My adventure started when I first knew that I would be going to Nashville, TN this summer as an intern for Hatch Show Print. I heard of Kelley's project and figured it was something I would like because it involved sort of a reverse scavenger hunt. It involved making others pay attention and I wanted to explore this and embrace her projects in some of the most famous parts of Nashville, that way to make whoever found the photographs have a more memorable experience.
We first went to the Parthenon in Centennial Park which was a lifesize replica of the original in athens, Greece. I tried to stay intentional choice on what pictures to use in what environments. I put the graffiti polaroid on the bronze cast plate as a contrast, for no one would ever want to see graffiti on the classical monument. The second photo was mostly placed for fun on a bronze lion head acting on a doorway. It was funny to see bypasser's faces while we were taking pictures of a picture.
Then we went to Broadway, the most historic and famous parts of Nashville. I but a photo on a commemorative guitar on "Legend's Corner." The Guitar was painted with such great musicians as: Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Charlie Daniels, and Elvis. It was almost sacreligous for us to do this yet nevertheless we discretly did the deed. Later on that day we found the photo was moved to a nearby stop sign post.
The fourth photo was put on the Hatch sign in front of the store, this was more for my own amusement, yet Hatch is an important Historic part of the city and considers so by the US Department of the Interior.
The fifth photo placement involved the most risk. I put the photo up on the spinning guitar sign at the Hard Rock Cafe. This seemed fitting in music city. It was a picture of flowers, which there was a flower garden right underneath the sign. The risk involved trying to avoid anyone from seeing us do the deed with a festival around nearby. The great part was the photo was still on the sign a day later, still spinning around.
This placement of photos was a lot of fun and I know I would enjoy finding one of these polaroid. I love participating in such projects as it reminds me when I was a kid and anytime I would get a helium balloon I would write my name and address on a card and tie it to the string and send it off in the sky hoping that I would get a response.
The hope is something that can be felt on both sides of the project. The obvious to me is having hope that someone will respond to their found photograph, and the hope instilled in those who find the photos.
I "hope" Kelley's sees the success in her project and that it can grow into even more than she can imagine.
Matt Blinco
Monday, May 14, 2007
krista in san antonio
May 4th 2007; the adventure begins. Woke up at 5 am to arrive at the airport in time for my 740 flight to San Antonio with a layover in Chicago. Headed to training to go to Africa in July. I am now, for all intensive purposes, an adult.
People are generally friendly - at least in the Indianapolis airport. The question for this adventure is: "what gives you hope?"
People give me hope. Those who offer kind words and friendly smiles. Friends who love you and care for you through the perplexities of life - these give me hope. My friend gave me hope with her honesty and love and the peace of her apartment and the breakfast she provided.
The stories of this old man give me hope.
He is a man who must be at least 80, he sits in his wheel chair with a cap proclaiming he fought in World War II and Korea and he seems eager to share his stories with me. He is a black man who fought in a war where the color of his skin meant he was separated and treated as less than his white counterparts. He lived through the Civil Rights movement but only eludes to that in order to explain that the schools in Texas were not good due to segregation and that he was glad to move to Indiana.
He is a friendly fellow who spoke with passion. He talked a little about his kids (6 girls and 1 boy), grandkids, and greatgrandkids. He is headed to Texas, but he doesn't like the weather much, he prefers the weather of Indiana. This is interesting because I usually hear only complaints about how fickle Indiana weather can be.
He talked about the war and how the Iraq war is Bush's war. He compared Bush to Hitler - only in America could he get away with saying that. He has fought in two wars, lived through the Civil Rights movement, raised seven kids, and still has hope. He vehemently disagrees with this war for it is not a war for America but a war for Bush and his oil. He claims if he were in charge he would do things differently and proceeded to explain to me what and how. Despite all his ranting he was a joyful and thankful old man eager to impart wisdom on young listening ears.
I am thankful to have met him for he brings me hope. Hope that life can have lasting joy and meaning. Hope that freedom comes even if it takes pain. That is the story of one man I met. I met many other individuals on this excursion and I heard many stories. I heard from peers with passion and from older and wiser adults their stories and ambitions. I found encouragement to pursue my dreams and hope that my life can make a difference. I had many opportunities to share and many opportunities to listen and through it all I found hope. Hope that life can be lived to the fullest wherever you wind up and that if you choose you can make a difference.
I posted four pictures. One in the hotel lobby where it sits joyfully between the flowers, one on a blue door along the River Walk, one on the Vietnam Memorial - in honor of all the stories I heard about war on this adventure and one behind the tray on the seat back in front of me on the flight from Chicago back to Indy.
Stories shared bring hope.
People are generally friendly - at least in the Indianapolis airport. The question for this adventure is: "what gives you hope?"
People give me hope. Those who offer kind words and friendly smiles. Friends who love you and care for you through the perplexities of life - these give me hope. My friend gave me hope with her honesty and love and the peace of her apartment and the breakfast she provided.
The stories of this old man give me hope.
He is a man who must be at least 80, he sits in his wheel chair with a cap proclaiming he fought in World War II and Korea and he seems eager to share his stories with me. He is a black man who fought in a war where the color of his skin meant he was separated and treated as less than his white counterparts. He lived through the Civil Rights movement but only eludes to that in order to explain that the schools in Texas were not good due to segregation and that he was glad to move to Indiana.
He is a friendly fellow who spoke with passion. He talked a little about his kids (6 girls and 1 boy), grandkids, and greatgrandkids. He is headed to Texas, but he doesn't like the weather much, he prefers the weather of Indiana. This is interesting because I usually hear only complaints about how fickle Indiana weather can be.
He talked about the war and how the Iraq war is Bush's war. He compared Bush to Hitler - only in America could he get away with saying that. He has fought in two wars, lived through the Civil Rights movement, raised seven kids, and still has hope. He vehemently disagrees with this war for it is not a war for America but a war for Bush and his oil. He claims if he were in charge he would do things differently and proceeded to explain to me what and how. Despite all his ranting he was a joyful and thankful old man eager to impart wisdom on young listening ears.
I am thankful to have met him for he brings me hope. Hope that life can have lasting joy and meaning. Hope that freedom comes even if it takes pain. That is the story of one man I met. I met many other individuals on this excursion and I heard many stories. I heard from peers with passion and from older and wiser adults their stories and ambitions. I found encouragement to pursue my dreams and hope that my life can make a difference. I had many opportunities to share and many opportunities to listen and through it all I found hope. Hope that life can be lived to the fullest wherever you wind up and that if you choose you can make a difference.
I posted four pictures. One in the hotel lobby where it sits joyfully between the flowers, one on a blue door along the River Walk, one on the Vietnam Memorial - in honor of all the stories I heard about war on this adventure and one behind the tray on the seat back in front of me on the flight from Chicago back to Indy.
Stories shared bring hope.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
chicago in april
I wanted to put Kelley's photos all over the place. I am a creature of habit and of repetition... so it makes sense that I would be attracted to putting her images all over the place...but in the same places each time. Bikes and mailboxes were the two prime targets of my adventures this weekend. I think it makes it more personal and individual to put them in a place where no doubt at least a few people are sure to interact with the space and be tickled and blessed by the existance of this random colorful polaroid. The mailman (sorry US gov. if it was illegal) and then whoever checks the mail, people walking by, or stopping to visit are all sure to get a glimpse of these little snapshots of "hope" as they intentionally were tucked around the city of Chicago. Bike riders too would be greeted by a little gift taped to their racks or handles...hopefully to be savored and enjoyed. WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE?
- Megan
- Megan
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