We were approached by the connection geniuses at 52LTD with the challenge of combining the mission of Cascade AIDS Project with 25,000 (nike)RED laces into a sculptural statement for the annual CAP art auction to be held April 30, 2011 at the Portland, Oregon Memorial Coliseum.

Our solution: a structure conceived and designed by earthAWARE founder Owen William Fritts. With the help of Nike and CAP volunteers plus thousands of community members the "STORYpod" will be woven using simple techniques. Made of Oregon native woods the interactive sculpture will be comprised of a main enclosure including an inner chamber to honor those lost to HIV/AIDS and up to 15 smaller "microSTORYpods" attached around the perimeter.

The smaller pods will be woven during two days of collaborative form making at N. Williams and Shaver in Portland, events that will be open to the public. Participants will be invited to "laceUP" the pods they collectively make by writing a message, AIDS victim memories or hope statements on custom printed tags attached to (nike)RED laces. The completed tags/laces are then tied onto the pods. We expect thousands upon thousands of people to layer their heartfelt messages onto the pods during two weeks of laceUP events to be held all around the city.

On April 30th the main structure and pods will come together at the Memorial Coliseum. Our community voice will be presented as a whole in the form of this 3D AIDS Quilt with tags and (nike)RED laces covering all surfaces with love, created as one.

Project Schedule:

March 15, 2011 - project kickoff, design begins

March 21, 2011 - design complete, schedule outlined, tasks and responsibilities allocated

March 28, 2011 - microSTORYpod prototype A built, Maukahale, Newberg

March 13, 2011 - Nike Youth Day, first laceUP event using prototype A, Nike WHQ

April 2, 2011 - wood harvesting day, Maukahale, Newberg

April 7, 8, 2011 - closed main structure build, N. Williams

April 9,10 2011 - open to public microSTORYpod build and laceUPs- invite

April 11 through 22, 2011 - open to public laceUP events

April 25, 2011 - collection of all pods, dryfit and pre-assembly

April 30, 2011 - CAP Annual Art Auction, Memorial Coliseum, Portland, Oregon, USA

May 1, 2011 onward - microSTORYpods are sent around the world for continued laceUPs in other communities