One idea that gets stressed a lot out there in society is that it's not always the destination but the journey that matters. In a way I guess this blog kind of follows that ideal. It's that initial hunt for these stickers and the research into them that I enjoy about this project. Hopefully you enjoy reading the final result here on the blog but it remains a personal journey with you meeting me at the destination. I haven't quite reached a point where I can get others involved in the process by either sharing their stories behind the image or sharing finds of their own. With this small lament aside though, I have managed to have one interesting encounter with this project.
I was wandering around East Liberty looking for new stickers this past August, when I found these. I can't seem to find anything on the PB cassette that is there, granted I'm just using Google to research, but none of the keywords I tried brought up anything. The LTE BUTTA also isn't being terribly useful, just a lot of rather bizarre butter jokes. The Banker Supply Co on the other hand actually has a mildly interesting story. It's a company that started here in Pittsburgh stocking innovative bicycles in the 1890s. The founder's sons eventually turned the company's direction towards the far more lucrative industry of automobiles. Today they have gone back to their roots selling bikes, clothing, and gear. They have two locations at the moment, one in California and the other here in Pittsburgh in one of the company's original car dealerships, which is actually near where I found this sticker. However while I find this story rather interesting, it's not why I enjoy this photo. My sticker searches are admittedly rather awkward treks about the city. I wander for what can turn into hours, just walking up and down the streets looking for these stickers. I randomly stop in the middle of the sidewalk, point my camera at weird angles, kneel down on the ground, and even contort my body into weird shapes trying to capture something no one else can see. I can guarantee that I am frequently stared at and have people wonder about my sanity, but I've never had anyone question it. Part of it is obviously that everyone usually keeps to themselves when they are out in public, focused on reaching their end destination. I also generally walk around with headphones in, which is typically accepted code for don't bug me. This particular walk on Baum though was quite the exception. I was attempting to find the interesting angle for this photo when a man passed by me. Instead of continuing on his way, he actually double backed to ask me a question. Initially he was just looking for directions to a coffee shop that wasn't Starbucks but decided to continue the conversation by asking what was so interesting about the wall that I was trying to photograph. Once I was over the initial shock, I told him that I was actually taking a picture of the sticker on the pole and pointed to it. He seemed to be rather surprised that I was bothering to photograph it, not because it was a terrible image but for him this was a terribly common place thing to see. You see he was a foreigner, I'm pretty sure somewhere European, and had even lived in London for a while. When I was sharing my project with him, he told me that I would go nuts if I ever went to London because there are stickers everywhere. He even knew someone who had created one, which he pulled out of his wallet to show me. I wish I had the forethought to ask him if I could take a picture of it but being the awkward thing that I am, I kind of just stumbled through the conversation. We quickly parted ways and I felt rather flushed by the whole thing. Granted I've always known that the stickers I see here in Pittsburgh are not a unique concept, but it was quite enthralling to hear it from someone else. This idea that not only could I find and discuss these stickers from around country but also from around the world was exciting one and something I hope to be able to pursue in other places some day.
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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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