I hope to foster more meaningful relationships with our things. We connect to our past through the items and artifacts both in our lives and of our respective histories.  Through these explorations I will be examining how cultural identities are portrayed by our economy of used goods. How do these venues for our pre-owned objects reflect our contemporary relationship with our material possessions? As an artist and maker of objects, I hope to invite conversations, insights, interpersonal connections and stories that may help us negotiate life in a culture of consumption. 

THE STUFF CRUSADE is a continuation of my Stuff Hero project. I find things in thrift stores, flea markets, yard sales, and even sitting on the street that have value but are in need of a person to adopt them and give them a new life. Their values are assessed through a historical lens of use and cult value rather than monetary worth or market viability. I find heroic individuals who become willing stewards to these abandoned belongings. Currently, individuals in 13 states and 3 countries have become Stuff Heroes! The Stuff Crusade involves my traveling to thrift stores, flea markets, yard sales and garage sales across the country. By traveling to Stuff Venues all over the USA I will expand this network of heroes that is documented and facilitated by virtual interaction but begins and ends with a physical, and hopefully enduring relationship with the saved objects. Your support will make this possible!

As always, I invite you to participate by adopting something! Your contribution to the Stuff Crusade will be rewarded with prizes that are my gift to you in recognition of your participation and heroic gesture. I hope you will be a Stuff Hero!

Potential destinations as suggested by friends and heroes:

• Micanopy, Florida
• Lambertville, NJ
• the Goodwill on Rt. 111, Monroe, CT, just after the Big Y
• Common Market, Ashville, NC
• The Share House on Jackson Rd.
• Ann Arbor, MI, just East of Zeeb
• Opportunity Shop, Dubois, WY
• Baltimore
• Essex, Maryland
• Dallastown, PA
• Saranac Lake, NY
• The bins, Portland, OR