Several weeks ago, I spoke before the Calistoga City Council about the project, sharing my designs, including the one above for City Hall (don't we have a City Hall with a lot of character?). I had spoken with our mayor, Chris Canning, in early December, and he gave me some great advice, including making sure what I'm doing is in compliance with street and tree ordinances. The City Council referred me to Dylan Feik, our City Manager, who is checking everything to ensure that. They've all been very supportive, and like the idea, for which I'm very thankful!

Hearts on the trees downtown, on Lincoln Avenue, Calistoga's main street, come first, though. All those hearts we've been making are going to be assembled into art pieces something like you see in the sketch above. Each tree will have its own art piece.  That's over fifty trees — so, you see, it's a big job!

Wouldn't it be nice to have hearts on the fence outside the Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga, in front of the Calistoga Art Center, too? I don't yet know if I'll be able to fund something as elaborate as this sketch above, but it's definitely something to aim for.

Each part of the project will go up in stages, as it will take some time to create them, and then install them. And there are more designs, for additional places in town, too. But when they're done — wow! Calistoga is definitely a town with a lot of heart. These will make it visible!

After our first Make-a-Heart Day at the Calistoga Art Center, I came back the next day for more work. And what would that be? Making more painted art papers to become hearts, for one, as you see above. I also collected the art papers created the day before, that had dried overnight, and pressed them flat (see how the corners curl as they dry?). 

There were small wooden hearts to paint (two coats) as well — this is only the front side; the sides and back remained to be done later. And there was everything to clean up and put away! My thanks, again, to the Calistoga Art Center, for their support and for allowing me to hold these Make-a-Heart events and do all the work it takes to put these installations together! It was a little quieter there during the holidays and during January's storms, which helped enable me to do this.