Thanks to theK for the birthday gift of 283 eyes. While theK, Beth and I were surveying the car before our Happy Hour, an older man came up and said "What is this? The eyes of Texas?"
Total eyes for project: 18,125
Also thanks to Vince for his donation. I bought glue with the birthday cash.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
I am programmed at 33 to perform childishly
Kurt Vonnegut died on my 33rd birthday. For all I know, he really died on April 11. But for me, Kurt Vonnegut left my world on April 12, 2007. My 33rd birthday.
For weeks, I had been trying to decide what to put on the hood of my car. I could just do random eyes like the rest of the car, but I thought the hood deserved more ... a design that meant something real to me. And about a week ago, I decided it would be the asshole drawing from Breakfast of Champions. For anyone unfamiliar with it, it looks like a giant asterisk so it’s family safe, but it’s something that symbolizes a lot more to me.
Last weekend, the weather was so bad I did not get out the glue. Instead I continued my rereading of Vonnegut’s work that began when I picked up Breakfast of Champions to make sure I got the number of lines right on the design.
I do not go to work on my birthday (if I can help it). I took today off with the hope that the weather would be clear so I could work on my car. This morning I woke up to beautiful weather. I was excited to get to work. Excited to celebrate my birthday doing something I love. Then I heard that Vonnegut had died. He died on the day I planned to put a large googly-eyed replica of his asshole drawing on the hood of my car.
So it goes.
For weeks, I had been trying to decide what to put on the hood of my car. I could just do random eyes like the rest of the car, but I thought the hood deserved more ... a design that meant something real to me. And about a week ago, I decided it would be the asshole drawing from Breakfast of Champions. For anyone unfamiliar with it, it looks like a giant asterisk so it’s family safe, but it’s something that symbolizes a lot more to me.
Last weekend, the weather was so bad I did not get out the glue. Instead I continued my rereading of Vonnegut’s work that began when I picked up Breakfast of Champions to make sure I got the number of lines right on the design.
I do not go to work on my birthday (if I can help it). I took today off with the hope that the weather would be clear so I could work on my car. This morning I woke up to beautiful weather. I was excited to get to work. Excited to celebrate my birthday doing something I love. Then I heard that Vonnegut had died. He died on the day I planned to put a large googly-eyed replica of his asshole drawing on the hood of my car.
So it goes.
Monday, April 9, 2007
rainy days
The bad weather prevented me from working on the car at all this weekend. Now the car is on a trip without me. I'm hoping for good weather once it gets back. It's so close to being done that I'm anxious to work on it again.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
The eyes have it
Another four hour day. Lots of chats with neighbors. Really bad sunburn even though I used a lot of sun screen. Special thanks to the self-proclaimed most amazing person in the world for going out and buying me glue when I ran out of it.
One of my neighbors rode up on her scooter and said "What are you going to call her? The eyes have it?"
One of my neighbors rode up on her scooter and said "What are you going to call her? The eyes have it?"
Saturday, March 31, 2007
One side down, one to go
I worked for about four hours Saturday and finished the passenger side of the car. I learned that I can talk on the phone and work on the car at the same time. Thanks to Steakfinger for helping me test my abilities. Yeah multi-tasking!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
You can see everywhere
I spent close to four hours working on the car Saturday and it is now symmetrical again.
The beautiful weather meant a lot of my neighbors were out so I met several new people as I worked. One of my blind neighbors felt the car while waiting for his ride. I love the texture myself, so I suggested it as a way to explain what I was doing. Many drivers stopped to ask me questions, as I was working in one of the main cab/passenger drop areas for my apartment complex. One said that I should be safer while driving since all the eyes on my car will make it so that I can see everywhere.
The beautiful weather meant a lot of my neighbors were out so I met several new people as I worked. One of my blind neighbors felt the car while waiting for his ride. I love the texture myself, so I suggested it as a way to explain what I was doing. Many drivers stopped to ask me questions, as I was working in one of the main cab/passenger drop areas for my apartment complex. One said that I should be safer while driving since all the eyes on my car will make it so that I can see everywhere.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
That's a Fancy Car
I've gotten a lot of questions recently about how I wash the car. The car has been through a drive-thru car wash and came out unharmed (although I didn’t stay under the drier for the entire time). I always wash the car before I start gluing eyes and normally, I just go to a self-serve car wash to clean it.
I didn’t get many eyes on the car today. I had planned to make the passenger side match the driver’s side today, but it started sprinkling. I continued gluing for awhile, but it soon started raining too much to keep the glue dry. Maybe with daylight savings time, maybe there will be enough light after work for me to focus on the car a little each day.
After my failed work attempt. I went to lunch at Phil’s Ice House. When I was leaving a family that had been at Amy’s Ice Cream was looking at the car. The mom asked if it was OK for them to touch the car. One of the little girls said “This is a fancy car. I like fancy things.”
I didn’t get many eyes on the car today. I had planned to make the passenger side match the driver’s side today, but it started sprinkling. I continued gluing for awhile, but it soon started raining too much to keep the glue dry. Maybe with daylight savings time, maybe there will be enough light after work for me to focus on the car a little each day.
After my failed work attempt. I went to lunch at Phil’s Ice House. When I was leaving a family that had been at Amy’s Ice Cream was looking at the car. The mom asked if it was OK for them to touch the car. One of the little girls said “This is a fancy car. I like fancy things.”
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Daily Texan
My office is next to the office of the Daily Texan (the University of Texas' newspaper) and yesterday after work Katherine Fan saw my car and talked to me for a few minutes while Garrett Traya took photos of the car. I went into work this morning to find this looking out from the newsstand.
Such a great photo and write up. I think Katherine does a good job of describing what it's like to see the car in person. The story begins:
"When other drivers began yelling at April Burcham a couple of days ago, she was afraid she had cut someone off. It turned out they just wanted to compliment her car, and with good reason. Burcham's red Ford Escort seems to be covered in bubbles. Upon closer look, they morph into googly eyes. Dozens and dozens of colorful plastic eyes, commonly used for dolls, line the driver's side and trunk of her car. Some of the plastic eyes retain moisture from the air, catching even more light depending on the angles of the sunlight."
Such a great photo and write up. I think Katherine does a good job of describing what it's like to see the car in person. The story begins:
"When other drivers began yelling at April Burcham a couple of days ago, she was afraid she had cut someone off. It turned out they just wanted to compliment her car, and with good reason. Burcham's red Ford Escort seems to be covered in bubbles. Upon closer look, they morph into googly eyes. Dozens and dozens of colorful plastic eyes, commonly used for dolls, line the driver's side and trunk of her car. Some of the plastic eyes retain moisture from the air, catching even more light depending on the angles of the sunlight."
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Vandalism2
I'm not sure if someone was writing their name or if this is just random symbols. This appeared on the car sometime between Saturday and Tuesday. This image also shows how dirty the car is. Any glue residue attracts a lot of dust.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
what you lookin' for?
I only finished the driver's side door today. Direct sunlight makes the glue set up VERY fast. It also results in very bad sunburns for fair-skinned folk.
A truck load of people stopped to look at the car while I was working. They asked several questions from far away and then drove closer to say "What you lookin' for?" then "See you later." Ha!
A truck load of people stopped to look at the car while I was working. They asked several questions from far away and then drove closer to say "What you lookin' for?" then "See you later." Ha!
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Eyes in the wind
I worked six hours today. It was very windy and several little eyes escaped into the parking lot. For the most part it was a beautiful day, so several of my neighbors stopped to ask questions about the car.
The older lady who drives her rascal scooter at breakneck speeds through the apartment complex said her special transit service driver (cap metro little bus that picks her up to take her to places her rascal won't go) had been asking where I got all the eyes. She seemed disappointed that it was via the internets.
An exchange student was surprised that I was working on the car in the parking lot. He thought I had some other place to do that work. He also asked me if I was an artist.
Passenger's side (I just did the line that goes from the trunk to the front of the car above the window on this side today)
Driver's side above the window
Driver's side (I also finished half of the back door on this side)
The older lady who drives her rascal scooter at breakneck speeds through the apartment complex said her special transit service driver (cap metro little bus that picks her up to take her to places her rascal won't go) had been asking where I got all the eyes. She seemed disappointed that it was via the internets.
An exchange student was surprised that I was working on the car in the parking lot. He thought I had some other place to do that work. He also asked me if I was an artist.
Passenger's side (I just did the line that goes from the trunk to the front of the car above the window on this side today)
Driver's side above the window
Driver's side (I also finished half of the back door on this side)
Friday, February 23, 2007
Eyes
I now have enought eyes to finish or to come really close to finishing.
1250 black variety pack 10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm
1250 multi-colored variety pack 10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm
1250 painted variety pack 10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm
1250 bright color variety pack 10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm
4000 12mm
5000 15 mm
20 40 mm
20 35 mm
80 28 mm
80 30 mm
20 40 mm color eyes
20 35 mm color eyes
80 28 mm color eyes
80 30 mm color eyes
Total this entry 14,400
Total eyes for project: 17,842
1250 black variety pack 10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm
1250 multi-colored variety pack 10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm
1250 painted variety pack 10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm
1250 bright color variety pack 10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm
4000 12mm
5000 15 mm
20 40 mm
20 35 mm
80 28 mm
80 30 mm
20 40 mm color eyes
20 35 mm color eyes
80 28 mm color eyes
80 30 mm color eyes
Total this entry 14,400
Total eyes for project: 17,842
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Short pause
I'm currently pausing the work while I build up supply reserves. I want to have enough eyes and glue on hand to do the sides before I get started. The car made it back from its trip with no damage. Reports have it that while cruising the parking lot at Wal-Mart in Lawton, Okla., it was admired by oldsters and hipsters alike. I can’t wait to get it completely covered.
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Googly eyes are watching you
I spent about an hour putting the eyes removed earlier this week back on the car and finishing up the trunk lid. I had a few more eyes, so I also did the gas tank cover. The car is about to go on a long trip, so we'll see how the eyes hold up to long periods of 70 mph.
Eyes
The bulk company sent me the rest of my order at no charge, woohoo!
125 black variety pack 10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm
125 multi-colored variety pack 10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm
125 painted variety pack 10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm
125 bright color variety pack 10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm
108 14mm
150 6mm(?) donated eyes. Thanks, Sharon!
Total eyes this entry: 758
Total eyes for project: 3,442
125 black variety pack 10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm
125 multi-colored variety pack 10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm
125 painted variety pack 10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm
125 bright color variety pack 10 mm, 12 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm
108 14mm
150 6mm(?) donated eyes. Thanks, Sharon!
Total eyes this entry: 758
Total eyes for project: 3,442
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