That's our friend John. He's standing on a blue square {waiting for a blue car to drive by} of a game that he developed, designed and painted with his wife Kim that is now on a sidewalk in Culver City.
For those of you not familiar with L.A., it is a big city and by big, I mean wide. It covers a large expanse, and for this reason much of the city is broken down into what I like to call "digestible" neighborhoods, each with it's own personality or vibe. Culver City is one of those neighborhoods, originally famous for its film studios, that in the last decade has been through quite a bit of re-gentrification and is now extra hip and happenin' {also one of my favorite L.A. neighborhoods ~ umm, hello Tender Greens = one of my favorite restaurants}
On a *side note* please don't quote me on my history of L.A. or Culver City, and John and Kim {because we know you did most of the work} I hope I have the facts right about how this game evolved, {but I am also guilty of having margaritas during the time you explained more of the details as to how this project came to you, or how you found it?}
Funded by an arts grant from the city of Culver City, John applied and won. Seriously, how great is that? a} that there are grants available for this type of creativity and b} John won. In his regular life, he is a writer, mostly television, a surfing friend of Sean's {first} and then me via osmosis of me dating Sean.
I'm going to be honest and say that while a certain childlike quality exists in me, insert my art here, I tend to shy away from game playing. What is that anyway? Is that called becoming an adult? Because I used to love games. In fact I could play them for hours at a time. You know I think it's really because as adults we very rarely get to play games the way we used to as kids...unless there's money involved and then your in Vegas.
A game that asks you to move ahead a space at a time when a certain color car drives by in a certain direction, here's what playing Culverland did for me: It brought me right into the moment. Since being "in the moment" is not only a catch phrase for our time but something I'm trying to do more of in my life {because it calms me down, keeps me grounded and appreciative of what I already have} I was pretty excited to find myself there....for a moment. Well, probably at least ten minutes.
It was crazy fun. All of us played together, Sean, I, John, Kim and their son Ian who is 5. What's the message of this story. Play more games. Be in the moment. Oh and have the best margarita{s} ever on a Friday afternoon with your friends at Kay N Dave's ;)
Now if that doesn't make you want to run out and play Culverland? Do it soon! It's only up through November 1, 2010.
