The Countdown has begun…

I thought I would write this THANKS now while I have some quiet time and not feeling the urgency that I know I will starting tomorrow as 9/3 draws closer.

As the big day approaches I am overcome with happiness for Yard Art Day. As of today over 1500 members on Facebook and nearly 250 people as participants on the Yard Art Day Map. Several times a day someone is posting art they have created or writing about spotting a yard art sign somewhere in Charlotte. And although most are residents of Charlotte – we do in fact have one artist from Telluride, Co partipating, another in Los Angeles, Savannah Georgia, South Carolina, Paris Texas and lots of towns around Charlotte. The art has been done by everyone from teachers, kids, pro artists, gardeners, men, women – and all ages…it’s all a bit overwhelming and wonderful.

Today our third television news interview (thank you Israel Balderas of Fox News, Sonja Gantt of WCNC and Davina Sutton of WCNC), many-many articles including today’s Creative Loafing article by Scott Lucas, Charlotte Viewpoint article by Nan Mallory, a great radio interview by Charlotte View done by Jim Black and Denise Mackey, South Charlotte Weekly article by Dee Grano and loads of thank you’s and kind postings from friends, family and many I don’t know except via Facebook. I’ve made several new friends and acquaintances – seems art like gardening crosses borders and binds us as humans.

And all you 1500 plus YARDISTS – your enthusiasm, support, love for art and community…I am truly bowled over by your participation and the joyful stories that I hear and comments on FB. Amazed.

Big thanks to my team for all their dedication and hard work – Candice Langston, Sharon Dowell, Greggory Bradford, Teri Garner, Susan Walker, Colleen Taylor and Katie Culclasure. And must give a big verbal hug to Kari Herndon for her wonderful 3 leaves YAD logo. And of course we couldn’t have those wonderful YAD yard signs without the unbelievable generosity of Common Market (Blake Barnes & Chuck Barger) and ASC via The Quasimodo Project for the funds to push this project forward. Plus donations by individuals artists and the “buy one, give a dollar” donations that Birdsong Brewery and NoDa Brewing Company held for the project. THANK you all.

Last but not least I can’t in good conscience not thank my brother Ricky Lee Triplett. He, like clock work, every two weeks drove from Winston with supplies and support. A good man and brother.

On the other hand – like the shoemaker with no shoes for his kids – I’ve yet to do my own yard art. But I will. Keeping in mind it is about the process not the final art or if anyone even likes it or not. The joy of creation.

So it seems apt that I post a photo of this wonderful mural created for Yard Art Day by Craig Ritchie, Sally Foster Fries and one of their students from UMAR Art Center. And tickled to know this will be an ongoing art installation at McGill Rose Garden – with the mural changing out every few months. Seems YAD inspired them to do this. See how gardening and art work hand in hand.