KC Curiosity Passport - Art Alley
The Art Alley box is #1 of 24 boxes in this series.
Thanks for joining the fun of The Curiosity Passport! We hope it inspires play and exploration of the KC area. If you haven't already viewed the wacky, wall-full of mini-mosaics, upcycled from used plastic gift cards, at Paper Birch Landing Gallery, it is an excellent place to start your journey (not required, but definitely nifty!). Pick up a passport (if you don't already have a logbook) there and follow these clues to find the awesome letterboxes at the locations that inspired those mini-mosaics in real life.
Want to collect all of the Curiosity Passport letterboxes? Check out the KC Curiosity Passport Menu!
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Use the photo clues below to look for these landmarks. Then follow the description on each photo to find the letterbox location. After you have found the letterbox, make sure to record your find on atlasquest.com!
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Don't forget to use #KCCuriosityPassport in your posts!
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NOTE: Before you set out you must read and agree to the Waiver of Responsibility and Disclaimer. [from Atlas Quest]
Art Alley: clue link, AtlasQuest link, YouTube link
Made of upcycled gift cards from: Borders (x2) Ropes Park Equipment
On view in the Paper Birch Landing Contemporary Art Gallery through Dec 2019.
*HINT: This awesome KC spot has constantly changing artwork.
The artwork you see in the photos, may not be visible when you visit.*
Photo Clues
Welcome to Art Alley!
Walk into this amazing, ever-changing gallery!
Keep going.
No need to be on the fence about this ...yet.
That fence looks sharp! Look away!
I told you to look away! Turn around now!
Good job. Look North. ...now look East.
Well done! That is a much less menacing fence!
Is that an arrow?
Yep! An arrow! This is the second box for this alley. PLEASE be stealthy & rehide well!
Need more information about this back alley gallery? This video will tell you all of the secrets.
Below, check out some of the work that goes into creating the Curiosity Passport.
Thank you for joining in the fun of the Curiosity Passport!
Interested in bringing The Curiosity Passport to your community? Just email artist Alexis Webb Bechtold, of X37Adventures, at X37Adventures@gmail.com for more information.
The Curiosity Passport is more than just an art installation to be viewed in one location, more than just a scavenger hunt. It is interactive, exciting, exploratory, inspiring, open to all ages, and simply filled with fun! It fuses art with adventure. It encourages participants to join in a scavenger hunt for letterboxes hidden around the metro.
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Audiences may start at the wall of eco-art mini-mosaics to find the catalyst of the project. Each mini-mosaic is created by the hands of eco-artist, Alexis Webb Bechtold, from upcycled used plastic gift cards (see the making of one of these unique creations in the video above), and references an awesome location in the area.
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While enjoying the mini-mosaics, they may also view two short videos, produced by videographer, Brandon Smith, displayed on tablets that are integrated into the esthetics of the wall display. One video will showcase the behind-the-scenes of creating the entire Curiosity Passport: making the mini-mosaics, letterboxes, and planting (aka hiding) the letterboxes out in the world. The other video will serve as an introduction tutorial to letterboxing.
Letterboxing is like geocaching, but with an art twist. Each letterbox has a clue (usually found online), that leads to a small box in real life. Inside the box is a hand carved rubber stamp, and a logbook. The finders of the letterbox are encouraged to record their find in the box’s logbook by stamping their own signature stamp (usually also hand carved) or a thumbprint, then use the box’s stamp in their personal logbook of finds. The Curiosity Passport letterboxes’ stamps will look similar to the image on the mini-mosaic that led to this box. The clues for the boxes will be in the form of photo clues or video clues. This will lower the barrier to entry for participants. The clues will be accessible through the robust letterboxing community website, www.atlasquest.com.
If participants do not already have a letterboxing logbook, they may purchase one designed exclusively for the Curiosity Passport, preferably at the location of the mini-mosaic wall. The logbooks would be available for $5, printed by www.Scoutbooks.com or a local eco-friendly printer.