Let the people speak! The lost art of using a pen.
In 2011, NIGHT LIGHTS approached the Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens about a possible winter “show” at the historic building. The NIGHT LIGHTS crew took over the entire building filling it with lights, love and entertainment…drawing 4,000 people the first year. In 2012, we created this little nook inside the gardens, that contained low-lighting and some cafe tables. On one of those tables, we left a journal and a pen. We wondered if people would discover it…and would they write in it! It seems like such a primitive exercise of physically writing one’s thoughts or feelings on a piece of paper. In current times, we have electronic messages blowing up our phones and laptops. Pen to paper seems like a fleeting concept. We recently came across the NIGHT LIGHTS journal and took random snapshots of the pages. Here is an interesting glimpse at people, fun and life.
This is the very first page of the journal. To stimulate people to write in the journal, I wrote the “Hey Night Lights” inscription to serve as an inspiration for people to leave comments.Early on, it was fun to see that people were discovering the journal and pen. Better yet…they were loving us up! It was a very validating feeling for NIGHT LIGHTS.Any page that contains the word “Purdy” is worth reading.Whatever happened to Kirsten & Griff? Was it a fleeting romance or do they have a child and one on the way. Did Kirsten form a rock band and become famous? Is Griff on the management fast track at the local bank? I wonder?NIGHT LIGHTS inspires people to have fun…and possibly get married. Love the “He said, She said” messages.Always so nice to see people spend the time to give a little love. Thank you.I get the biggest kick out of people traveling to our NIGHT LIGHTS shows. It’s so much fun thinking that friends and family are spending time together, heading out into the night. Bringing people together is a wonderful thing.Uplifting! One of the fond memories of setting up and producing NIGHT LIGHTS was being in the warm confines of the gardens for two months…during a cold, Buffalo winter. It certainly made the winter months fly by!This page in the journal represents people living and loving life in the moment. The theme of celebrating life has always been an underlying mission of NIGHT LIGHTS.We’ve had a few “proposals” at NIGHT LIGHTS and a commitment ceremony too! At the Botanical Gardens we had one young man who attended one of the first nights, was so enthralled that he made it the spot to propose in front of his future bride and family. He was so nervous.All sorts of messages on this page of the journal. Shout out to the “three fine woman from Lackawnna!”Thanks Prussia! Is that you in the sketch?NIGHT LIGHTS at The Gardens was a great “date night” for many people. Strolling through the crowds you could see people enjoying the moment and each other’s company.Indeed!A poem? A song? I don’t know. But I dig it.It’s very humbling to have people who visit NIGHT LIGHTS every year. It’s the ultimate in complements.Our little artist friend…we’ve all walked around with our flies accidentally open. We’re with ya, my friend.NIGHT LIGHTS at The Gardens brought back many people who “haven’t been there in years…or since they were a kid.” It felt great to have hundreds of people get reacquainted with the a Buffalo icon.NIGHT LIGHTS at The Gardens brought back many people who “haven’t been there in years…or since they were a kid.” It felt great to have hundreds of people get reacquainted with the a Buffalo icon.A border collie, a beagle (?) and a dragon. This is an outstanding image. Glad NIGHT LIGHTS at The Gardens gave them inspiration to doodle.We always wondered what happen to this person? Are they residing in the plants of the Botanical Gardens? We will probably never know.The fact that they made a “To-Do List” with one objective just cracks me up.
