I’m still on cloud nine—and a bit exhausted—after the Emotional Baggage Cart Parade, which took place along 14th Street in Manhattan from October 18-20 as part of the Art in Odd Places (AiOP) Festival. For three days, this public art initiative invited people to acknowledge and lighten the psychological burdens we all carry daily. Ordinary shopping carts were transformed into mobile art installations, offering a powerful visual and interactive metaphor for the emotional baggage we accumulate.
Over 500 participants came together to confront and symbolically release their own burdens, creating a profound experience of communal healing and empathy. As I edit stories for a series of videos showcasing the interactions and personal stories from the event, I am deeply moved by how this project resonated with so many.
My deepest thanks go out to the incredible parade team—without you, none of this would have been possible. April Tracey, Ivy Brown, Amy Andrieux, Anne Choi, Ulysses Williams, Gigi Matthews, Maria Ross, Farai Chideya, Cheryl Mack, Bryant Small, Valerie Huhn, Susan Evans Grove, Lucy Rovetto, Donna Kessinger, Maria & Shalik Thomas and family, Ivy Brown Gallery, Kangaroo Courier, and CustomSashs.com—thank you all for your invaluable support and contributions.
A special thank you to Patricia Miranda and Christopher Kaczmarek, curators of Art in Odd Places 2024: CARE, along with Curatorial Manager Valentina Zamora, Producer Robin Schatell, and AiOP Founder & Director Ed Woodham, for providing such a thoughtful and inclusive space for art and community.
Stay tuned for the video series that captures these moments of shared release and resilience. Until then, I’ll be reflecting on the magic that happens when art becomes a space for connection, healing, and transformation.
