The switch!

After my unsuccessful visit to Planned Parenthood, I swung by Neighborhood Music School to take the display out and transport it to its next-door neighbor institution, Koffee. I had talked to the owner of Koffee last week and she seemed interested in the project. I emailed her photos of the display and an invite to the blog but hadn't heard from her. As it was a rare day when I had access to vehicular transport, I decided to drop off the display anyway and let her reject it if she chose to.

Somehow, I wasn't surprised to see that the display was missing from its station in the NMS lobby. I hadn't been consistently in touch with Lisa there for quite some time -- she seemed slightly pessimistic with how the project was going, as well as too busy to keep tabs on it or take photos. The receptionist directed me to the display's new location, which was on the table in the hallway (the place I'd left it the first day I dropped it off, which was later changed in an effort to get more participation). The large sketchpad and markers, which I had left to there the last time I'd visited, were gone, and the receptionist had no information as to where. Another instance of stealing?! In this case, it made more sense. Those markers were brand new -- I'm sure some wily child stuffed them into his or her backpack and had a heyday with coloring books.

I took the display outside. For some reason, all the words had been transferred to the back side of the bookend.

The one line of poetry I could make out was:

protect beneath that heart

Bookend, new disposable camera, and new notebook in hand, I popped next door to Koffee. I explained the situation to the man behind the counter and he seemed excited about the idea. I'm still awaiting the owner's ultimate OK but it seems fine for now. We attached the camera and notepad with ribbon to the display. The guy asked me to put a little explanation of the project behind the display in case people wanted to know. I preferred to not have that but I put up a description of a community art project meant to be an outlet for spontaneous and free creation. I also suggested that people write their creations in the notebook, take pictures with the camera provided, OR take pictures with their cellphones and email them to me. The guy suggested that last option, and I think that for the clientele there it makes sense. There are many a camera phone about and many a reader/student/ostensibly creative type who might actually be interested enough to take a picture and send it to me.

However, I do feel prejudiced that I will not leave my email address in the laundromat. It feels somehow riskier, a more public exposition than in Koffee. I think that I'm guilty of trusting people with laptops and books, and I'm sort of embarrassed by that fact.