Paper Mailbox 2020

Watch the video to see me talk about this project.
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Skip to minute 5:37 for the "HOW TO."

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WHAT WILL I VOTE FOR? 

​Print out the PDF below, decorate it with what you believe in, cut it out, and fold together your little paper mailbox.

Put this physical reminder somewhere that it can empower you to take action and remind you what is good. GET EXCITED TO VOTE!

Then take a picture and post it with #WhatIVoteFor / @bibatprojects or email it to [email protected].
papermailbox2020printable.pdf
File Size: 914 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Help with Step 5!
The Backstory
During the last four years, I've felt at times engulfed by feelings of confusion, pain, and doubt. March 2020 hit with a very direct pandemic punch that has amplified systemic problems in our society to a point that feels untenable. For me it has been easy to despair. Racism and brutality particularly from those who are supposed to keep everyone safe, unrelenting destruction of the planet, power grabbing selfishness, lack of empathy and real communication-- and on and on-- I have often felt like maybe we just don't deserve better. 

And amidst that I am surrounded (often on zoom these days) with humans who are beautiful, compassionate, willing to do anything to make my existence worth it. There reminding me how loved I am and that we are truly all in this together, existing to take care of one another. And then that feeling of wanting to make change and build a better country and world comes rushing back in. But it is so easy to loose that.. One new headline or accidentally hearing his voice - can make me lose my breath and my drive in an instant.

One headline specifically caught my attention and spurred creative action in me. The dismantling of the United States Postal Service-- an institution that predates our country. Growing up, my grandfather (whom I call "Papa") collected stamps. He taught me how to soak and preserve them. I started my own little collection and had Penpals and LOVED getting things in the mail. As one grows up and mail received becomes mostly bills and flyers, mail can seem dispensable -- We have the internet and FEDEX. Who needs the USPS? -- But people do. People who may not be us. People rely on the mail for their medication, social security checks, shipping especially for small business owners, for letters and cards. Oftentimes the people who need communication most are those who do not have internet - for example, the elderly. They deserve so much more than our society gives, and now we take away the mail?

The crux of it for me is this: People who have everything they need are willing to take rights and resources from those they do not know in order to get more. During a Global Pandemic. To attempt to secure votes, they are taking essentials away from those who need the most. During a Global Pandemic. To maintain power. To silence those unworthy of a voice.

See? There I go again, falling into despair and anger...

So I started doing. I printed out postcards with art that I love (some of which was made for me throughout the years), and started sending them to people (see the art and learn about the artists here) , and for my birthday I asked people to write letters. My wonderful boyfriend got me a Silhouette America Cameo 4, and I started designing a little paper mailbox to print with it. From there the idea developed.

Paper Mailbox 2020 is a way for us to take time to refocus our minds on what is good and where we want to go. And then it can be a daily reminder to move actively toward it. When I described the project to my friend Zach Livingston he said, "I love that. A physical token of something good." And that is what it is. For some of us, in order to keep the heart moving forward we need to remind ourselves of what is good. This little paper mailbox is for you to do just that. And then, if you want, share what is important to you through an image of your mailbox, #WhatIVoteFor. Or keep it for just your eyes. This little paper mailbox is for you. 

Thanks for reading. Please don't hesitate to reach out. 

~Taylor
Non-partisan voting Resource
https://www.vote.org/