Read all Giant Letters HERE.
Since the Sandy Hook tragedy in December 2012, Giant letters on lined paper between Santa and a fictional boy named Bobby have been appearing in Chicago. The project, which is created annually by Caro d’Offay, Laura Gilmore and Marj Wormald, aims to foster compassion and awe between strangers as a way of exploring difficult topics in a creative and open way. The artists hope to engage and unite observers of all backgrounds through empathy as we learn about a boy’s struggles to understand himself in a world that can be violent and confusing. The letters, often accompanied by items such as an 9-foot pencil, cookies, a glass of milk, and even smaller letters included within the giant letters, slowly build the backstory of a giant boy who has a special ability to transform destructive emotions into emotions that can alter his reality in positive and productive ways.
The letters can currently be found in Chicago, Illinois and Austin, Texas until mid January. The Chicago Letter is located at approximately
1300 West/6000 North (Norwood) and in Austin at approximately
1300 East/5500 North (Broadmoor).
PRESS 2016:
KXAN News Austin
DNAinfo–Linze Rice, Chicago
Letter 2015, expressed the pain of emotional loss and discussed the ways we can move past it by transforming ourselves through it. This letter garnered local, national and international press.
Letter 2014, the 3rd letter, brought to light the dangers of self-hate and apathy and the power of self love to transform anger into acceptance and compassion.
Letter 2013 was written by Santa to Bobby, which touched upon the indifference and blame a culture can place on the less fortunate members of society.
Letter 2012, the first letter, was a fictional boy responding to the Sandy Hook tragedy and the bullying trend that so often leads up to violence among youth.
Read letters in order HERE
PRESS:
DNAinfo by Linze Rice 2016
DNAinfo by Linze Rice 2015
WGN TV Chicago Gaynor Hall
CBS Local Chicago Brad Edwards
Fox 32 Bettina Chang of DNAinfo
ABC7 Chicago
WGN Radio
