Phillip's Galleries

Saturday, August 12

I decided to crank down
and finish up everything
for the flag class last night,
so I could check it off my
list and focus on other
Burning Man preparations.

This was a marathon session
for me, and the longest I?ve
attempted so far.

I went through every drop of
vinegar in my house, and used
every bit of dye I have.

I have some colors that I rarely
use, and now they?re all gone?
gone, I say! Ha ha ha?
(maniacal laugh ensues)

I decided to hang the flags to dry,
in part so I could see how they all
looked together.

I knew this would be the only time
to see them ALL at once, before
they were given out to the class
participants.

Consider it a miniature dry run for
the Flagger Paradise installation.
Woo!

I wrapped our carport with twine
and added flags as I unfolded
them.

When I hung the first pieces,
my upstairs neighbors noticed
and had lots of comments and
questions for me.

They?d call down from the third
floor and were very interested
in the whole process.

I had to beg off conversation so
I could get back into my garage
and dye more sets.

I was dying about three sets at
a time, popping them into the
microwave like servings of filet
mignon.

I was dying them pretty quickly
compared to the time I usually
take -- call them ?Speed Spirals?.

A security officer came by when
I had the first wall complete. He
said that it ?wasn?t against the
rules, but THAT?S something you
don?t see every day? He hung
around long enough for me to
set up the blacklights, and then
took pictures with his phone
camera.

More neighbors stopped by as I
added the second wall. They
were commenting and asking lots
of questions. It was starting to
get fun?

There were almost a dozen people
gathered by the time I?d filled all
four outer walls and started hanging
the inner diagonals.

I wished I?d set up music and had
drinks to offer?it would have been
a real tie dye party!

I finally finished around
midnight, and was folding
the pieces for packing as
people dispersed.

My upstairs neighbor,
who had been watching
most of the time, invited
me up for more ?party?.

Again I begged off,
needing to finish.

Still, it was cute to see him
taking his trash our while
wearing a speedo.

I?m really looking forward
to this class.

I think it will be pretty
amazing to have fifty
people sew flags and
dance together.

Cheers,
Phillip