30 Jun, 2008
A bunch of ducklings and a street art question for Ottawa peeps
Posted by andrea tomkins in: File under crafty|Photography
First, the ducklings:
…Â posted here for no other reason than the simple fact they are unbearably cute.
(Don’t like ducklings? You have a cold cold heart my friend.)
Now for the real reason behind this post.Â
Are you familiar with swap boxes?
Swap boxes are brightly decorated wooden containers (usually with a lid) that are displayed in public places. The object of the swap box is to swap.  Passersby are supposed to look inside, and if they like what they see, they are encouraged to take it and leave something else in its place. Some people consider the swap box concept to be fun interactive street art. Others may think they are a silly waste of space. (The latter also mightn’t like baby ducks, but I digress.)
Was it Paloma Picasso who said that when she wears a red raincoat on a cloudy day, she gives a gift to all who look at her? I’m paraphrasing, but I love this quote and apologize for butchering it.
The point of the swap box, in my view, is the same as Paloma’s raincoat:Â to inject a moment of joy into the random day of some random stranger. This concept appeals to me very much. The randomness is positively thrilling. You don’t know what you’re going to find in a swap box. It could be crap. It could be a treasure. And as the things you leave inside, you don’t know how it will change the life of the person who is on the receiving end..
(In case you’re wondering, here’s a post with the 411 on some other local swap boxes.)
As I think about it, I realize this is very much like the Trust Experiment, isn’t it? Hmm. They are certainly similar.
This is something I’ve been wanting to do for some time. I have one that I want to put out. It’s not quite ready, but once I have a place for it I will hunker down and finish what I started. My box bigger than most, and I’m wondering whether the size – the obviousness of it – might eventually be its downfall. It’s about the size of a small medicine cabinet. I need to make it a little prettier and decide how (and where) I’m going to hang the thing.
So tell me, given that I live in the Westboro area of town, where do you think I should hang it? Please leave your suggestions below!
I hope that a couple of people will see it, experience it, and walk away “shiny with glee.” (Sarah’s phrasing, which I think works very well in this case, don’t you?)
