FOUR EGGPLANTS LAND IN JAPAN

[Happy geese, my company] They understand what eggplants say!

OWNER'S NAME: Kyoko

LOCATION: Tokyo, Japan

EGGPLANT QUOTES:
• straight ahead, the sky
• her lovely piano fingers
• essential for all night writing
• I laugh so happy & free


[Llama family] "Hey baby, be a good 'n honest, boy, just straight ahead the sky!"

COMMENTS:
You bring sunshine + a big smile to those who know you -- that's what is wished for you especially today; because you made me so happy just now!!

Guess what I found in my mailbox after hard working... ah Laura, THANK YOU SO MUCH :) 4 eggplants are here with me. Though I'm a writer, I can never describe how I'm feeling. But please know, absolutely utterly completely I love them ALL: their unique shapes, lively colors, and of course nice words with your warm heart. [No need to turning on the room heater, indeed :-@]

I was so touched to find you sweetly captured my personality as an expressionist by visiting my myspace page though it's written in poor English.


• "essential for all night writing" — really gave me courage & motivation to go on.

• "straight ahead the sky" — filled me with much hope, strength and light
• "her lovely piano fingers" — I'm proud... when I write an essay on 'Music & me", I will inform you.
• And your great choice "I laugh so happy & free" — this one is perfect! As I ordered, didn't I tell you that I would give 1 for my friend on Xmas? She's my best friend and I do wish she is happy all the time. On Dec 15th we're going to a Christmas concert together. I'll give her then! Sure, I'll never fail to take photos of us with eggplants then.

MYSPACE: www.myspace.com/frizzy_mojaco

THE FAITH FAN STRIKES AGAIN

OWNER'S NAME: Mary Margaret

LOCATION: Richmond, Virginia

EGGPLANT QUOTE: just a fan of faith

COMMENTS: Whatever the faith, whoever it belongs to.

LAURA MEETS THE ART*O*MAT MASTER

NAME: Clark

LOCATION: Winston-Salem, North Carolina

EGGPLANT QUOTE: gimmicky bastard

COMMENTS: Clark Whittington, inventor of the Art*o*mat vending machines, through which the Stray Eggplants are distributed, officially installed the Art*o*mat machine at the amazing Chambers Hotel in Minneapolis on October 17, 2007. Laura Gentry decided to surprise him by driving 4 hours north from her home in Iowa to attend his lecture. Since they've worked together through Art*o*mat for these 4 years, it was only fitting that they meet during his Midwestern trip. Here, Laura presented Clark with this humorous eggplant.


Right: Clark, Laura and hotel curator, Jennifer Phelps with the Chambers' beautiful Art*o*mat machine. Click photo to see enlargement.










Above: Clark and Laura stand before a very realistic piece of art at the Chambers Hotel.

BANISHING BEIGE

NAME: KC

LOCATION: Minneapolis, Minnesota

EGGPLANT QUOTE: beige is just not your color

EGGPLANT ENFORCES BATHROOM POLICY

NAME: Elizabeth

LOCATION: Columbia, South Carolina

EGGPLANT QUOTE: put the toilet seat down

COMMENTS: "This is a hard-working eggplant!"

EGGPLANT OBSESSION

NAME: Lizzie Bee

LOCATION: Columbia, South Carolina

EGGPLANT QUOTE: I'm trying to unobsess myself

COMMENTS: I received my eggplant as a gift from one of my oldest friends, who left it in a bright yellow envelope under the driver's side windshield wiper of my car as it was parked in front of Urban Artware in Winston-Salem, N.C. My friend has modeled many things for me over the years, most importantly, how to laugh: and coincidentally, perhaps, I always hear this quote in Pee Wee Herman's "shh...I'm trying to use the phone" voice.

After practicing my obsessions around the house I have been able, with great success, to transfer them to my work and to my relationships. Progress, right?!

Looking around now (in the middle of a dark no-moon night) at all of my odd little possessions, I can hear the clinking echoes of all of these small things. I think, YES-- It's Not Working-- I'm Still Obsessed-- With junk, with worry, with insecurity, with insomnia...! Finally, I think: But I Love This Nutty Obsessor. She's the one who reveals my dearest passions.

(note, Lizzie Bee's eggplant is from the very first edition of plants when the quotes were glued to the front of them)


And look, Lizzie also sent this picture of eggplants on the Piggly Wiggly marquee. Go eggplants!

MANY MORE SMILES

NAME: Melanie

LOCATION: Lansing, Iowa

EGGPLANT QUOTE: I'm going to smile

COMMENTS: Thank you for my eggplant!! :) It brings me happiness and many MORE smiles! :)