Hope

The everlasting cold is finally abating and leaving me with a smidge of extra energy.

Blocks keep coming in from amazing people. Thanks, and thanks, and thanks! There a couple of venues pending. I'll keep ypu informed as they come to fruition. If you have any places you would like to see the project hang, either in part or the entire 1600+ blocks that are now complete, let me know!

In other news, I helped a number of other fiber artists create an Obama quilt this summer. Our most hopeful dream came true this week. Keep an eye out for this quilt at the inauguration! My HOPE blocks is the second from the bottom on the left.

Soapbox

It is election time and there are choices to be made. While I am proud and privileged to be creating this memorial, it is not something I want to do for the rest of my life.

Take a look at this video:

Please vote for the candidate who makes plans for peace, not for war for the next century. I want us to be able to finish this project.

Yes, we can.

Housekeeping

Nothing too glamorous, I've just been thinking about how to attempt to stay organized. I have 2 or 3 folks who are working on plans to exhibit parts of the project in the near future.

I've created an online calendar account at Yahoo. If you are interested in exhibiting, you can check out the availability at Yahoo Calendar. The id is ascexbibits and the password is dates&times. Each listing will show the number of blocks on display that particular day at each venue. Total them up to see how many are available. (I'll have a running tally in the sidebar on the blog.)

Please make sure to send me a comment or e-mail if you add something to the calendar, so we can coordinate delivery and other details and get you talked about in the blog. It is an easy project to hang, and can be customized to fit anywhere. Instructions for hanging will come with the sections you request.

As far as delivery goes, if you know someone coming through St. Cloud, we can try and coordinate a pickup time. Otherwise, I need to ask that the exhibitors pay shipping both ways.

If it works schedule- wise, I will sometimes be available to do a bit of a meet-n-greet, and spend some time showing people how to make french knots and sew on beads. I would need to ask mileage, and, that you buy me a cup for the road home.

if you've made through the end of all this boringness, you will be rewarded with a photo of six more blocks that are now available for display! They just arrived in the post from Carol. THANKS for the pic Carol!!

Yes, You Can Have A Peaceful Event At The RNC

You won't, however, get any media attention. Well, at least not from any of the main stream media who found their way to Peace Island.
I did do a couple of interviews with people making documentaries. It will be interesting to see what happens with them. And, before I found my gumption to actually be interviewed, Zach did some video of the project as we were getting set up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65sNZYv-tW0

It really looks nice! Thanks Zach!

It was really an awesome day. The police had many streets blocked off, so it was a little difficult in getting there at certain times of the day, but, for those who did make it, It was what every celebration of peace should be. Food, music, kite flying, a bit of civil disobedience, and art with a message.

Many people, after visiting with me about the project, took blocks and needle and thread with them, and sewed while enjoying the music. We got alot accomplished there, and many blocks went home to be finished and mailed in. I love getting blocks in the mail!
What a day!

What a Day!

I am once again on my way out the door, so here are some photos from Peace Island Picnic to look at until I can add commentary.

Practice

Her is one last photo of the 715 blocks that hung at the Whitney Center this summer.

My family helped me do a trial run in setting up for the Peace Island Picnic. We set up the standard from which the panels will hang and figured out how to solve the glitches that arose. Hanging against a wall is so much different than hanging in the gusty breeze! There are a few minor things to change, and I think things will be ready for Thursday. Provided the RNC doesn't abandon St Paul all together. See you Thursday!

Peace Island Picnic

Made a speedy trip to St Paul Wednesday evening to shore up some plans for the Peace Island Picnic. The picnic will be a finale event to the Republican National Convention being held in St Paul September 1 - 4. These are a couple of quick shots of the picnic area.

From 1pm to 8 pm there will be free food, music, the creation of the world's largest peace sign, and the display of the And Still Counting project. More updates and details here - the unconvention.

Keep sending me blocks! I would love to have 2000 blocks on display. I have about 1700 right now, and the more we have there, the larger the impact.

If anyone has access to those pop-up tents, I will be needing 4 of them to display the project. I would need to borrow them on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th to accommodate set up and tear down.