Red Lodge Cup Delivery Project

To the fine folks of Red Lodge, MT -- Hello, from North Dakota!

A cup left quietly on your doorstep.

In a world of digital connections, social networking and twitter-palooza I offer an alternative, a physical how-do-ya-do in the form of a cup.  

These cups, which are inspired by Japanese tea drinking vessels, are intended to be utilized on a daily basis.  With this in mind the cups are safe and ready for wear.

One cup at a time, I offer my warmest greetings. 

Drink up Red Lodge and live well. 

If you wish to say "hello" in person, stop on by the Red Lodge Clay Center on Broadway from 5pm-7pm tonight to celebrate the 5th Anniversary of Red Lodge Clay Center.

If you wish to say "hello" via this blog visit HERE to reply, I would love to hear from you. 

+Michael J. Strand

Fargo Sandbag Project

Imagine it is late in the day, it’s cold and you are wet from volunteering in the sandbag line in Fargo, ND for the last couple of hours.  Just as you are about to give up, you come across a bag that says “Uff da!” or contains an image of a Pink Robot drawn by a second grader.  Chances are you’ll point this out to your neighbor, who will point it out to the person next to him, and so on. It will lift your spirits and create an even tighter sense of community not only for those around you, but for those who created the work.

The concept is simple: Through art, empower people to communicate encouraging messages through words and  images drawn on sandbags, a 50 pound greeting card.  These are then put into the flood fighting system randomly and are encountered by those who are working hard to shore up the cities defense against the flood. Art then serves to communicate and lift the spirits of all involved.

This current project, which now includes the participation of over 6,000 people in the making of art on 7,000 sandbags, tests the impact of art and communication on morale for a community that is experiencing yearly devastating floods.  It is a unique situation, we have time to prepare for a potential catastrophe... it is part of who we are in Fargo-Moorhead.

Fargo Sandbag Project Click Here

Dwight, NE Project

"Michael, you just want to be Santa". - Eddie Dominguez

April, 15th 2010:  117 cups quietly left on the doorsteps of Dwight, NE.

A cup left quietly on your doorstep.

In a world of digital connections, social networking and twitter-palooza I offer an alternative, a physical how-do-ya-do in the form of a cup.  

These cups, which are inspired by Japanese tea drinking vessels, are intended to be worn out through continuous use. With this in mind the cups are safe to utilize on a daily basis.

One cup at a time, I offer my warmest greetings.

For more information specifically about this project go:

HERE

Dwight, ND Project

April 10th, 2010 - 33 teabowls delivered to the fine folks of Dwight, ND

go HERE

 

Update on Saturday, April 10, 2010 at 10:21PM by Michael

Hello,

The Dwight, ND project will be delivered tomorrow on my way down to Nebraska. I am meeting the Mayor of Dwight, Kevin Awender, who was amazingly warm on the phone. For a town of 33 households, there seems to be great livelyhood in this North Dakota town.  After talking to Mayor Awender, and his warm reception to this project, I realize that this work will not merely symbolize or hope for connections with folks in these small communities. There was not a moment of pause in his voice as he invited me to visit him on my way into town tomorrw.

I look forward to being introduced to Dwight at about 2pm tomorrow, Sunday, April 11th.

As I begin to launch this project it is apparent that each situation will be completely different.  It is already clear that I will have to adjust, alter and respond to each location. I am doing this work because I have questions that can only be answered through this process. I will share these questions and what answers I gather through this blog.

Cups are loaded, thank you Jessica, Lenaya and Trygve for your diligent assistance today!

+M.