Operation Art Project: COMPLETE!

My kitchen wall art project is now complete!

A couple years ago, my friend Tia sent me on an exciting adventure: to take a 'Flat Stanley' around Seattle for one of her students. Flat Stanley is the story of a boy who is flat. In a nutshell, he's bummed out because he's different from other kids, but people who love him explain that because he is unique, he can have different -- and exciting adventures -- that his peers cannot. Because he's flat, he can be shipped in the mail to anywhere in the world! Now, come on, how cool would that be?

So, Tia included me on this project for one of her students. My old roommate and friend Heidi LaHart and I spent a day driving around Seattle capturing Stanley in the International District, at the Space Needle, Seahawks Stadium, the Smith Tower, the UW campus, Starbucks (hello, it's Seattle!), Fremont, etc. While in Fremont, Heidi and I stumbled upon this awesome little gallery and upon an installation that has stuck with me since the moment we walked in: an entire room of 4"x6" photos! We're talking a 12'x14' room with every wall, the ceiling, and the floor covered with perfectly aligned photos. We spent hours there checking out the stories unfolding from the film strips. We both agreed it was like we actually *knew* the artist when we left.

That said, I've always thought it was something I could do to a wall somewhere and at some point in my life. While I was in Seattle in May, one of the things I shipped out here was my photo box thinking that photos would help me make this place feel like home...

Having gone to the MOMA with Dan Leal a few weeks ago, it reminded me of the Seattle show and I was inspired to turn a wall of this place into A) a work of art; B) a snapshot of the story of my life; C) my home.

And now, it is done! If I were really go-gettum, I'd create a legend such that a person could read who's who, what's what, and how it fits in. That'll be phase II... and as of know, I have about nine months to get it done before I have to decide to renew the lease or move out of this place. We shall see! In the meantime, enjoy a couple of snapshots of the story I've lived and that unfolds in my kitchen every time I pass!