Jerusalem

Summer 2012

I have been working for three weeks painting the Keep Walking Little Man piece around Jerusalem. I have completed about 130 of 1000.

I have been attracting small crowds as I work. So far the responses have been very positive. I have met some nice people who immediately identify what I am doing as street art. A side benefit of the piece is my Hebrew is improving with each conversation.

I had a group of young boys watch my documenting in Beit Vegan. We talked for a moment. I set off for the next one. I started in working when they ran from the previous one to where I was. They stood around, talking among themselves and asking me questions. Their presence made me more conspicuous. A group of girls joined them and stood by watching and talking and asking questions. One of the moms decided what was so interesting to the kids. She asked what I was doing. I was expecting to be told to finish and go. Instead, she responded very positively. She said it was beautiful. As I set off, the three boys asked which way I was going. When I told them, they were disappointed that they wouldn’t be able to follow me to the next.

At a site near Har Nof, a motorcycle delivery man was watching me. He started making noises to get my attention. When I looked up, he gave me the thumbs up, a wink, revved his engine and rode off.

The only negative responses so far were outside the Unemployment Office. I had just finished my weekly check in at the Unemployment Office, when I saw a set of little men that needed painting.

The guards from the Unemployment Office came out and told me I was not allowed to paint the metal plates and the sidewalk. “They are city property, you need permission to do that”, they said. I said, “They belong to Bezeq. And I have been painting them all over the city.” That seemed to satisfy them. Telling the truth is always the best policy, even if it doesn’t really make any sense.

A few minutes later, someone from building maintenance came out and told me the police would fine me, and I needed to stop. I stayed calm, kept working, and then left quickly. First negative encounter while working on the piece.

If you see me working, please stop by and talk. If you find a Little Man, let me know. I am interested in knowing how they are received and how they survive.