Well if there’s one thing that we over here at Art is Way Different have learned over the past few weeks it’s that, well, art is way different. We’ve driven many hundreds of miles across the great and sad United States of America; we’ve counted far too many adult superstores, churches, novelty museums, and billboards advertising both the rights of the unborn and topless girl lunch specials along the way; we’ve pulled into rest stops in the immense hills of western Pennsylvania in the pouring rain only to have alternators fail completely and push our Nissan Pulsars to the gas tanks while we waited patiently for Pennsylvania Emergency Roadside Assitance to arrive; we’ve spent unexpected nights at the Travelodge in Bedford, PA on a special “stranded traveler” discount; we’ve eaten several dudes’ worth of varying forms of meat and potatoes while in Bedford; we’ve created subtitles for German voice-overs in videos we’ve made while sitting patiently in Travelodges in the terrible and overwhelming state of Pennsylvania; we’ve installed major projects in the excellent Vox Populi Gallery in Philadelpha and spent time eating non-meat and potatoes with many excellent peeps (don’t get us wrong, there were some pretty good meat foods in there but admittedly we needed a break); we’ve met lots of wonderful new art peeps and hung out with old friends who are changing the world of finance and the role of women in the world of finance, and, well, maybe the role of women in the world in general (oh and lest we forget what some (ehem) might argue was her equally important role--saving the Pulsar from being towed, thank you); we’ve had good times on the city of bro love where we wish we could spend some more time; and we’ve learned where and when to walk our pets and where and when not to walk our pets, and thank goodness because someone had to tell us, right? Pets need exercise too.
And now we’re on to part two. More miles, more stretches of American distance, fewer alternators (thank heavens); more subtitles, more states ending in “a,” with towns that have a population less than 1000; fewer roadside assistances (so far), more projects, some building of walls, floors, foundations et al. at the excellent Art Farm residency program, and a continued sense of delight with the fact that everyday, well, art is way different. Or at least the way we see it. To quote Future Islands, “One step takes me home/Two steps back on my own/Three skips to each stone/Four steps back and I’m gone”