On the sweetest, warmest, sunniest October 2018 day, I was invited to paint the concrete traffic barriers set up at the New Derby Street entrance to Artists’ Row in Salem, MA. The barriers were already painted bright orange in hopes of reminding lost visitors from wandering down this pedestrian walkway in their automobiles. Still, they were kind of industrial looking.
I had fun painting all manner of Halloween images on the barriers — witches’ hats, pumpkins, spiders, etc.— while visiting with people from all over the US. Everyone was in a good mood and delighted with life.
One little girl of about 11, however, was quite worried about my well-being and didn’t quite trust my actions. “Are you sure this is legal?”, she asked suspiciously. She continued questioning me in spite of my continued assurances. “Do the people in charge know you’re doing this?” “Did you ask permission?” Her brothers and father just shook their heads in sympathy with me. I was grateful that she cared about my entering a life of vandalism!