Heather and Ben Images!

I am pleased to announce that we are done with the narrowing-down and editing processes, and are currently hard at work exploring the world of book production. So if you're expecting a book, it's on its way soon!

For now, here are some Heather Kraft and Ben Heyer images to catch you folks up.

Heather Kraft:




Ben Heyer:

The Whistle Stop

We stopped at tiny cafe in Frontenac MN, along US 61 just south of Red Wing. They had delicious grilled cheese and everyone stared at Heather's tattoos. Frontenac is unincorporated with a population of 1450.

This is what the Whistle Stop looks like on Google Streetview, although the address isn't correct.

And this is what popped up on my computer in the parking lot for two seconds. It was so ridiculous and random that, we drove all over the Whistle Stop's tiny parking lot waiting for it to come back up so I could screenshot it. Eventually Ben suggested we drive towards the brown fence just visible in the far left of the above Streetview shot, saying, "they have a fence, they might like boobs!" And he was right.

Bangor

Despite the Lord of the Rings-y name, Bangor was not full of Orcs. Just sweet old cars and factories.

This One's For Colin Marx

Because it's Labor day this weekend and because I feel like I should, I'm giving you guys an extra big dose of walk pictures! Hooray! These pictures are from our explorations of LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Keep in mind they are only mildly edited.

This was the first thing we saw upon entering LaCrosse. It was creepy and beautiful and had state pride all in one.


One of the more snapshotty pictures. This is a statue stealing Ben's hat.


Heather photographing the river.


People staring at Heather photographing the river.


This is not from American Graffiti, but we could have sworn that it was.


This was the old, smelly, cheap hotel we stayed in. We were pretty sure there was a body in the wall cavity that we could feel through the wallpaper.

Sleeping arrangements.

Heather in the morning.

Ben in the morning.

Lake City

I like your bizarre mismatched signage, Lake City.

Posting Again!

Heather photographing a grave outside Lake Geneva, right before the heatstroke. Also please note the American flag, which was a reoccurring theme on our trip.

Where are your updates, Meg Dolan?

All of you may be asking this. Well, I moved. Finished unpacking Sunday. Started MCAD on Monday. Tuesday afternoon my graphics card on my computer gave up the fight. So as soon as I get her back from the shop, this blog will once again be a nice and regular operation. For now, sit tight. It should only be a few days.

View From My Bike

Look at us fools biking with our cameras on our backs. Hot damn!

Corrupt Card

The card I bought specifically for the trip corrupted on the first day. I did file recovery and got some pretty amazing stuff back though. This is my favorite one by far.

I'm going on vacation for five-ish days. I won't have internet. Sit tight guys!

The Leave Taking

Getting ready to set out from the MCAD parking lot, safety van full of bikes and Owen in tow. Also please note the three waterbottles near my bike. I actually brought eight.

The Walk Blog Begins

And now begins the epic journey blog! Due to time-off-from-jobs limitations, we decided to do a combination of biking and walking. We also brought a Safety Van, driven by our friend Owen, a painting major at MCAD, which we wound up very much needing at the end.




I feel it's appropriate to start off with this photo. This is a photo of us taking pictures in Lake Geneva, taken by Owen.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who donated and supported us in achieving our dream:

Bethany Knowles-Thompson, Dustin Davis, Dylan Davis, Riley Tucker, Salina Trevino, Sam Perez, Curtis Valasek, Katie Marsan, Barb Lindgren, Julie Ford, Angie Oase, Eric Damon Walters, Jon Miller, Rae Amitay, Karen Tim Eric Laurel and Ariana Hays, Rob Cathy and Evan Berry, Cathy Kemelmacher, Jill Kazaniuk, Mercedes Lenort, Mike Pavlik, Louise Julia Bucky and Penn Dolan, Tom and Mary Dolan, Hui-min Tsen, Rachel Ian and Emma Cobb, Katherine Gibbons, Mike Dust, Katie Ryan, Danielle Keller, Gina Giampaolo, Charlotte Ferguson, Paula Lieberman, Kristy Hinz, Sara Fowler, Mary Kay Ayers, Emily Canibano, Dan Sinclair, David Goldes, Paul Shambroom, Molly McHugh, Cate Vremeland, Paula Newman, Vince Leo, Paul Kulander, Colette Bernhard, Chris Fassett, Alexis Akagawa, Rebecca Weinstock, George Slade, Susan Calmenson, Tom Clare and Bebe Anderson, Darryl Drozdik, Linda and Steve Dever, Heidi Norton, Ja'Nane Kovarik, Rachel Allie Cait and Jim Wickersham, Patricia Briggs, Iza Suelli, Shannon McKay, Ryan Hughes, Teagan White, Barbara Redmond, Peter Steinick, Chris Korn, Stevie Rexroth and the MCAD Media Arts Department, Colin Marx, Boris Ran, Fred Finn, Nancy Cowans, Merlin Jahn, Christina Sorensen and Deanna Minkler.

And of course our families and Owen McBride Platt.

---

"Well, I'm back." - Sam Gamgee

Almost!

So, we made funding. It's now sitting in my bank account waiting for use on our fabulous walk, which starts on Wednesday! Well, it's a bike ride now, because Ben could only get a week off work, but we feel that a bike ride might be even funner than a walk. So thank you to everyone who donated, and you'll be hearing from us soon!

:D

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1034168593/impressions-of-the-midland-a-photographic-walk-fro


Hoooooray. :D

These are our Thank You Faces!

WOWZER! YOU GUYS RULE!

29% in 24 hours!

Thank you all so much for helping us so quickly! What a wonderful group of people we know!

Paul, David, Shannon, Rae, Mom, Barbara, Teagan, Peter, Ryan, and our mystery backer JMiller, you guys are the best!

Love,

M/B/H

21% funding!

Hey all,

Wow! We've reached $466 and are 21% funded within 24 hours! That's so amazing! You guys are really the best.

Love,

Three Are We

DONATE!

We're walking from Minneapolis to Chicago! Give us your spare change!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1034168593/impressions-of-the-midland-a-photographic-walk-fro

Thanks to Ryan and Shannon for being our first backers and for getting us to 18% funded within 5 minute of posting!

New Projects

These are in the works for the summer:

1. Walking from Minneapolis to Chicago on a photographic zombie apocalypse simulation pilgrimage.
2. Hitting on boys across the street and then getting angry and insulting them when they ignore us simulated performance.
3. Bodily fluid experiments on 4x5 film.

Squat Gallery Non-Opening

The very first Squat Gallery Non-Opening for the first Squat Gallery show titled "Fuck for All", will be held near the beginning of March if all goes according to plan. All are invited! BYOB and be ready to socialize! More details coming soon!

-Codename Regis

What is Squat Gallery?

Squat Gallery is an ever-moving and art-world-resistant artist collective and outdoor gallery. Located around the Minneapolis area, we have weekly unsanctioned installations in public areas to bring more fine art to the public and non-gallery-frequenting public, and to further promote ourselves in a world where it is increasingly hard to get accepted into galleries.

Collectively, we enjoy margaritas and the smell of film fixer.