the shoe project
"Don't Judge your neighbor until you've walked a mile in their shoes."
The Shoe Project is a 400 square foot mural rendered in spray paint and acrylic paint. The mural was painted on 4x8 foot metal panels and will be assembled in Monticello, MN in 2022.
"Don't judge your neighbor until you've walked a mile in their shoes". This has always been one of my favorite quotes. I believe it has been even more prevalent in these past few years and we could all have more empathy in this regard. This mural took me longer than any painting I have ever worked on- it truly was my passion project. Each pair of shoes corresponds with a story from the individual to which the shoes belong to. I did not edit a single story; I gave the individuals a blank paper and let them say what they felt was important in understanding what life is like in THEIR shoes.
This project took me to strangers' doorsteps and opened my eyes to some unique walks of life. The mural took hundreds of hours between brainstorming ideas, choosing color schemes, searching for the perfect shoes, driving to meet the shoe owners, photographing, painting, and interviewing.
Although each pair of shoes belongs to a specific person, I hope aspects of these stories resonate with each person viewing the piece. I hope everyone can not only relate, but also appreciate the many different walks of life and unique paths we all have.
“This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Central MN Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.”
