"We're Definitely Behind You"

I hung up the phone.

Took half a breath, then…. Happy Dance!

Wiggling, shaking, head flung, arms flailing, bouncing, jumping, shimmy to the left and kick! The great thing about getting good news over the telephone is the total absence of necessary professionalism when you hang up the line. 

Eskuz Esku (IMVG supported mural)

I just got off the phone with Laura Gould, the Cultural Affairs Officer at the United States Embassy.  Yesterday afternoon I sent her an e-mail introducing the mural project to ask for financial support from the Embassy.  It was nothing less than classy begging. 

In today’s phone conversation, the enthusiasm was palpable.  She concluded the conversation, “We're definitely behind you.” I was ecstatic. The financial support the United States Embassy may provide unleashes the pent up possibility of this project and sets in motion all the steps necessary to make it happen. 

This Week’s Agenda:

Wednesday:

Kaos and I will meet to scour the neighborhood for empty walls begging for life.  We will then begin contacting the owners of these spaces seeking permission to paint their blank faces.  Knowing the exact proportions of the space and the quantity of paint necessary to cover it will allow us to refine our budget proposal to the Embassy.

Friday: 

I have a tentative meeting planned with the founders of IMVG (Itinerario Muralistico de Vitoria-Gasteiz) to discuss the project and seek advice.  IMVG is an organization that supports mural arts in the Basque city, Vitoria-Gasteiz in the North of Spain.

Monday: 

The fun begins! We will propose the mural project to our young graffiti artists to gather their input and begin brainstorming theme, imagery and composition for their piece.  I will provide a brief history of the mural tradition and explain some of the techniques we will learn to complete this project.