BLOOMS ON THE RUN

WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES A MEMORY? 

When we set out to create an interactive flower installation for Bloomsday, a massive running race here in Spokane that draws thousands of people every year, I wanted to create something that wasn’t just there, but something that could be felt. 

For most people, running is about more than just logging miles. Everyone hits the pavement on a different journey, right? Some run to get healthy, some run to stay sane, others for the adventure, or for the flowers along the way (okay, you got me.) 

If you’re a runner, you know that every set of shoes has a story to tell. What’s that old adage? 

YOU DON’T REALLY KNOW SOMEONE UNTIL YOU’VE WALKED A MILE IN THEIR SHOES. 

This idea led me straight to the thrift store to get a whole slew of running shoes, each one holding its own story, a past life of pavement pounding, all different sizes worn on different quests. Some were still shiny and new, others were old and worn out. But I imagined that all of them had seen their fair share of effort, determination, and maybe a few curse words at 5am. 

We painted them two bold colors, so when put on display, they represented a unification of many individual runners coming together. 

As people answered the question, “Why do I run? ” the shoes became vessels of new life, rebirth, and fresh starts, just like the spring blooms they held. 

What I loved about creating this episode is that it reminded me that we’re all on our own quests. The cool part is that we all start in the same place: one foot in front of the other, chasing something better.

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE TO SEE HOW IT ALL CAME TOGETHER!