You'll Never Guess This Quirky Habit I have That Has Turned Into a Travelling Tradition
They always make for great stories in the end.
Everyone has a story to tell. Even places are full of stories that are waiting to be explored. You just have to do a little digging to find out what stories lie behind each place to uncover the true character of a location that you travel to. Then you will fully understand why the people are who they are and why they love what they love. I find this to be true in their art. As I visit a new place, I like to go into their museums or art shops and buy a small piece of fine art to take home with me. It is like a conversation starter to talk about the background of the place I went to and share a little culture that maybe someone can relate to.
On my recent trips to North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky and Indiana I tried to bring back something colorful. I wanted to make a memory of that place that I visited to make a story about it later. I found these stickers in an art shop in Murphy, North Carolina and I love them because they are very empowering.
The one of the statue head bust is a testament to the year I started my Master of Fine Arts Degree in the Academy of Art University for Photography. I want to pursue Photojournalism as a way to maintain the storytelling ideal that I bring with me from my Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism. As I am the type of temperament that appreciates art, I wanted to take a momento with me that marked the commence of my art degree and the photos that I would take to tell those stories.
Speaking of a good story. The sticker of the female with a strong arm in robotic skin spoke volumes to me about women’s self-worth. Women are not things but a meaningful part of the family dynamic. We are mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, and wives. We are thoughtful and sensitive offering wisdom through our words and actions as we sacrifice our time and energy to raise families and counsel friendships. We are truly special beings and not just objects to be objectified by men. As someone who needs to hear these words of affirmation from time to time to let her value settle into the chambers of her heart, I really loved to collect this sticker and make it a part of my artistic collection.
Lastly, the sticker I brought back from Kentucky is peculiar in its own way. I love the way penguins wear their formal attire out on the snow-covered rocks. They seem as if they are on their way to wine and dine some special lady penguinette and take her to a fancy opera afterward. That’s just my imagination being playful— but you know it’s true.
Anyway, I’ve never seen blue penguins before and these creatures stood as big statues in the front of the 21C Museum Hotel in Kentucky. When you enter the museum you are encountered by unusual fine art on the walls of the museum. With their quirky subjects and unique storylines captured in paint, it’s like you step into a whole different world. You will be inspired by the ages as artists from different periods and locations have gathered together on those walls to tell some meaningful stories. I enjoyed every minute of it.
I would have collected more stickers from other art shops, but time or the resources didn’t permit as some locations were closed. When we visited Jeffersonville, Indiana I would have collected an art piece but time didn’t permit. I was stunned by how small yet pristine it is. It is like you have stepped into a Hallmark movie with the way the design of the town’s streets is laid out. If it wasn’t so small I would consider moving there because it is such a charming place. However, I’m not ready to encounter small-town gossip so I would rather stay in the good ol’ Sunshine State for now.
If I would have had time between flights, I would have visited some stores in the airport to see what I could collect from there. Some of the stores are very unique to their location and you can find some interesting things. However, I’m just glad that I found these rare gems in the places I’ve visited so far and would love to find more on the road.
Do you also collect quirky souvenirs from your travels? Have you ever thought about taking a piece of art with you from wherever you go? If so I would love to hear about your stories in the comments.