I do love those unexpected coincidences I come across in this project. I was wandering around Shadyside, wasting time before I was supposed to meet up with my brothers, when I found this sticker. While I usually just photograph the stickers I find, not putting much thought into the sticker at the time, this sticker gave me some pause. You see I am a hopeless romantic, once you get pass my sarcastic cynical shell. So a sticker that catches that moment right before a kiss is definitely something that's going to capture my attention. When I was going to use this photo the other day, I was generally just planning on discussing this small aspect of my personality and why these kind of images hit me. But when I put the photo on the site, I happened to notice that there was actually a signature in the bottom corner that I could use. So I looked the name up and it slowly dawned upon me that I've actually featured this individual before.
Sarah Trobee is the same artist who did the "Get Away" cactus from a couple of months ago. When I did that post though, I really only linked to her Society 6 page and her Instagram. This round of research brought up her personal website, with a contact page. Since I had every intention of trying to contact her the next time I featured one of her stickers, because I have another one that I definitely know is hers, I decided to reach out to her. She very graciously responded and we ended up having semi-interview. So this post is be another long one but I think it'll be worth the read. I only hope that I've managed to capture our conversation with some degree of accuracy. So Sarah, I was looking over your website and I see that you're originally from the Pittsburgh area? Yeah, I'm originally from Pittsburgh. I grew up on the Northside. I ended up heading to Chicago for college though. So I'm currently on and off in Pittsburgh. I saw that you were still in college, what year are you? I just finished up my 3rd year at Columbia College Chicago. This fall will be my senior year. Congrats, that's always a big year. What are you studying again? Thanks. I'm going for graphic design. So when did you to start creating stickers? Well I was always into drawing growing up and I still draw today. I started making stickers about two years ago because I was bored. I had a summer job working as a host for a restaurant in Shadyside, pretty close to where you found this sticker, and I would often end up doodling on post office labels while I was standing at host's stand. Actually come to think of it, I started making stickers in my senior year of high school. I realized you could order post office mailing labels in bulk for free. I really liked that it was free and that I could put my drawings up. And what would say drew you to stickers in general? It seemed like a fun thing to do. I really enjoy wandering the streets, especially after work, and being able to see the street art that is out there. There really isn't that much street art in the Northside, but with that summer job in Shadyside and my mom moving to another neighborhood it's been nice to see all street art out there. I really like seeing the GEM tags and the various post office label sticker art. Which do you prefer to make, the hand drawn stickers or printed ones? I started doing the printed stickers when I went to college. I go through the school to create them. It's a nice way to get a bunch done and it opens up more options for me. Since they're digital designs I have a little more range with what I can do with the images. It also means I can always create more of a design that I like. I do miss doing the hand drawn ones though. Each one was unique and I like knowing that it was the only one out there. There was also that sense of impermanence with them, since you never knew if someone was going to tear it down, take it for themselves, paint over it, or if it would just fall off. I'm really surprised that the sticker you found is still up there after two years. It's crazy. Yeah, you never know what you're going to find out there. But in general I do prefer doing the print ones. I like being able to do more and the digital aspect to them. What are some of your influences in your art? Hmm, well I guess one would be Shephard Fairey for a street art influence. Robert Valley, an artist and animator, is a big influence for me. I mean I'm really influenced by comic artists but his style is an important one. Umm, sorry I'm trying to think of some others. Oh Stanley Donwood, he's the artist that's done all of album artwork for Radiohead. I follow a lot of people on Instagram as well, like Mumblejinx. He's another Pittsburgh street artist. But I'd say that Robert Valley and Stanley Donwood are the big ones. So is there a particular subject you like to draw or is it whatever comes to mind? It's mostly whatever comes to mind. I do tend to draw people, although they are a little sad looking. I'm fairly sarcastic, so I like to draw people who are just done with things. That point at the end of situations that sums up someone's feelings on the subject. The sticker of two people about to kiss is actually the first one I put out there. I drew it while I working that summer after my first year at college. It was statement on those expectations of relationships during your Freshman year and how disappointing it ends up being. I still really like that one a lot. Do you put any of your stickers up in Chicago or have you pretty much stuck with Pittsburgh? I have put some up here in Chicago. Mostly the digital prints though. Whenever I'm in Pittsburgh I will try to put some of my newer stickers up around the city. I will say that the ones I place in Chicago do seem to disappear faster. People tend to paint over them or reuse the space a lot faster than Pittsburgh does. Clearly since you found one from a couple of years ago. I will try to put stickers up wherever I am, like on a recent trip to Memphis for break. I did end up putting one of my stickers up down there. I guess my final question would be do you have a favorite one that you've done so far? I don't know if I have a favorite. I do still really like the one you found. I would have to say that I really like the latest one that I've done, whatever that tends to be. Then I get a little bored with it and I'm looking forward to what my next one is going to be. In the end I just enjoy how every one is different and how they are each cool in their own ways.
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Maggie Ondrey
An amateur photographer and writer capturing a small portion of the city. Archives
August 2017
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