This gift is in the spirit of my book, This Is for You, but didn’t make the final cut!
A gift for my town, Oakland, California, circa 2016, the Desk at Lake Merritt is an occasional, free letter writing desk that is open to the public on random days of the year when I feel inspired to set it up! You can just have a seat, write a letter, put it in a pre-stamped envelope, and drop it into the closest mailbox (map provided).
What a thrill to hang out under a huge oak tree all day and watch people discover the desk!
A drop-down secretary style, full of cubbies and epistolary surprises.
Sandwich board sign by the walking path, to encourage participation. Yes, this is for YOU. And you, and you, and YOU.
The letterpress printed greeting card is of the very scene where the desk is situated. The back of the card says: “This letter was written to you from THE DESK AT LAKE MERRITT, a free and public letter-writing station in beautiful Oakland, California.” And the orange and blue inks (just a 2-color print job)overlap to make the green!
The stationery was lovingly designed by Oakland artist Michael Wertz (who also designed many of my Postage Stamp Protest artistamps) and letterpress printed by my pals at Parallel Print Shop. Thank you to The San Francisco Awesome Foundation for a $500 grant that helped make it all happen.
Parent and child sharing the desk chair = swoon! Heart is officially warmed.
Me, chillin’ under an oak tree, just witnessing.
Since then, I’ve added a second desk to make it a series! The Desk at The Morcom Rose Garden is the site this time. I’m hoping to set up all the desks on the same day sometime soon and provide a little passport to “visit them all!” (I gotta add at least a third desk first, right?)
The back of the desk was painted by Damon over at New Bohemia Signs in San Francisco. Gorgeous!
The postcard from The Desk at The Morcom Rose Garden, illustrated by the ever-talented and skilled Maria Schoettler, who also illustrates floral stationery and tea towels.
As seen on my fridge, sent to me from my 5yo friend at the desk on debut day.
In case you’re wondering if this is the same rose garden featured in Jenny Odell’s beautiful book, How To Do Nothing, the answer is YES. 😉
Oh, hello, cutie pie inchworm!
(Desk in the distance.)