Donate for 2006

This has been a busy and productive year as the project has continued to grow and evolve into ways previously unimagined. It has been exciting to see how this message has spread.

Beyond the projects shown below, we have had a healthy sticker distribution of those who send in self addressed stamped envelopes. We receive 100 sticker requests a week on average, and have given away over 50,000 stickers this year. Beyond having our normal stickers reprinted, we will be printing You Are Beautiful stickers in 30 languages this year, and giving these stickers away free of charge.

One of the integral parts of this project, is that nothing bought or sold behind the message. It is simply an act of kindness for whoever comes across it. Nothing more. Much like a public radio station, we are simply asking for donations during the monthe of December to help with expenses of the coming year. 100% of your generous donation will go directly to having more stickers printed.

We also have a few collaborative projects and shows lined up for the coming year. We are looking forward to what 2006 will bring.



You can donate through paypal here:

March
We were invited to an arts week at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. We created several installations, including two 15 person pieces with local artists, and spelled out You Are Beautiful with people. It was an incredible trip out to the West Coast.

March
We released STICK04: thousands of stickers from over 100 sticker artists from around the world.
It was shown at the Urban Gardening Show in Chicago, and installed in the streets later in the year.

**If you are interested to be a part of STICK05, be sure to send us your sticker pack by the end of the year. You will receive a pack in return.

April
We were involved in NOVA & NFO EXPO, two exciting project based shows along with many other talented local Chicago artists. Both were documentation of projects, collaboration with You Are I Am Books, and sticker dispensers.

May
We released Inspiring Works Volume 2 & 3. Volume 3 featured the phenomenal work by an anonymous group from Pennsacola, Florida. Their work touched everyone in the city, and was even reported with a positive spin on the evening news.

July-August
We presented the You Are I Am Book & Postcard Exhibition in Chicago. These two shows at Open End & Foundation Gallery wrapped up a year long collaborative project by artists around the world. The exhibitions featured what returned of 111 books and 5,000 postcards which were mailed to artists around the world, collaborated with, and sent back.

At opening night, viewers could participate by filling in stickers which read 'I Am'. Felix Jung (who has been documenting the stickers around Chicago since the very beginning) put together a flash animation of the photographs that can be seen here .

October
We opened an exhibition in LA, California with the work of over 50 artists. Each piece was a response to an open call to create your own You Are Beautiful piece, including the onsite mural done by Buff Monster. The work was shown at the Treehouse Gallery, and later installed around the city. In our short time out there, we were able to put together a few installations, and install much of the work. Currently, the gallery is installing the rest of the work, and will send photos for us to post soon.

October
15 Chicago artists put together another stunning 15 person piece that was shown at the New Chicagoans Exhibition, and it will be installed in the coming year. (Y-L) Anthony Lewellen, Chris Uphues, Stomach, Nelson Kahakina, Nic Chasfin, Matt Leigh, Elisa Harkins, Stephen Eichhorn, Goons, RUOK, Juan Chavez, Rob Funderburk, Aay Preston Myint, Lauren Feece, Ryan Quigley.

November-December
3 local artists created a 400 foot long mural which will be displayed in the heart of downtown Chicago for 2-5 years. This piece will span the entire block of State Street between Randolph & Washington. This project has a very interesting set of circumstances which made it possible. Within the next few years a new building will be constructed on the space previously known as “Block 37”. In the same manner that many cities impose a 1% back to art for all building in the city, Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs stipulated that a mural must cover the construction barrier. There were no restrictions or guidelines placed on the artwork, and the three artists involved in collaboration with the project, Chris Silva, Mike Genovese, & Matthew Hoffman along with the assistance of a great crew of volunteers, produced a mural with You Are Beautiful as the theme, including translations in 30 languages.
As the project progresses, we are extremely cautious that it does not sway from its original intention. wWe've worked carefully with everyone involved, to insure that it sticks to the main principles of the project. We feel this mural is a good example of how it is possible to work within the system to create large-scale non-commercial public art that would not have been achieved any other way.