We got 1000 plus handprints at Market Street's 2006 Fall sidewalk fine art show. Two flags, Ghana and Mexico, were sprinkled with handprints in the appropriate colors. Pepper and I assisted when needed. Adults with and sans children studied the poster that mapped out the process of flag exchange - them with Texas hand prints in exchange for us with Ghana and Mexican Hand Prints. We took our time making sure that all understood the event steps with couriers, sponsors and artwork.

The skeptical approached with closed faces. The best example: two public school teachers looking for an art project. They walked around the display, picked up literature and walked away. Perched on an outside park wall to watch. After a few minutes they returned. This time faces were open and smiling - Hooked! The reality of the banner kit cost slowed their new optimism. But they quickly decided that they could pool funds from several sources "if allowed". The resultant artwork as a center for lesson plans - they would push. Will they do it? I did point out that the banners could be sponsored and loaned or donated to the school. That gave them another handle on the dollars.

We were amused as people approached to "Buy our Art". The tents 100 feet away were selling! The cost factor of $500 was not an obstacle. The reality that the banners were exchanged with other countries put a damper on the "instant" gratification of running home to hang a new treasure. It can take 9 months! Mexico is easier than Japan. Iraq - not now! Lebanon banner is reassigned. Pepper just got off her cell phone with an artist from Holland - think about that! We are in Texas and someone from Holland who is flying to Houston in 6 months wants to do a banner exchange! They called us on cell at the event! The world is getting smaller.

We need couriers to other countries! Is the Woodlands Texas diverse? Yes! Families from the Pacific Rim were the most prominent. Latino families that were quickly identified as Colombians, Mexicans, Venezuelans, Argentineans, etc, grasped the concept and offered links as couriers. A Bulgarian! A 15 year old boy. Two weeks in country! No English! His older sister explained! They have the links! Business men and women all looked at the process - why not! Will they do it? We will see!

It has taken two years to get this far with this simple minded public art project. Skepticism is the big obstacle! Why do this! How much money do you make? Exploitation? Your business advertising? All the noise centers around any attempt to do an act of goodwill that does not have a check attached to it. If we charged market value and sold a "product" it fits into the mold. But we ask for expenses for materials and studio time only - gotta be some catch? Yes there is. This is not about money. American's - excuse me North, South, Caribbean and Central America - United Statuses have been giving out bucks without a hand shake - I am reversing the process! No money just a hand shake! Equals! No Status!

One Hand Deserves Another exhibit is like a book - rewritten as we handprint - it has an ISBN number because I want this to be a book. My commercial studio, Designer Components, owns or holds the banners in trust for exhibits because someone has to. Would you like to! We exhibit the artwork in public places. Hard to find in the politics and business plan of The Woodlands.

Churches want evangelism attached. This secular public art event is an extended hand shake for all! This does not mean faith is excluded. It does means that no one is excluded. At this event I made sure that the Latino man who emptied our booth trash hand printed! The waiter from the restaurant cruising for orders - hand printed! The hand prints all look the same on the banner. One woman with a chopped off finger was concerned - her grand kids insisted. I had the youngest child add in the missing finger. It made the grandmother's day? It made mine! Hands of all sizes but remarkably alike - the same! No race, economics, education, gender, age or politics defined. If your hands are rough and calloused - will not show! If you have on diamond rings - will not show!

I have always been an artist! I hear and see things that others might not so I point it out through my art. This is not decoration or exploitation unless you are blind and want to place yourself at the gate to edit life. Make details fit a business plan that will offend the least - in most cases the noisy few that have an agenda they want to enforce - and will not write a check if the line is not toed! My art is designed to make you think - but the context is up to you - what to think is up to you! My primary agenda is to speak a language reluctantly called art!