Phase 6:  Let’s Get This Show on the Road

With the completed hearts out of the kiln, it was time to prepare for installation of the exhibit.  Four steps were required to prepare:  1) Prepare the hearts for hanging, 2) visit the exhibition space, 3) purchase and prep the panels, and 4) transport everything to the site.

To prepare the hearts for hanging, we tied them with ribbon. While this was not a difficult task, tying over 150 hearts with ribbon is definitely tedious.  We decided to hang one half of the hearts in red ribbon, and the other in blue, so that when it was installed it would resemble the human heart.

We also had to visit the hospital to see the spaces available for the exhibit.  We thought of installing the exhibit on the patio, so it would the most visible. Unfortunately, as winter is transitioning to spring here in the California Central Valley, I could not bear the thought of wind knocking over one of the panels onto some unsuspecting person having a coffee break.  I suggested we opt for a safer, indoor space—a wall in an open hall, adjoining the lobby at the main entrance.

Speaking of the unsuspecting… I enlisted super-duper program supervisor Armando to go with me to buy the panels for the exhibit.  The panels were super-duper, as well… super-duper heavy!  Loading them for transport was no easy task, but we got them back to the Arts Center for painting and marking where the nails would go.

Monika Modest and her awesome friend helped with transporting everything to the hospital for installation.  We still had to hammer all of the nails into the panels, and attach finishing strips to the top and bottom, before finally hanging the hearts.

My knees were screaming from crawling all over the floor.  My thumb was throbbing from bashing it with the hammer.  But, seeing the finished exhibit was good for my heart.  Awesome work, everyone!!

Now let’s get this check for $1200 to the Mercy Foundation.