The Observer moved from Bello to Compass Rose today, yeah! She will be there until Monday, 8/14, when she visits Erhlich“™s until Wednesday, 8/16, appears at Childhood“™s End Gallery through Monday, 8/21, and then hangs out at Rainey Day Records. And then? I do not know yet, but I will keep you posted. Here is a photo of Hibba and the Observer at Archibald Sisters on July 15.(I am behind on my pics)

Meanwhile, since the Raspberry Dash carrying the Explorer was running again on Wednesday, Second-hand Sid did some videotaping, which was fun; people were happily sitting next to and even hugging the Explorer. The Dash bus drivers all have been very positive about having the figure ride the bus, they have all said that at first his presence is a little disconcerting, but then they get used to him and enjoy how much the riders enjoy him, especially the children, who run right up to the back of the bus to sit with him.

Driver Curt D (otherwise known as the “Guy on the Guide”) told me that since there are 3 buses running, some people wait specifically for the Raspberry bus; others react like they hit the lotto: oh, its on this bus! I told him that maybe I should have created one figure for each bus, but he said no, its like “art roulette,“ maybe you hit it and get to ride with the figure, or maybe you don“™t, and that adds to the excitement. What do you think?

Anyway, the Explorer is riding the Dash for the last time on Saturday, and then Sue G and I will take him for a spin in her convertible, before he starts sitting on various benches and steps and stoops around downtown. Maybe he will sit and wait at some of the Dash stops…wonder if he will get on again?

Tomorrow I am going to be the guest artist at the Museum of Glass and work with Dale Chihuly on “Chihuly Shoe Painting on the Plaza,“ which should be wild and crazy, we are showing the public how to “walk in Chihuly“™s shoes, or just look like you do“ by using paint in squirt bottles and decorating old shoes. It was my idea back in January to do this project; I was inspired after seeing Anne Gould Hauberg wearing a pair of shoes that Dale had done especially for her. The project has become an exciting part of a bigger event, “Chihuly in Tacoma Week,” with Dale personally doing the shoes of the first 100 kids under the age of ten. I will tell you more about this event after it is over.