"To beep or not to beep..." , "I'll save you Dale!" , Kickstarter
In trying to come up with an eye catching visual for my predicament and to put out a plea for HELLLP, I recalled poor Wiley Coyote at the precipice. Next, came to mind are my childhood cartoon heroes, Dudley DoRight calling out, "I'll save you Nell!" and Mighty Mouse singing "Here I come to save the day!" I promise you that I did not watch much television, and cartoons were so rare during my stint in Paris it was a momentous occasion just to get to see one. Nevertheless, Mighty Mouse was my hero and I thought he was real. I also thought my parents spent their childhood as French Poodle puppies. That is what my father told me when I asked him what he was when he was little. He was a rocket scientist and such a brainiac I did not realize we were of the same species. I digress.
I have a habit of biting off more than I can chew, fully believing in my ability to pull off the stunts I come up with. Then, I realize I can't nor have I been able to create any of the fabulous art installation opportunities offered to me by this life, without help from my friends and family.
Yesterday, I finalized plans to create a 15 foot Christmas tree for Busch Gardens while at the same time creating at least ( at least?) 100 feet of panels of recycled water bottles to wrap the fencing around the Kent County Courthouse for ArtPrize 2014. Busch Gardens has a staff and we have come up with a great plan for their tree, but with regard to ArtPrize, there is no way I can collect enough bottles let alone paint and cut them. I am estimating it will take 10,000. Not only that,I can't afford the cost of materials, shipping, and travel.
I am vain enough to imagine plans where I can manage the precipice before me. But when I reflect on my successes, I am reminded of all the people who rallied to help me in the past, who I forget to acknowledge, let alone thank adequately. Nothing would have happened without friends, family, complete strangers, teachers, schools, individuals, and church groups who took the plunge into the unknown with me, trusting that in the end it will be worth it. And I realize their personal investment was not so much a commitment to the worthiness of the project, as it was a commitment to me and to my vision. My heart is warmed and my eyes mist. What greater gift can you give someone than to make their dreams come true?
The project I need help with in Michigan is called Bridging Communities. For years I have wanted to cover a bridge over a body of water. When i was talking about it with someone, one of those forgotten helpers from the past, they suggested the idea of bridging as a means of connecting, bringing together. In a baby step toward a bridge, I am excited to be wrapping the walkway railing with panels of recycled plastic bottles for ArtPrize 2014. I need as many individuals or groups as possible to create the bottle blooms that will be attached to the panels that will wrap the courthouse. I will happily teach workshops or send instructions. Enter Dudley Doright, another childhood cartoon hero who exclaims, "I'll save you Nell!" Attached is an image linked to a Youtube which exposes my compulsion for useless and indulgent research. I should be cutting bottles, or thanking people.
Mighty Mouse sang "Heeere I come, to save the DAY!" I had imagined him sparing me the rare but deserved spankings of my childhood. Eentually was sad to learn that not only was my dad not a poodle, Mighty Mouse isn't real. For real not real. My five-year-old brain was dizzied by that meta narrative... not only is Mighty Mouse not a super hero, he is not even a PERSON!
All this to say that I need your help in any way you see fit to offer it, because I can picture the colors moving like waves around the courthouse and I have a dream that needs to come true. And I admit before God and the world, and especially to God, that I can't do it by myself.
Ways you can be involved:
1.If you would like me to work with your group to create bottle blossoms that will be included in the installation please email me .
2.If you would like to help fund this project, I have set up a Kickstarter page where you can donate and get thank you presents from me!
3. Local friends, save your water bottles for me please and let me know if you want to come over and do some painting and cutting. I'm looking at it like an old fashioned quilting bee and hoping to set up a regular day for this. Tipsy Tuesday maybe? Wine and water bottles.
4. Share, share, share! The more the merrier. Please share this article on your social media pages and get your friends and family involved.
That's all I can think of for now. The concept behind these projects is the dearest to my heart. I recently realized that if there were one message I would leave the world, it is contained in this work, the transformation of trash that is so enduring we have trouble getting rid of it, being elevated to a place of transformation and celebration... something you can't get enough of. Thank you for helping me share it.