Kickstarter

THE ROAD TRIP DREAM

Many of us have had it before – when we first learned to drive, when we bought our first car, or when we wanted somebody else to do all the work and just kick it back watching the scenery go by.

I’ve been incredibly lucky to been a part of dozens of road trips, short and long, but all the way until the ripe “old” driving age of 21, I got my driver’s permit and a month later, a driver’s license. I was addicted to driving instantly. And I was finally ready to set out on my own road trip dream.

-------------------------

THIS BRINGS ME TO KICKSTARTER...

In the last two years, I’ve helped fund over 200 projects in every category with almost $10,000 of my student-earned money. I’m not here to get “money back” for all that I put in, but to encourage the ball to continue rolling here on the fantastic Kickstarter!

Here’s the deal for my project:

I’M GOING ON THESE TRIPS NO MATTER WHAT!

This project is NOT for profit or to pay for my vacation.

I'M USING FUNDING TO SEND BURSTS OF INSPIRATIONS I WILL GET ON THE ROAD BACK TO YOU. I'm a multidisciplinary artist with an extremely wide range of interests, so these "inspirations" come in many, many forms.

I want these journeys to inspire people to travel, to road trip, to photograph, to make art, to connect, and to become more conscious of the United States and Canada (whether they live there or not).

Each pledge includes Kickstarter fees, processing fees, printing/creative costs, equipment costs, handling and shipping costs, and of course whatever the item(s) cost. I will be printing/creating anything I can in-house, rather than outside sources to ensure your pledges get to you with quality and proper timing.

Kickstarter is all or nothing so if I don’t meet my goal, nothing happens (being that you keep your money). But, if I meet or surpass my goal, your pledges will allow me to send parts of my journeys to you and other backers.

-------------------------

A LITTLE BACKGROUND...

My “big” plan is to visit all 50 US states and 13 Canadian provinces.

But unlike a lot of people with the same ambition, I don’t want to do it all in one go, crammed into a month or two. So, I’m splitting this dream of mine into several different trips in ~5 years so I can spend a reasonable amount of time in each state/province, and to be realistic about my education/career.

I will be Couchsurfing (CSers, feel free to contact me!), calling up lost connections, sleeping in the car, or camping to minimize my accommodation costs as well as experiencing each location in a more direct and interactive way.

My ultimate end project (after all trips) will be determined as my inspirations begin to add up, but it will definitely include a unique travel guide and/or a photography book at the very least, if not bursts of inspiration for other projects (already have so many in mind). I even hope to bring these ideas abroad eventually!

-------------------------

AND THE REWARDS! (and sample photos)

EACH pledge level is marked with a level "alphabet letter" - you should pledge the highest pledge level you want and then subsequently add the lower pledges you want to combine with it, if you're interested in more than just one pledge level. (Or we can talk about creating a custom level, too)

The only pledge level that is NOT accumulative is Pledge A since every other pledge level includes it and also Pledge B also incorporates it into its level as well - apologies if it's at all confusing.

Mailed Postcards – Bought and mailed on location; mailed at random OR you choose the state/province (or specific “stop” if possible) OR you will get one from each state/province depending on your pledge level. I will choose postcards as interesting/beautiful as possible!

Postcard Prints – After the trip, postcards will be printed from my photographs from the trip. A random high-quality glossy standard-size postcard from a set of 60 OR the entire set of 60 will be mailed to you.

Original Sketch – Like an anthropologist, I often record what I see/study with drawings (with notes, too). You will have a large array of choices of sketches I make along the road. You will receive the ACTUAL, PHYSICAL sketch and you can do whatever you want with it – sell it, frame it, rip it up, whatever floats your boat – but I still retain rights as the artist to reproduce or use a digital copy anyway I like. The size will range from a standard (unused) napkin to a letter-size (8.5”x11”) standard paper.

Photographic Prints - You will have at least 25 photographs to choose from worthy of hanging up . Prints up to 13”x19” will be printed in-house on premium high-quality paper (matte, art, cold press, hot press) with inks guaranteed to stay vivid through generations. Prints larger than 13”x19” will be outsourced to highly reputable U.S. printing companies. Each print will be signed and limited and numbered out of 50).

Coffee Table Book – This will be more than your typical photography book. Besides being filled with beautiful photographs from the trip, it will also include short essays, art, maps, and other related goodies worthy of printing. Book length to be determined on amount of content, but will likely to be ~80 pages, hardcover, and printed in the U.S. 

Original Drawing – You will receive the ACTUAL, PHYSICAL drawing of something that is inspired along the way – this may be based off a sketch or photograph. This can range from landscape or animal drawings to anthropologically-based fine art drawings. My style will be semi-photo-realistic for this project. The size will range from 8”x10” to 11”x17” on high-quality drawing paper with graphite, watercolor, charcoal, ink, etc. I retain rights as the artist to reproduce or use a digital copy anyway I like.

Custom Road Trip Plans – Consider me to be your private travel agent. I have a massive collection of travel books and other resources (personal experience, local informants, and research) that I will utilize to help you plan ONE road trip up to a month’s time anywhere in North America. This means that I will be ready at your disposal to either build an itinerary from scratch or to build around your ideas/needs. I cannot book or guarantee availability of attractions, food, or accommodations. This pledge only guarantees the framework and mapping of your trip as discussed and thus approved by you. Must be redeemed by June 2013.

Original Painting – You will receive the ACTUAL, PHYSICAL painting of something that is inspired along the way – this may be based off a sketch or drawing or photograph. This can range from landscape or animal to anthropologically-based fine art paintings. My style will be semi-photo-realistic for this project. The size will range from 8”x10” to 18”x24” on canvas with either acrylic or oil paints.  I retain rights as the artist to reproduce or use a digital copy anyway I like.

-------------------------

Trip #1 – The Northeast

7 US states and 4 Canadian provinces in 1 month.

NOTHING is off limits. Churches, national parks, universities, historic villages, food festivals, EVERYTHING. Please send all experiences in the states listed via message that you would love to share!

Some sample “stops” on the route:

New York: West Point, Cornell University, Finger Lakes, Lake George, Niagara Falls, Fort Ticonderoga, Woodstock, Zen Mountain Monastery, Erie Canal Village

Vermont: Green Mountain National Forest, Camels Hump State Park, Lake Champlain, Vermont Microbreweries, Vermont Cheese and Maple Syrup Farms

Massachusetts: Plymouth Rock, Walden Pond, Minute Man Historical National Park, Harvard University, Beacon Hill, Museum of Bad Art, Cape Cod, Wellfleet Drive-In Theater

Connecticut: Hartford, Bridgeport, Yale University, Mark Twain House/Museum, Gillette Castle State Park, Yale University

New Hampshire: White Mountain National Forest, Ossippee Pine Barrens, Mount Washington, Lake Winnipesaukee

Rhode Island: Newport’s Bellevue Mansions, Cliffwalk, Touro Synagogue, Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge, Watch Hill, Burlingame State Park

Maine: Acadia National Park, Baxter State Park, Old Sow Whirlpool, Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, Maine Lobser Festival, Bath Iron Works, Desert of Maine, Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village

Newfoundland and Labrador: Cape Spear (most eastern point of N. America), L'anse aux Meadows, Gros Morne National Park, Terra Nova National Park, East Coast Trail

New Brunswick: Hartland Covered Bridge, Confederation Bridge, Bay of Fundy

Prince Edward Island: Orwell Corner Historic Village, Prince Edward Island National Park, Green Gable

Nova Scotia: Joggins Fossil Cliffs, Ingonish Beach, Gampo Abbey, Cabot Trail, Peggy’s Cove, Citadel

------------------------- 

MESSAGE ME WITH ALL QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS! I AM HAPPY TO CREATE A CUSTOM PLEDGE IF YOU'VE GOT AN IDEA! :D

FOLLOW ALL TRIP UPDATES AT http://www.AWOLTO.com

ALL TEXT AND IMAGES (C) ANGIE KALEA HO