Andrée was the second person I interviewed for the project. I arrived at the purple and yellow house belonging to Andrée around 10am right at the start of spring. The morning sparrows were still chirping in the nearby trees, the light peeking over the back of the house and starting to filter through the leaves the way the glorious morning sun does. Andrée has nearly made a museum out of her front yard, with looming life size sculptures and various pottery stacking against the seemingly impenetrable collection of shrubbery, vines, and fresh spring blooms. I walked up the purple steps, inhaling the scent of morning jasmine, slick with dew, and rang her bell. 

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What happened next was spending almost three hours with Andrée in her home and studio as she retold various stories and concepts from her artwork, several friends stopping by to say hello, roommates filtering in and out, and I gazing about this incredible world she has built within her home. 

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Andrée made me feel so welcomed and after every answer she gave I wanted to ask her 20 more. I think I even cried. I mean, she has such a presence of warmth, understanding, and compassion. It was truly a pleasure to get to talk to her and we left with me asking when we could hang out again and her saying she doesn't like eating alone, so ring her anytime. 

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Editing her part of the interview was so challenging because it felt like she was dropping wisdom every 30 seconds. It was an honor to meet her and include her in this project and learn more about art pieces that contain such a deep meaning and aim so truthfully to connect humans. 

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Apparently the first interview jitters were not out for me however, because right as I was leaving her house, blushing with excitement at the interview we'd just had, one of her friends stopped me to tell me my fly to my pants had been down. the. entire. time. 

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Humbling. Another miraculous lesson my interview with Andrée taught me.