I Live in Louisville

I feel so out of the loop that I didn't know anything about this project. Granted it just officially launched today, still yet, I should have known! I should have given you an early heads up! Alas, I did not know and could not give you an early heads up but I'm telling you know.

Photographer extraordinaire Leslie Lyons has just launched I Live in Louisville. I'm not 100% I've got the relationship right but I believe I Live in Louisville is the first ongoing project sponsored by The Five0Two campaign. Up until this point The Five0Tw0 has released one new, original work of art each month. I Live in Louisville is an ongoing project. So what is it? I'm just going to copy the entire about text:

There's much going on in Louisville. With the recent merger of Metro Louisville and Jefferson County, we've been identified as the 16th-largest city in America. A city with quantity is one thing. But a city with quality - now that's special. Louisville is special.

This is a city with much to offer: culturally, aesthetically, and economically. All these Louisville features are the result of people who make things happen here. Interesting people, smart people, creative people, innovative people. People who live here and make a difference in this community. And in many cases, exporting ideas, products, and arts to the world at large.

If you live here, you probably know what I'm talking about. Tell me who you are and what you do. If you don't live here, it's probably about time you came to visit. The people in this project will offer an intriguing reason for you to do so.

Sounds good right? I thought so. The artist's statement is even better:

There is a map of the world in the local restaurant, Lynn's Paradise Café, with a sign attached that says "It's not where you've been. It's where you're from." 

Visitors are then invited by the sign to peel off a colored dot and place their sticker on the map to show where they are from, where they were born, the place they represent. I stood there, looking at the dots in some of the places I've been in the world . . . Barcelona, Montreal, Kingston, London and New York City where I lived for 18 years. But I was born in Louisville, Kentucky and just like the sign implies . . . that is what really matters. 

I took Louisville with me to all those places whether I was aware of it or not. But how does the saying go - The best journeys are ones that lead you home? Well, I have settled back in Louisville again after clocking in years away longer than those I spent here. I thought it was time to balance the scale back in my hometown's favor.