A while back I came up with a guerilla art exercise that I wanted to share with you. On a piece of paper write or type in bold the word NOTICE, followed by a visual item, a color, a sensation, a sound, something you find in your neighborhood. The idea here is to tune people into things they might be missing, or to just give them a little respite in their hectic day. Post the note. Here are some of my examples,
Finding it incredibly hard to get started today. The drawings and ideas are stuck in my body somewhere and do not want to come out. I should be used to this feeling by now, of not knowing where to begin, of having too many ideas, of feeling like my drawings are mediocre. I fight it for a few days, and it passes. Like the winter I feel long and drawn out. I need some warm weather to get me excited about things again. I wore my straw hat to work today (around the studio), hoping to feel springlike. It made my head itch as I sat watching the snow fall outside the window. I think I am going to post some of these notes around my neighborhood in an effort to shake some things up a bit, (and as chalking is still out of the question). I smile reading Claire talk about being in the midst of a heatwave and longing for cooler weather.
Contrast is what makes life so very interesting. Without it we would not value things nearly as much.
Posted by kerismith at March 14, 2005 03:04 PMyet another wonderful reason for my enjoying your journal, (writings and illustrations) so much. I love the way you put things and they way you approach life...so inspiring.
I think this is such a fantastic idea! Will have to give it a try!
Posted by: Claire on March 15, 2005 07:10 PMKeri, true, ceci n'est pas une pipe. But I had to think of an interview I heard with a Dutch poet http://www.revisor.nl/radio/radio2.html , don't know if I mentioned it here before. He said something like that most poetry tries to force people to be moved, at gunpoint. I think he had a point there, it is something to consider.
Posted by: eliane on March 15, 2005 05:12 PMI think this is an interesting idea.
Posted by: Lu on March 15, 2005 04:34 PMEliane,
I am not making an assumption about what people see or don't see but rather I like the idea of serving as a reminder to tune into our environment. I think this is particularly important in an urban environment where one learns to tune out most everything in order to exist. MY favorite pieces of art are the ones that remind me of something I might have missed, shift my current perception even slightly.
Maybe that is pedantic, it's all how you choose to percieve it. I prefer to say that it is a merely a suggestion, the recipient can choose to respond to it or not.
Another question, what comprises the art, the sign itself, or the thing the sign is urging you to see? An interesting thought no?
k.
Don't you think these notices are a bit didactical? I always find it kind of pedantical to assume other people don't notice as much as myself.
Posted by: eliane on March 15, 2005 01:52 PMI am so tempted to created stuff like this and hang it up around work.... but everyone would totally know who did it.... hmmm.
Posted by: Stephanie on March 15, 2005 12:10 PMFabulous idea! I really love it.
Posted by: Molly on March 15, 2005 11:48 AMkeri,
i love this idea of the notice notes.... thank you for sharing.
jenn
Posted by: jenn on March 15, 2005 08:47 AMI am SO glad I visited and saw this post. I used to do something similar when I was a kid, only my signs weren't quite so sophisticated. I would just draw an arrow and write basic messages -- pretty purple flowers, wild strawberries, smooth pebbles, etc. It drove my mother crazy, but I think a lot of the neighbors were amused. I can't wait to do this. I think my first one will say *Notice: Melting snow!* Thanks again!
Posted by: Nina on March 15, 2005 06:27 AMah i love the notices.. it made me smile.
Posted by: jade on March 15, 2005 05:59 AMhey keri
i love that idea...so so good.
lindsay and i passed around urban love letters a while back...it was super fun.
maybe the next time i am up north i will have the pleasure of noticing some new things.
cheers
r
funks are a drag. I was feeling that way last week. The snow is still a foot or more deep with huge piles all over. Nary a patch of earth to be seen. Hang in there; spring's a-comin'!
Posted by: paula on March 15, 2005 12:44 AMI am in a bit of an artistic funk as well. Its typical after finishing a big project. Takes a while to get back into the groove. Thanks for the insight, I feel better now.
Posted by: *jenny on March 14, 2005 10:30 PMI've been thanking and blessing the contrast lately ... it's helping my resistance melt away.
Thank you for the wonderful idea!
Posted by: Julie on March 14, 2005 07:35 PMI love it!! What a cool idea.
Posted by: katie on March 14, 2005 06:30 PM