Three months ago, Sally Marbry conceived the idea to transform a utilitarian electrical box in front of the Greyhound station in downtown Redding into a piece of public art. This 18-part series is a chronicle of her work and her observations of life on the corner of Pine and Butte.
Part 4: Say What?
August 4 Street people roll off. Coffee spills and more scratches with pen. I sweep and wash in daily ritual before I paint dark lines on boards.
Local business people are aware and happy. A Russian foreign student asks, in very broken English, if I am the painter. I sit there with paint and brush in hand and wonder how I should respond. Summer traveling students ask others of destinations.
Meet a street local I named “Maverick.” I catch the idea that he loves life and downtown but I only answer in general terms so as to not break pace. He wants to read a scripture to me. I pack to leave.
To be continued…
Click here to find all the Greyhound Chronicles.
Visit Sally on September 12 on Pine and Butte as she reveals her electrical box turned masterpiece as part of September’s 2nd Saturday ArtHop.
Sally Marbry has shared her fine art, ceramics and sculpture skills as a teacher, product designer and interior designer. For the past year, Sally has been the host and writer of “Home Zone,” weekly on KLXR. She also chairs Viva Downtown Redding’s Design Committee, which spearheaded the public art and street beautification project. Reach Sally at Earth2Sal@charter.net.
