is scarce. There is very little (if any) unused space in his art. Every nook and cranny holds part of the story. There are details within details within details; it would be maddeningly overwhelming were it not so brilliantly put together.

“The Pudding of Obligation (placed upon the Doily of Resentment)” (pg 118)

The Dialogue: The author is largely having a stream of consciousness discussion with himself, and you—dear reader—are along for the ride. His anxieties and aspirations are a conversational subtext for all that he puts on a page.

“This is an imaginary outfit that I wear over my everyday clothes every Tuesday. I highly recommend doing this as a weekly practice. It has changed my life. Imaginary Outfit Tuesdays (IOT): see you there!” (pg 259)

I know my description makes this sounds like madness, and maybe it is, but it is an ordered madness. This is the coherent chaos of a lucid daydream and now I want to just sit here and ruminate on this experience for a while.

“Every thought I’ve ever had is all part of this big invisible project that I’ll keep working on until I die.” (pg 314)