Well it has been almost one month since our first Yard Art Day. And already I’m thinking about next year (2013) and a few additions I’m hoping to make. Stay tuned for announcements the first of next year.

This year was stupendous. Considering this was held the first day of the Democratic National Convention here in Charlotte – we triumphed. Nearly 300 participants and nearly 1600 Facebook members. It was a joy to see so many expressions of creativity all over Charlotte. But more importantly – I noticed the big wide smiles everyone seemed to have that day. People in their front yards, waving, chatting with neighbors, cruising in cars and snapping photos of yard art. YAD certainly got more than its share of press and even as I type this post – just today I was asked by a publication to submit some of this years yard art day projects for an article in their magazine. And still Facebook group members are posting on the page. Some are saying outright that they miss Yard Art Day. It truly brought a lot of joy to many…certainly to me it did. I beamed all day and night.

Thought I would share a couple of links to view all the photos. One is a straight up slideshow and Two is a sort of music video slideshow. Enjoy. Warning – they are long…because gratefully and with big thanks – we had so many darn participants and I wanted to share all their handiwork.

http://debtrip.zenfolio.com/yardartdayphotos/slideshow

https://vimeo.com/49286941

Just a few more hours now and Yard Art Day begins – at the stroke of midnight tonight.

Attached at the bottom in yellow are two pdfs. (JUST CLICK, DOWNLOAD AND PRINT) Had to do this way…some last minute add-ons. So print out both lists.

Well best laid plans – you know what they say about that. The MAP is not worth dealing with. So other than looking at it online – don’t bother trying to download. Best to print out the participants list and use your navigator on your phones. Or better yet – just meander and enjoy the adventure of it all. Yard signs will help you easily spot participants yards. Next year we’ll be more high tech.

Some of the art is already out but most will be finalized tomorrow. And don’t forget – some will be on display in the evening. Be sure to see the “fire” and lit up orbs display on 35th Street.

Enjoy, stop and say hello to the “yardists” if they are in their own front yards. Art is as much about communication as its beauty.

And take lots of photos!

FYI – a few are congregating in front of my house around 4 to 5pm for a “dance-walk” down Matheson. Google “Dance-walk” and you’ll see what I mean. Time for some silliness and celebration.

Wishing you all a wonderful Yard Art Day.

Deborah Triplett
YAD 2012 – LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
LAST MINUTE ADDITIONS AS PARTICPANTS

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.

Here’s a photo of Cher Cosper’s condo with her art hanging off of her balcony. This avid and talented artist was prepared to put art on top of her car if necessary for YAD but found a solution by using her balcony.