thank you how do we find the value and things that are invisible to us even
things that are invisible to us even
things that are invisible to us even when they’re right in front of our eyes
when they’re right in front of our eyes
when they’re right in front of our eyes just as our mind filter out the sounds
just as our mind filter out the sounds
just as our mind filter out the sounds of refrigerators air conditioners and
of refrigerators air conditioners and
of refrigerators air conditioners and tea kettles and eggs frying in a pan so
tea kettles and eggs frying in a pan so
tea kettles and eggs frying in a pan so that we can better hear the voice of
that we can better hear the voice of
that we can better hear the voice of someone who is speaking to us it also
someone who is speaking to us it also
someone who is speaking to us it also filters out visual distractions so that
filters out visual distractions so that
filters out visual distractions so that we can better see the things that we
we can better see the things that we
we can better see the things that we already believe to be important
already believe to be important
already believe to be important look at these two pages what do you see
look at these two pages what do you see
look at these two pages what do you see immediately if your name happens to be
immediately if your name happens to be
immediately if your name happens to be Michael or Emily we imagine your name
Michael or Emily we imagine your name
Michael or Emily we imagine your name popped out to you because of your lived
popped out to you because of your lived
popped out to you because of your lived experience these names are important to
experience these names are important to
experience these names are important to you and you see them immediately four
you and you see them immediately four
you and you see them immediately four months ago I started growing a beard and
months ago I started growing a beard and
months ago I started growing a beard and started dealing with all the typical
started dealing with all the typical
started dealing with all the typical beard problems like what its eNOS
beard problems like what its eNOS
beard problems like what its eNOS dandruff on my nice black shirts
dandruff on my nice black shirts
dandruff on my nice black shirts itchiness more importantly I showed a
itchiness more importantly I showed a
itchiness more importantly I showed a showed up at work one day only to find
showed up at work one day only to find
showed up at work one day only to find that everyone else at the office grew a
that everyone else at the office grew a
that everyone else at the office grew a beard as well
they are significantly more productive
they are significantly more productive in the world of facial hair than I am
in the world of facial hair than I am
in the world of facial hair than I am but this isn’t my office the larger
but this isn’t my office the larger
but this isn’t my office the larger point is I saw beards everywhere the
point is I saw beards everywhere the
point is I saw beards everywhere the same thing happens when people choose a
same thing happens when people choose a
same thing happens when people choose a name for their child though initially
name for their child though initially
name for their child though initially they decide in the name that doesn’t
they decide in the name that doesn’t
they decide in the name that doesn’t seem to be overly used as soon as a
seem to be overly used as soon as a
seem to be overly used as soon as a child was born it seems like every other
child was born it seems like every other
child was born it seems like every other baby’s name crimina
baby’s name crimina
baby’s name crimina not really more like Michael or Emily so
not really more like Michael or Emily so
not really more like Michael or Emily so what happened was there memo circulated
what happened was there memo circulated
what happened was there memo circulated which I received telling me I should
which I received telling me I should
which I received telling me I should name my baby Michael or did I start a
name my baby Michael or did I start a
name my baby Michael or did I start a new trend
new trend
new trend neither of this is the case what happens
neither of this is the case what happens
neither of this is the case what happens is that I jump-started my own awareness
is that I jump-started my own awareness
is that I jump-started my own awareness of the name Michael it is important to
of the name Michael it is important to
of the name Michael it is important to me and now I see it everywhere this
me and now I see it everywhere this
me and now I see it everywhere this happens when you buy a new car it
happens when you buy a new car it
happens when you buy a new car it happens when you work on a Halloween
happens when you work on a Halloween
happens when you work on a Halloween costume for a long time thinking that
costume for a long time thinking that
costume for a long time thinking that it’s highly original only to find out
it’s highly original only to find out
it’s highly original only to find out that that year pretty much everybody
that that year pretty much everybody
that that year pretty much everybody else dressed up like water witch On
else dressed up like water witch On
else dressed up like water witch On January 10 2010 we begin a new artwork
January 10 2010 we begin a new artwork
January 10 2010 we begin a new artwork we spent 365 days photographing the
we spent 365 days photographing the
we spent 365 days photographing the discarded couches in easy chairs on
discarded couches in easy chairs on
discarded couches in easy chairs on Lexington’s curbs we photographed the
Lexington’s curbs we photographed the
Lexington’s curbs we photographed the people who put them out on the curb we
people who put them out on the curb we
people who put them out on the curb we photographed people who live nearby we
photographed people who live nearby we
photographed people who live nearby we photograph people who worked in the
photograph people who worked in the
photograph people who worked in the neighborhood and it ties the
neighborhood and it ties the
neighborhood and it ties the photographed passers-by people who were
photographed passers-by people who were
photographed passers-by people who were just passing through the same way as we
just passing through the same way as we
just passing through the same way as we were passing through the neighborhood
were passing through the neighborhood
were passing through the neighborhood these four people were returning from
these four people were returning from
these four people were returning from the grocery store Herman and I had been
the grocery store Herman and I had been
the grocery store Herman and I had been working together on this artwork for
working together on this artwork for
working together on this artwork for eight months at the time I took this
eight months at the time I took this
eight months at the time I took this photograph on this day Cremona was not
photograph on this day Cremona was not
photograph on this day Cremona was not with me two of the people were super
with me two of the people were super
with me two of the people were super excited to find out why I wanted to take
excited to find out why I wanted to take
excited to find out why I wanted to take the photograph they were excited because
the photograph they were excited because
the photograph they were excited because they knew of another person in Lexington
they knew of another person in Lexington
they knew of another person in Lexington working on the same project an
working on the same project an
working on the same project an incredible artist named Cremona to them
incredible artist named Cremona to them
incredible artist named Cremona to them in that moment I was invisible pretty
in that moment I was invisible pretty
in that moment I was invisible pretty soon we became really good at spotting
soon we became really good at spotting
soon we became really good at spotting discarded couches everywhere they seemed
discarded couches everywhere they seemed
discarded couches everywhere they seemed to be popping up everywhere because they
to be popping up everywhere because they
to be popping up everywhere because they were important to us we could now see
were important to us we could now see
were important to us we could now see them so could our friends
them so could our friends
them so could our friends who knew about our artwork they started
who knew about our artwork they started
who knew about our artwork they started saying sending us cryptic texts with
saying sending us cryptic texts with
saying sending us cryptic texts with just an address in them and we knew
just an address in them and we knew
just an address in them and we knew exactly what these texts are about even
exactly what these texts are about even
exactly what these texts are about even today eight years later people still
today eight years later people still
today eight years later people still tell us every time they see a discarded
tell us every time they see a discarded
tell us every time they see a discarded couch they think of this artwork we know
couch they think of this artwork we know
couch they think of this artwork we know that enabling others to to see the
that enabling others to to see the
that enabling others to to see the couches that line the curbs of our city
couches that line the curbs of our city
couches that line the curbs of our city is an accomplishment and we know this
is an accomplishment and we know this
is an accomplishment and we know this because we were conditioned to overlook
because we were conditioned to overlook
because we were conditioned to overlook them they are after all trash we were
them they are after all trash we were
them they are after all trash we were invited to create companion artworks in
invited to create companion artworks in
invited to create companion artworks in Los Angeles Indianapolis New Orleans San
Los Angeles Indianapolis New Orleans San
Los Angeles Indianapolis New Orleans San Antonio and Portland in each of these
Antonio and Portland in each of these
Antonio and Portland in each of these cities we photographed people who call
cities we photographed people who call
cities we photographed people who call them home sitting on the abandoned
them home sitting on the abandoned
them home sitting on the abandoned couches and easy chairs for better or
couches and easy chairs for better or
couches and easy chairs for better or worse we forced other people to see
worse we forced other people to see
worse we forced other people to see things previously invisible to them and
things previously invisible to them and
things previously invisible to them and not just the discarded furniture but
not just the discarded furniture but
not just the discarded furniture but also the people sitting on the furniture
also the people sitting on the furniture
also the people sitting on the furniture who are their neighbors even if they
who are their neighbors even if they
who are their neighbors even if they don’t live on the same street or in the
don’t live on the same street or in the
don’t live on the same street or in the same neighborhood we were invited to go
same neighborhood we were invited to go
same neighborhood we were invited to go to LA by creative collaborative the bag
to LA by creative collaborative the bag
to LA by creative collaborative the bag of vagabonds and of course we
of vagabonds and of course we
of vagabonds and of course we photographed them on a couch as well
photographed them on a couch as well
photographed them on a couch as well before we went to an a we thought we
before we went to an a we thought we
before we went to an a we thought we should do our homework so we sent an
should do our homework so we sent an
should do our homework so we sent an email to a distant relative who works in
email to a distant relative who works in
email to a distant relative who works in Hollywood asking him if he could suggest
Hollywood asking him if he could suggest
Hollywood asking him if he could suggest to us streets in Hollywood where we
to us streets in Hollywood where we
to us streets in Hollywood where we might be able to find discarded couches
might be able to find discarded couches
might be able to find discarded couches you won’t be able to find any don’t even
you won’t be able to find any don’t even
you won’t be able to find any don’t even bother what’s his response
bother what’s his response
bother what’s his response well we photographed this one in this
well we photographed this one in this
well we photographed this one in this one and this one Oh in the span of 24
one and this one Oh in the span of 24
one and this one Oh in the span of 24 hours all of them in Hollywood we
hours all of them in Hollywood we
hours all of them in Hollywood we realize that allowing other people to
realize that allowing other people to
realize that allowing other people to better see broken stained and abandoned
better see broken stained and abandoned
better see broken stained and abandoned couches that line the curves of their
couches that line the curves of their
couches that line the curves of their city might not greatly enrich their
city might not greatly enrich their
city might not greatly enrich their lives but what if we could better see
lives but what if we could better see
lives but what if we could better see the things that were previously
the things that were previously
the things that were previously invisible because they were unimportant
invisible because they were unimportant
invisible because they were unimportant to us how could this newly inquired
to us how could this newly inquired
to us how could this newly inquired significance improve our lives On
significance improve our lives On
significance improve our lives On January 8 2017 we gave it
January 8 2017 we gave it
January 8 2017 we gave it talk about another artwork unlearn fear
talk about another artwork unlearn fear
talk about another artwork unlearn fear and hate at a Jewish temple in Lexington
and hate at a Jewish temple in Lexington
and hate at a Jewish temple in Lexington Kentucky this was not our first talk at
Kentucky this was not our first talk at
Kentucky this was not our first talk at a house of worship it was though the
a house of worship it was though the
a house of worship it was though the first one which was made open to the
first one which was made open to the
first one which was made open to the larger community the talk was given to a
larger community the talk was given to a
larger community the talk was given to a youth group and you know youth their
youth group and you know youth their
youth group and you know youth their desire to include everybody thankfully
desire to include everybody thankfully
desire to include everybody thankfully due to this open nature to brave Muslim
due to this open nature to brave Muslim
due to this open nature to brave Muslim women showed up at the talk Neda and
women showed up at the talk Neda and
women showed up at the talk Neda and Hoda though they were slightly anxious
Hoda though they were slightly anxious
Hoda though they were slightly anxious and didn’t know what to expect about
and didn’t know what to expect about
and didn’t know what to expect about being inside of a Jewish temple they
being inside of a Jewish temple they
being inside of a Jewish temple they came to our talk on that day afterwards
came to our talk on that day afterwards
came to our talk on that day afterwards we said to them what we believed at the
we said to them what we believed at the
we said to them what we believed at the time to be true that we had never before
time to be true that we had never before
time to be true that we had never before met a woman in Lexington who wears a
met a woman in Lexington who wears a
met a woman in Lexington who wears a hijab we learned there are five mosques
hijab we learned there are five mosques
hijab we learned there are five mosques in the city this seemed like a lot
in the city this seemed like a lot
in the city this seemed like a lot especially compared to the two Jewish
especially compared to the two Jewish
especially compared to the two Jewish temples because we felt like we knew a
temples because we felt like we knew a
temples because we felt like we knew a lot of people who were Jewish but it not
lot of people who were Jewish but it not
lot of people who were Jewish but it not before that day met a woman from
before that day met a woman from
before that day met a woman from Lexington wearing a hijab much to our
Lexington wearing a hijab much to our
Lexington wearing a hijab much to our surprise three months after we gave this
surprise three months after we gave this
surprise three months after we gave this talk at the temple we realized that four
talk at the temple we realized that four
talk at the temple we realized that four months before that talked with we had
months before that talked with we had
months before that talked with we had actually met this woman her name is Erin
actually met this woman her name is Erin
actually met this woman her name is Erin in fact we worked with her to create a
in fact we worked with her to create a
in fact we worked with her to create a 60-foot long stencil of the words
60-foot long stencil of the words
60-foot long stencil of the words unaware in fear and hate at her high
unaware in fear and hate at her high
unaware in fear and hate at her high school which is a local high school in
school which is a local high school in
school which is a local high school in Lexington Kentucky in fact she and I
Lexington Kentucky in fact she and I
Lexington Kentucky in fact she and I were squatting next to each other
were squatting next to each other
were squatting next to each other working understand so for awhile I asked
working understand so for awhile I asked
working understand so for awhile I asked her about her name I tried to remember
her about her name I tried to remember
her about her name I tried to remember it just like I always tried to remember
it just like I always tried to remember
it just like I always tried to remember the names of people I talked to then I
the names of people I talked to then I
the names of people I talked to then I forgot about it and I forgot about her
forgot about it and I forgot about her
forgot about it and I forgot about her before we met Neda and hada the Muslim
before we met Neda and hada the Muslim
before we met Neda and hada the Muslim community in town had no personal
community in town had no personal
community in town had no personal significance for the two of us so they
significance for the two of us so they
significance for the two of us so they were largely invisible to us after
were largely invisible to us after
were largely invisible to us after meeting the two of them we could see the
meeting the two of them we could see the
meeting the two of them we could see the ring
ring
ring much more clearly as well we worked with
much more clearly as well we worked with
much more clearly as well we worked with her again we worked with her sister and
her again we worked with her sister and
her again we worked with her sister and with her mother
with her mother
with her mother Hannah because of meeting Neda hada the
Hannah because of meeting Neda hada the
Hannah because of meeting Neda hada the Rinne and Hunnam we feel connected to
Rinne and Hunnam we feel connected to
Rinne and Hunnam we feel connected to the Muslim community in town and we see
the Muslim community in town and we see
the Muslim community in town and we see women wearing hijabs everywhere in fact
women wearing hijabs everywhere in fact
women wearing hijabs everywhere in fact we are telling people that we now see
we are telling people that we now see
we are telling people that we now see women with
women with
women with jobs in all public spaces in Lexington
jobs in all public spaces in Lexington
jobs in all public spaces in Lexington even driving cars cars that happen to be
even driving cars cars that happen to be
even driving cars cars that happen to be the same exact make and model of the car
the same exact make and model of the car
the same exact make and model of the car that we are driving which as we
that we are driving which as we
that we are driving which as we explained earlier hasn’t increased
explained earlier hasn’t increased
explained earlier hasn’t increased significance to us and we see everywhere
significance to us and we see everywhere
significance to us and we see everywhere as we were telling this story to Jenny a
as we were telling this story to Jenny a
as we were telling this story to Jenny a friend of ours and local librarian we
friend of ours and local librarian we
friend of ours and local librarian we learned that Zirin and her family are
learned that Zirin and her family are
learned that Zirin and her family are Jenny’s neighbors we are all neighbors
Jenny’s neighbors we are all neighbors
Jenny’s neighbors we are all neighbors but how do we see our neighbors
but how do we see our neighbors
but how do we see our neighbors especially those that live on different
especially those that live on different
especially those that live on different streets
streets
streets perhaps by looking for abandoned couches
perhaps by looking for abandoned couches
perhaps by looking for abandoned couches perhaps by making art with them or maybe
perhaps by making art with them or maybe
perhaps by making art with them or maybe by asking them to hold our children
by asking them to hold our children
by asking them to hold our children while we clean up the chalk paint
while we clean up the chalk paint
while we clean up the chalk paint stencils for making a large mural on the
stencils for making a large mural on the
stencils for making a large mural on the pavement once Calum holds my baby I feel
pavement once Calum holds my baby I feel
pavement once Calum holds my baby I feel personally connected to her she is now
personally connected to her she is now
personally connected to her she is now part of the story of my life I tell I
part of the story of my life I tell I
part of the story of my life I tell I see women wearing hijabs everywhere so
see women wearing hijabs everywhere so
see women wearing hijabs everywhere so how do we find the significance of
how do we find the significance of
how do we find the significance of things previously invisible to us how do
things previously invisible to us how do
things previously invisible to us how do we even see these things in the first
we even see these things in the first
we even see these things in the first place perhaps by seeking out or creating
place perhaps by seeking out or creating
place perhaps by seeking out or creating moments of contact even when they entail
moments of contact even when they entail
moments of contact even when they entail giant birthday cookies consider sharing
giant birthday cookies consider sharing
giant birthday cookies consider sharing a cookie
a cookie
a cookie or coffee with someone you didn’t
or coffee with someone you didn’t
or coffee with someone you didn’t consider a friend before thank you
consider a friend before thank you
consider a friend before thank you [Applause]
”
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