AN INSTALLATION
REMEMBER YOUR DEATH... Garland M. TAYLOR SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO
May 12, 2007
TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2006 T he outset H e yelled to w ard the k itchen , “ B aby , ha v e you e v er G oogled yourself ? ” G arland did , and disco v ered that there w ere these other G arlands w ith w hom he shared Virtual s p ace . “ N o I ha v en ’ t ! ” M ichelle , H is W I F E , S houted . T he first G arland he F O U N D w as a C P A from O regon . H e Was the G arland that beat the rest of the G arlands to the p unch W H E N H E registered the domain name garlandtaylor . com . S A D L Y , I n N e w M e x ico last year , the second G arland had been M urdered . H e w as 7 4 years old . G arland felt sadness , or better still , H e felt C onnected T O these p eo p le . T he third G arland headed a chain of restaurants in the south . G arland G oogled some more . T hen , H e hit p ay dirt w ith any w ho . com in I llinois . G arland found A nother G arland T aylor W H O L I V E D L E S S T H A N F O U R miles south . H E didn ’ t sto p there . H E any w ho ’ ed from the to p do w n . G arland searched for G arlands on a state - by - state basis . I n A las k a and A labama , none . T hree in A r k ansas . I n A ri z ona , none . B ut T H E N he F O U N D a G arland T aylor in C alifornia . H E w ent on and on . T w o hours L ater H E garnered more G arland T aylors than H e ’ d e v er imagined . H E yelled B A C K T O W A R D the k itchen , “ B aby , do you ha v e any idea ho w many G arland T aylors li v e in the U . S . ? ” T hat w as w hen G arland got the idea to get A ll of the G arland T aylors . H E w ould M A K E A N I nstallation p iece out of them , H E T H O U G H T . H e ’ d send the G arlands dis p osable cameras and as k that they ta k e p ictures of T hemsel v es in front of their homes , or before landmar k s , or w ith their families .
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2006 SOME QUESTIONS • H o w many garland T aylors are out there ? • C O U L D I contact and then K E E P I N T O U C H W I T H THE PEOPLE WITh WHOM I SHARE MY NAME? • What if I dro v e to meet all of the G arland T aylors ? • What I S T H E D E F I N I T I O N O F namesa k e ? • I w onder w here this name came from . D ad E nded u p w ith the name ?
H o w my
PROJECT GOALS • S end letters to the G A R L A N D T A Y L O R S in the U . S . and e x p lain to them my desire to create A C ollaborati v e w or k of art bet w een us . • S end those interested single use cameras T o T a k e self - p ortraits of themsel v es , and R eturn to me for p rocessing . W E ’ D B E A N ARTIST COLLECTIVE. • Perha p s I could p lan a tri p – an Visit all of the G arlands and to O f E ach of their faces . I ’ ll use T o ma k e a scul p ture , a relief in F aces w ere combined .
odyssey – to p ull casts the casts w hich O U R
• Why ? W H Y W O U L D A N Y O N E B E I N T E R E S T E D I N A PROJECT LIKE THIS? I’D BE SKEPTICAL IF ANY OF THEM TRIED TO CONTACT ME.
MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2006 NEW TITLE I p resented my p roject I n class today . I tal k ed A bout being on the road this summer . I T A L K E D A B O U T T A K I N G my field guides along T H E guide to birds , T O butterflies , T O trees , and T O M ushrooms . I T A L K E D A B O U T hijac k ing the field guide format . O n t w o occasions , during today ’ s tal k , concerns for my safety arouse . F ol k s w ondered if I ’ d become the v ic tim of some hate crime . U ntil then I hadn ’ t gi v en thought to my safety w ith regard to hate crimes . I did , ho w e v er , w onder ho w many of the G arlands w ere B lac k and ho w many w ere w hite . M y guess I S half B L A C K & half W H I T E . I also brought to class a p rototy p e of a self - p ortrait made of w elded steel . I t is a M as k - li k e object w ith a gun - blue p atina S T R A PP E D T O A S T A C K O F B O O K S A N D B L O C K O F W O O D . I e x p lained M y p lan to create w elded steel mas k s from molds I ’ d ta k e of the faces of all the G arland T aylor ’ s I ’ d met .
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 2006 SELF-PORTRAITURE T H E w or k ing title I S N O W “ A field G uide to G arland T aylor ” I F ound some boo k s on self - p ortraiture today O N A C C O U N T O F the G arland P R O J E C T T A K I N G S H A P E L I K E a self - p ortrait , or better still , a C ollaborati v e self - p ortrait . T hese other G arlands , I can ma k e E A C H O F them A p art of M Y S E L F - P O R T R A I T B Y combining scul p ture w ith v ideo . T he scul p ture w ill stand A S the self - p ortrait W H I L E the v ideo , cli p s of G A R L A N D T A Y L O R C O N V E R S A T I O N S symbolise mem ory . I w ant to document T H E G arland T aylors .
I w ant to document us getting to k no w one an other A N D T H E G A R L A N D S G E T T I N G A G L I M P S E O F T H E L I V E S O F other G arlands . I might e v en ABOUT MYSELF IN THE PROCESS. THIS FIELD GUIDE IS MORE AKIN TO MEMOIR. I’M USE VIDEO TO L O O K B A C KW A R D S . A N D A S F O R T H E V I D E O , I can loo p a montage of cli p s and p resent them in t w o se p arate loo p s p laced in the soc k ets of T H E eyes O F T H E M A S K - L I K E B U S T – – O n a tiny v ideo iPod . I ’ D be a steel structure holding a p ortable w elder in one hand and the w eld ing gun in the other . T he Vie w er w ould come to the p iece as if seeing me in the act of be coming myself / B ecoming a father . F R O M T H E I Pod I n my eye S w ould stream I M A G E S , O R R A T H E R , A M O V I N G V E R S I O N of my memories A N D M y dreams . T H R U T H I S I P O D A N D v ideo I can recollect th I S journey A N D I L L U S T R A T E M Y S T R U G G L E to find G arland T A Y L O R S . F O R T H E S C U L P T U R E I ’ L L cast the G A R L A N D T A Y L O R ’ S faces A N D ma k E a M E T A L W R E A T H of G arland . I E XP E C T O U R F A C I A L F E A T U R E S T O B L E N D I N T O GARLAND-NESS. ON SECOND THOUGHT, MAYBE NOT. I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THESE GARLAND TAYLORS AND THEY KNOW N O T H I N G A B O U T M E . T hey might turn out to be a bunch of ass holes . B E S I D E S , T H E R E ’ S N O W A Y T H E S E G A R L A N D S A R E going to L E T A C O M PLETE STRANGER GOOP VASELINE ON THEIR FACES, STICK STRAWS IN THEIR NOSTRILS, AND COVER THEIR HEADS AND NECKS WITH PLASTER WHILE THEY STRUGGLE TO BREATHE FOR THIRTY-MINUTES O R M O R E . P E R H A P S A cu p of coffee and a SIMPLE SNAP-SHOT WILL SUFFICE.
SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2006 GARLAND LETTER F inished the first draft of the letter I p lan to send to the G arlands .
S unday , A p ril 1 , 2 0 0 6 LETTER TO THE GARLANDS D ear M r . T aylor , M y name is also G arland . M y full name is G arland M artin T aylor J r . and I am from C hicago , I l . I am an artist and a student at the S chool of the A rt I nstitute of C hicago . I ’ m w riting you because there are more than forty - four other p eo p le named G arland T ay lor li v ing in C anada and the U nited S tates of A merica . I find that fascinating , so F ascinating that I am com p elled to ma k e a w or k of art of it , or rather , to ma k e a w or k of art out of us . Y ou see , as an art graduate student , one of the R equirements for graduation is to com p lete a final p roject in the form of either a w or k of art , or an E ssay . I ’ v e chosen to com bine the w or k of art w ith the essay . S o , this summer , bet w een J une 1 st and S e p tember 1 st , 2 0 0 6 , I p lan to p ay a v isit w ith you and all of the rest of the G arland T aylors and s p ea k briefly about our li v es . A t some p oint during this v isit I w ant to ta k e a p hotogra p h of the t w o of us standing before a landmar k of your choosing . I n the fall semester I ’ ll p rocess the p hotogra p hs that w ill A ccom p any an essay that chronicles both , my tri p and life from the p ers p ecti v es of all of the N orth A merican G arland T aylors . I in v ite , and sincerely ho p e that you w ill be a p art of this creati v e U nderta k ing . T he G arland Project , w e ’ ll call it . L et ’ s schedule a day and a time at w hich w e can meet . T o p artici p ate , just mail me the enclosed self - A ddressed , stam p ed en v elo p e . O r you can callor e - mail me at ( 7 7 3 ) 7 5 0 - 3 9 4 6 or gtaylor @ artic . edu .
T han k Y ou ! B est Wishes , G arland M artin T aylor J r . S tudent , M aster of A rts in Visual & C ritical S tudies
T he G arland Project F requently A s k ed Q uestions :
Q1:
I f I agree to meet you , w here and w hen w ould that meeting ta k e p lace ? A 1 : A t a coffee sho p , a restaurant , a p ar k or any p lace and time most con v enient and comfortable F or you .
Q 2 : Will
you as k me questions regarding any of my Personal assets or finances ? A 2 : A bsolutely not . A nd besides , you are not R equired to ans w er any question that you don ’ t feel comfortable With .
Q 3 : C an
I meet w ith you w ithout ha v ing my p hotogra p h ta k en ? A 3 : C ertainly . Q 4 : Will these p hotogra p hs be on p ublic dis p lay ? A 4 : Y es . M y p roject w ill be on dis p lay at the M ay C S 2 0 0 7 graduate e x hibition hosted by the S chool of the A rt I nstitute of C hicago . I ’ ll B e sure to send e v eryone in v itations to the e x hibition o p ening . A lso , I ’ ll ha v e co p ies made of the finished Product ( the p hotos and the essay ) and send these to those of you w ho that w ere unable to attend the o p ening rece p tion .
Q 5 : Where
can I see images of your art ?
A 5 : I
can send you images of my most recent w or k v ia e - mail or I can p rint hard co p ies of the images and mail it to you if you w ish . A lso , here is a w eb lin k to t w o im ages of a p iece I com p leted for the 2 0 0 5 undergraduate e x hi bition : htt p : / / w w w . artic . edu / saic / ne w / e x hibit / art w or k / / dis p layimage . p h p ? album = 2 & p os = 4 G arland M artin T aylor J r .
TUESDAY, 11TH APRIL 2006 GARLAND SENT HALF OF THE LETTERS OUT, AS MANY AS HE HAD STAMPS LYING ROUND THEIR H O U S E . W I T H T H E F I R S T B A T C H G arland A L S O S E N T ONE TO HIMSELF. HE DID SO TO GAUGE WHEN, APPROXIMATELY, THE GARLANDS WOULD RECEIVE THEIR LETTERS.
THURSDAY, 13TH APRIL 2006 THE LETTER I WROTE TO MYSELF ARRIVED.
FRIDAY, 14TH APRIL 2006 I M ailed more letters today . MAILBOX FROM THE GARLANDS.
NOTHING IN THE
TUESDAY, 18TH APRIL 2006 FIRST RESPONDERS I got the first re p ly to the I N I T I A L batch of 1 6 letters I sent out last w ee k . I al most o v erloo k ed the letter at first . I t w as so small and thin com p ared to the daily dose of jun k mail and p ostcards . O ne p ostcard let me k no w that I can use it at any U trecht store , online or bric k s - and - mortar , to sa v e “ 2 0 % on p aints , easels , brushes can v as , p ort folios and the li k e . O n another one I ’ m told I can “ E njoy more than 1 5 5 + channels ” of D irect T V for $ 2 9 . 9 9 for the first three months . A ll I had to do , ac cording to the p ostcard , w as call S k y D irect at their toll free number , “ thalamus E s p anola , ” and say the w ord “ s k ydeal ” T O R E C E I V E a s p ecial bonus . O n the fli p side of the D irect T V offer W A S , I don ’ t k no w w hat to call it , an ad , of sorts , p ut out by the N ational C enter for M issing and E x p loited C hildren . the to p left corner , w ritten in boldface , R E A D “ H a v e you seen us ? ” B elo w this W E R E t w o thumbnail blac k and w hite p ho togra p hs . on the left W A S a t w el v e - year - old girl named R ebecca B raun from T em p e , A ri z o na . T he p hoto of R ebecca W A S a 1 2 - year age - p rogression . R arely had I p aid any mind MAILERS LIKE THAT. O N T H A T D A Y the middle - aged man W I T H T H E re ceded hairline A N D glasses arrested my attention . O ut of the corners of his eyes T H E M A N L O O K E D to w ard the p hoto of T H E M I S S I N G girl . I t w as cree p y , yet my first reaction w as to thro w it and the rest of the jun k mail into the recycling bin .
N e x t , I noticed the large ca p itol T on the left side of a glossy , baby blue mailing label . T he “ T ” S T O O D F O R T aylor , D oris T aylor from I ndiana . I ’ d forgotten that I sent along tiny en v elo p es T H A T I self - addressed . T hat I didn ’ t immediately recogni z e my o w n hand w riting is w hy T H A T L E T T E R almost E N D E D U P i N the recycle bin . I ran bac k u p stairs T O O U R A P A R T M E N T . I H A D T H A T ha p p y feel ing T H A T C O M E S A L O N G W I T H getting mail – real mail . L I K E A L E T T E R F R O M A L O N G L O S T F R I E N D . I T R I E D T O call M ichelle at w or k T O tell her the good ne w s B U T S H E D I D N ’ T O P E N H E R P H O N E . D oris ’ s w as the first res p ondent O U T of the fifty - t w o letters I sent out .
B ac k in our a p artment I s p ra w led out on the bed and made t w o attem p ts to contact M ichelle . I T R I E D w or k T H E N again on her cell . N O ans w er . I thought about w aiting three and a half more hours until she got home but I couldn ’ t . I w ent and got a letter o p ener . ( A ctually , it w as a filet k nife from my fishing tac k le bo x because I don ’ t o w n a letter o p ener . M Y F A T H E R U S E D T O H A V E A L E T TER OPENER WITH A HANDLE MADE FROM THREE PENNIES ENCASES IN ACRYLIC BUT I HAVE NO IDEA W H E R E I T I S . ) T he en v elo p e w as so light . I remember w ondering w hether anything w as in it A T A L L ? I did say in the letter to the G ar lands , “ T o p artici p ate , just mail me the en closed self - addressed , stam p ed en v elo p e . ” B efore I o p ened it I held it u p to the light t H E R E w as A L E T T E R I N I T .
WEDNESDAY, 19TH APRIL 2006, 3:30 P.M... NO WORD: N othing arri v ed today in the mail for G arland from the G arlands . T here w ere four letters do w n there , A N D e v erything W A S addressed to M ichelle . H E left it all in the mailbo x .
THURSDAY, 20TH APRIL 2006 G A R L A N D O F O regon ’ S R E S P O N S E T O call F O R G arland ’ S O K - w hat ’ s u p G arland ? D id your dad real ly name you G arland J r . ? T hat ’ s unbelie v able , based on w hat I w ent thru in G rade [ sic ] school w ith my name . I understand that it is p o p ular in the S outh . I do art too , but feed the k ids w ith my C P A p ractice in Portland , O R . G ot your letter about an art p roject , but not so sure about that . L ast time I w as contacted by a G ar land T aylor w as by a guy in his 6 0 ’ s here in to w n . . . then he died . . . and no w e v ery time I go to get a loan - they say I am dead . F un stuff . L ots of time as the social security office trying to p ro v e I am ali v e - must be due to my chosen career , ha . S ee some of my art at w w w . garlandtaylor . com / art . html . I loo k ed at your p ics at the uni v ersity w eb site - p retty neat stuff . M y k ids are N O T named G arland , by the w ay . . . life ’ s tough enuf . [ S ic ]
G ood luc k to you w ith your art . N othing sells here in P D X , I sold at a S aturday mar k et & some galleries , but v ery tough . . . GAR
GARLAND OF VIRGINIA’S R E S P O N S E T O call F O R G arland ’ S G arland , I ’ m w riting to let you k no w that I ’ m interested in p artici p ating in “ T he G arland Project . ” I reali z e that you w ill be doing lots of tra v eling , so let me k no w the times that w or k best for you and I ’ ll do my best to be accommodating . B y the w ay , there ’ s a slight chance that I w ill be in C hicago for a trade sho w in M ay . I n the e v ent I ma k e it to the “ w indy city ” I ’ ll contact you . I n the meantime , good luc k w ith the p roject . GT
REPLY TO VIRGINIA GARLAND G arland , T han k s for getting bac k to me so soon . I ’ m glad you ’ re w illing to p artici p ate . I t ’ s v ery e x citing . I ncluding yours , I ’ v e gotten three p ositi v e res p onses in just t w o days ; one from O regon , and another from I ndiana . I ’ ll be in A le x andria , V A in J uly w ith my w ife and our t w o - year - old son v isiting some friends . I ’ ll let you k no w the dates as soon as I can . B y all means , w hen you firm u p your p lans for a v isit to C hicago , gi v e me a call or shoot me e - mail . U ntil then … B est , G arland
R E P L Y T O O regon G A R L A N D G arland , T han k s for getting bac k to me so soon . I t ma k es me ha p p y that p eo p le , or rather , G ar lands are res p onding . Y ours w as the second res p onse I ’ v e gotten today – one from the E ast C oast , one from the West . A s it turns out , the E ast C oast G arland w ill be here in C hicago for a trade sho w in M ay . I t indeed a p p ears to be a p o p ular name in the S outh . A re you a junior as w ell ? M y w ife and I ha v e a son named M alcolm . I didn ’ t care too much for the junior thing w hen I gre w u p . M aybe during the course of this p roject I ’ ll figure out w ho w as the first G arland in A mer ica ? I chec k ed out your w eb site . Y ou p hotogra p hy w as ta k en from a v ery attracti v e v antage p oint . D o you shoot w ith film or digital ? F or T he G arland Project I ’ ll be shooting , for the first time , w ith a w ide format camera as w ell as an old C anon F - 1 . I understand w hat you mean about the G ar land mi x - u p . T he same thing ha p p ened to me fifteen years ago only w ith p ar k ing tic k ets . N onetheless , let me k no w if you ha v e a change of mind . B est , G ar
MONDAY, 24TH APRIL 2006, 8:45 A.M. CALIFORNIA GAR’S –
R E S P O N S E T O call F O R G arland ’ S R E S P O N S E T O call H i G arland , I w ould enjoy p artici p ating in this p roject . I ha v e only met a fe w other G arlands . I t ’ s not a common name . T he only other G arland T aylor I k ne w w as my father . I am a J r . also , but I don ’ t use the J r . any more . Please let me k no w w hen you p lan to be in the S an F rancisco area and w e w ill set a time and p lace to meet . I f you ha v en ’ t loo k ed it u p yet , H alf M oon B ay is about 2 5 mi south of S an F rancisco . A ll the best , G ar
TUESDAY, 25TH APRIL 2006, 17:13:18 Word from B O L A M y cousin B ola from C alifornia sent me an e - mail . I ha v en ’ t seen or heard from her in years . I C an ’ t w ait to see her w hen w e go to S F O . M om al w ays said she w as my father ’ s fa v orite cousin . I remember her as B arbara . S he changed her name to B ola since w e last s p o k e in 1 9 8 9 . S H E ’ S A N A R T I S T N O W - A P A I N T E R . S he w rote : S ubject : Wo w G arland , I did google . Y our name a p p eared second and w o w is all I can say about your scul p ture . I w ould li k e to touch it . B ola
WEDNESDAY, 26 APRIL 2006 1:50 PM AT HIS DESK H E p ut A R E P L Y to D oris ’ S R E S P O N S E in the mail T O D A Y . T H E R E W A S no mail as of yet . Y esterday , G arland got t w o letters mar k ed ‘ return to sender ’ . H E also sent a simulta neous e - mail to the G arland of O regon and the C alifornia G arland . H E w rote : H ello G ar and G arland , I ’ m p lanning a tri p to the West C oast from the 7 th of J une until the 1 2 th . I ’ ll be stay ing in both S an F rancisco and O a k land w ith friends and family members res p ecti v ely . I ho p e this time frame w or k s out w ith your schedules so that w e might ha v e the chance to meet then . L et me k no w if that w or k s for you . S incerely , G arland
WEDNESDAY, 26 APRIL 2006 O regon G arland R es p onded right a w ay W I T H : “ naa , too w eird for me . ” F uc k him . W H A T , T H E N , W A S T H E L O G I C B E H I N D H I S RESPONSE TO THE GARLAND CALL? IT’S A SHAME. SAN FRANCISCO. IS JUST A SHORT TRIP NORTH FROM THERE. M Y R E P L Y T O D oris T aylor , T he w ife of the I N D I A N A G arland , T oday . I t w ent as follo w s :
D ear D oris , I w ant to than k you for getting bac k to me so soon and let you k no w ho w s p ecial your letter is so to me and T he G arland Project . I t is s p ecial to me because I too lost a G arland T aylor , my father , in 1 9 8 3 . H e , li k e your husband , w ould ha v e enjoyed this p roject as w ell . A gain , D oris , it w as good of you w rite . B est w ishes , G arland P.S. M ay I k ee p you u p dated on the p roject ?
WEDNESDAY, 3RD MAY 2006, 3:28 PM CALL FROM GARLAND OF NEBRASKA I had my cell p hone p lugged into I T S C harger so w hen it rang at 3 : 2 8 p . m . I had to run to C A T C H it . I D I D , A N D T he area code and number w as unfamiliar . T H A T P A U S E D C A U S E D M E T O mis S the call . I T C O U L D ha v e been some friends of ours calling from Washing ton , D . C . , I T H O U G H T , so I called the number R I G H T bac k and said , “ H ello , this is G arland T aylor . ” T he v oice on the other end of the p hone re p eated w hat I had just said . “ H el lo , this is G arland T aylor . ” “ Y es , ” I said , “ this is G arland T aylor . ” T hen it hit me , the guy on the other end of the p hone w as also G arland . I t w as the N ebras k a G arland C A L L ING. H e said he thought the p roject w as in teresting and w as calling to tell me w anted to hel p . I T W A S A N A WKW A R D C O N V E R S A T I O N . I F E L T U N P R E P A R E D S O I K E P T I T B R I E F . We made a quic k p lan to meet t w o w ee k s later .
THURSDAY, 4TH MAY 2006, 4:56 AM GRANDDADDY DREAM HE WOKE UP WHEN HE REALIZED IT WAS FREEZING COLD IN THEIR BEDROOM. STILL LYING THERE HE REMEMBERED THAT HE LEFT TWO WINDOWS WIDE O P E N I N T H E L I V I N G R O O M . G arland G O T U P A N D SHUT THEM. ON THE WAY BACK HE NOTICED MALCOLM’S BEDROOM DOOR WAS WIDE OPEN. HE WENT IN, PUT KATE BLANKET OVER HIS SHOULDERS, AND TUCKED THE OTHER END BENEATH HIS FEET. HE STOOD THERE FOR A MINUTE IN DREAM SHOCK AFTER HAVING DREAMT HE WAS IN CHICAGO’S LOOP AREA RIDING ON A MAKESHIFT SKATEBOARD. THE BOARD WAS ONE OF THE ANTIQUE WOODEN MILL P U L L E Y S F R O M H I S S T U D I O S T R A PP E D O V E R T H E TOP OF A FLAT-DOLLY. AT FIRST IT SEEMED TOO A WKW A R D T O R I D E , B U T W H E N H E D I D , G A R L A N D ’ S FOOT FIT SQUARELY IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. HE WANDERED ABOUT HIS DREAMSCAPE AIMLESSLY. HIS CASTERS COASTED OVER THE ASPHALT S M O O T H L Y A N D S I L E N T L Y . A T T I M E S G arland H A D TO PUSH, BUT FOR THE MOST PART HE COASTED. GARLAND CAME ACROSS ANOTHER PERSON, AN OLD F R I E N D named R eggie W H O M H E H A D N ’ T S E E N O R HEARD FROM SINCE HE WAS 13 YEARS OLD. R E G G I E stood at the to p of an o v er p ass P E E R I N G O V E R I T S E D G E . G A R L A N D p ulled o v er O N T O T H E S H O U L D E R and w a v ed T O H I M but R E G G I E didn ’ t N O T I C E H I M . H e ’ d just gotten a brand ne w s k ateboard . F R O M T H E S H O U L D E R G A R L A N D S A W H O W ha p p y R E G G I E W A S to ha v e gotten the ne w one . T H E N R E G G I E T O S S E D his old S K A T E B O A R D O V E R T H E o v er p ass . H e tossed it do w n into the tall grass belo w him .
G A R L A N D sa w W H E R E the s k ateboard landed and made a mental note to go bac k and get it L A T E R . H E P U S H E D O N . A t the to p of the N E X T hill H E noticed the entrance to a t w o - sided M onument made only of w hite marble ste p s . A t some p oint G A R L A N D must ha v e ascended this monument because the ne x t thing H E k ne w , H E w as on H I S w ay do w n it . When H E reached the base of T H E monument H E no longer H A D H I S s k ateboard . I N S T E A D , H E had a p a p er S H O PP I N G - bag full of cans of Vienna S ausages , Zesta ® saltine crac k ers , and H A W A I I A N P U N C H juice drin k bo x es . G A R L A N D jogged alongside a railroad trac k until H E reached a p ier w here H E w al k ed alongside a canal crammed w ith small fishing boats . I t w as a salt w ater canal . D o w n on H I S k nees , G arland loo k ed o v er the edge and S A W clear do w n to the bottom . T H I R S T Y , H E tried to ha v e a drin k of it , but an elderly w oman p ressed the E N D S of her aluminum w al k er into G A R L A N D ’ S A chilles ’ heels and w arned H I M not to ta k e a drin k . H E screamed A T T H E P A I N , A N D it sounded li k e A bicycle horn . S till on H I k nees H E L O O K E D O U T O N T O T H E C A N A L A N D S A W th E ca p tain of one of those small B O A T S H O L D I N G A bicycle horn I N O N E H A N D W H I L E S T E E R I N G H I S B O A T I N T O A S L O W a p p roach T O W A R D the sea w all W I T H T H E O T H E R . G A R L A N D stood u p O N H I S T W O F E E T . R I G H T T H E N another B O A T ca p tain doc k ed behind the first . G A R L A N D loo k ed do w n into T his C A P T A I N ’ brand ne w boat and noticed another p assenger R E A C H O U T A N D tie O F F the ca p tain ’ s boat . A S S O O N A S T H I S P A S S E N G E R D I D S O the B O A T T H A T B E L O N G E D T O T H E C a p tain I N F R O N T O F H I M ca p si z ed . G A R L A N D jum p ed into the canal to try and sa v e the F I R S T ca p tain but the w ater w as too cold , A N D T H E C A P T A I N W A S N O W H E R E TO BE FOUND. THE CRYSTAL CLEAR WATER HAD T U R N E D M U R K Y . T H E old lady P U L L E D G A R L A N D
u p out of the cold w ater w ith her w al k er . GARLAND WOKE UP WHEN HE REALIZED IT WAS COLD IN THEIR BEDROOM.
SATURDAY, 06, MAY 2006 THE TEXAS GARLAND
THURSDAY, 11TH MAY 2006 REPLY & PHOTO TO THE TEXAS GARLAND I ho p e this letter finds you w ell . T han k s for getting bac k to me . I a p p reciate your interest in my p roject . S o far you are the fifth p erson w ith w hom I ha v e p lans to meet . I ’ m going out to C alifornia the first w ee k in J une to meet the G arland of H alf M oon B ay . N e x t w ee k I ’ ll be in N ebras k a meeting the G arland of O maha . A t the end of J une I ’ m go ing to meet the G arland of T am p a B ay F lorida , and then you . I ’ m loo k ing for w ard to meet ing you do w n in T e x as . I w ent to p arty once in C ut and S hoot . T hat w as bac k w hen I w as in the N a v y in 1 9 8 8 . I also stayed in a p lace called B ay Vie w , T e x as near B ro w ns v ille . I sent along a p hoto of me ta k en the last time I w as in T e x as , w hich w as 1 9 9 9 .
I w as there hel p ing a guy chisel and raise a cou p le of bents for a timber frame barn . I did some fishing w hen I w as there . I caught a lot of bass out of the resaca that bordered his p ro p erty . I also got to do some red fish ing in the L aguna M adre . H og hunting sounds li k e fun and it sounds challenging . I ’ d li k e to p lan a tri p there for sometime bet w een J uly 2 7 th and the 3 1 st . H o w does that w or k out for you ? M y w ife and I ha v e a friend in H ouston . M ore than li k ely I ’ ll stay there . L et me k no w .
U ntil then ‌ R egards , G arland .
THURSDAY, 18TH MAY 2006 TRIP TO NEBRASKA O n H I S w ay to N ebras k a , G A R L A N D called the G arland and left a message on his ans w ering machine . H E told him H E had just crossed the M issis si p p i ri v er and that H e ’ d be staying at the L a Q uinta I nn off of I nterstate 6 8 0 . G A R L A N D told G arland to gi v e H I M a call bac k so that T H E Y could tal k about a p lace to meet . I o w a is 2 8 0 some odd miles w ide . G A R L A N D e x p ected him to call H I M on H I S cell p hone that e v ening . When G A R L A N D didn ’ t do so , G A R L A N D w ondered if something had gone w rong . H E w on dered if G A R L A N D had decided to bac k out of meeting w ith H I M . T hat w ould H a v e meant that this 4 7 0 mile T R I P w as I N V A I N . G A R L A N D chec k ed into the motel at 1 0 p . m . H A V I N G D R U N K too much coffee on the road H E w as tired but not slee p y . G A R L A N D brought a bottle of red w ine from home but forgot to bring the glass out of his V A N so H E had H I S w ine from S tyrofoam A cu p . H E dran k the w hole bottle O V E R M O T E L p orn .
FRIDAY, 19TH MAY 2006 OMAHA M ichelle called this morning and w o k e me u p . I sle p t li k e a roc k et – – straight through till 7 : 3 0 or so . S he said M alcolm didn ’ t slee p v ery w ell ; he got u p and came into our bed around 3 a . m . . I ha v e a bit of a headache . I got dressed , w al k ed J ac k ie - B ro w n , and then w ent to the motel lobby to get a B elgian w affle . ( T oo gooey ) I got M Y cameras and headed out to see N ebras k a .
N ebras k a G arland finally called me in my room , N O T M Y C E L L P H O N E , at 3 : 3 0 . I T H O U G H T T H A T W A S S T R A N G E . I w as afraid he w as going to change his mind about meeting M E . I T W A S N ’ T T H E C A S E . I told him I w anted to treat him and his w ife out to dinner at a restaurant of their choosing . H e said his w ife usually gets home after 5 or 5 : 3 0 . I told him ho w e x cited I w as to be there / meet him . T old him he w as the first G arland I had an inter v ie w w ith and that I hadn ’ t w or k ed out e x actly ho w to frame the p hoto . N ebras k a G arland told me about a U nion Pacific train p ar k ed at a w elcome sign around w here 1 0 th meets D ouglas S treet near the ri v er . S aid that w as p erfect . T old him about the thing I ha v e F O R trains – the thing my son has too . N ebras k a G arland told me he ’ s a retired railroad man . I told him ho w I sa v ed u p my allo w ances as a k id and amassed a model train collection . I w anted to tell him about ho w much fun I had as a k id getting into mischief on the railroad trac k s in the city , but I figured I ’ d sa v e that for table tal k . S aid I ’ d call him bac k after 5 : 3 0 p . m . so w e could coordinate the meet . G arland and L inda p ic k ed a stea k house T O M E E T M E A T for dinner . F rom M alcolm X ’ S birth p lace the T imber L odge stea k house w as on the o p p osite end of the city . We met there 3 0 minutes later . T he restaurant w as on the northeast corner of 1 4 4 th and M a p le , I N F R O N T O F a H ome D e p ot . I p ulled into the lot behind a w hite B uic k L e S abre w ith w hat seemed to be a for sale sign in the rear p assenger w indo w . I t w as e x actly 6 : 4 5 . M y guess w as that it w as the N ebras k a G arland and his w ife L inda in the B uic k . O maha H A D lot of B uic k s .
I p ulled into a s p ace at the far end of the p ar k ing lot . F elt li k e I w as on a sta k eout . A t the stea k house . E arlier , I told them to loo k out for a man w earing a H a w aiian shirt . A s I p ulled my camera bag out of the p assenger seat of the v an I noticed the cou p le from the L e S abre notice me .
N ebras k a G arland : • D oesn ’ t k no w w here our name came from • H as t w o brothers : 1 G alyn , 1 A rland • H is great grandfather w as from E ngland • H e I s a retired C P A from U nion Pacific • H e has a daughter – she told him about the train at the crossroads • H e ne v er lea v es O maha • H is w ife w ore a big button of a teenage girl . ORDERED SWEET-TEA AND THE SIRLOIN STEAK– same as his w ife . L inda and I hit it off p retty w ell . S he told me the teenager she w ore w as her niece , J essica . I sho w ed them p ictures of M ichelle and M alcolm , then I handed L inda a co p y of the p ro p osal for the G arland Project . While N ebras k a G arland and I s p o k e , L inda loo k ed o v er the thesis p ro p osal . S he laughed out loud a cou p le of times . L inda w as v ery outs p o k en . M ost of the con v ersation w as bet w een me and her , E v en as S he diligently in s p ected each p age of the p ro p osal . When she finished , G arland bree z ed through it . I figured H I M A S A M A N O F F E W W O R D S . T he ser v er brought our stea k s .
I don ’ t remember w hether L inda brought it u p first , or , if their con v ersation about her niece , J essica , began after G arland p ointed out the p age in his G arland Project p ro p osal , the one W H E R E he M A D E A M O N T A G E of JUNK MAIL, MISSING PERSONS MAILERS AND return - to - sender letters from M I S P L A C E D G arland T A Y L O R S . S ee , O ne day he gathered all of the letters to the G arlands that w ere returned to him due to incorrect mailing addresses . H e added to this collage of letters a mailer he sa v ed , one of those blue and w hite p ost cards w ith p ictures of missing p ersons , usually one child and one adult . G arland had gotten them in the mail before , but hardly gi v en them much thought . H e usually tossed them into the recycling bin w ith the rest of his jun k mail . this p articular p ostcard G arland decided to k ee p . A bout half w ay through his stea k garland as k ed L inda and G arland , “ w ho ’ s the girl on the button ? ” S he told him her name w as J essica O ’ G rady , G arland ’ s niece , and that she had been missing since M ay 1 0 th . G arland p aused , starring at the button . T he young , smiling face on L inda ’ s la p el w as familiar to him . G arland reali z ed he ’ d seen her p icture all o v er the ne w s net w or k since my arri v al in O maha . I n fact , she w as one of three girls missing in the area . H O W D O E S O N E R E S P O N D T O S O M E T H I N G L I K E T H A T ? T he p icture on the button , th E I R meeting , the urgency that loomed abo v e T H A T booth . G A R L A N D couldn ’ t understand w hy the N ebras k a G arland came out to meet H I M W I T H all he and his family W E R E going through .
“ H o w could they enjoy their time w ith me ? ” GARLAND ASKED HIMSELF. IT BECAME CLEAR TO H I M T H A T J essica w as the reason w hy th E I R meeting seemed so a w k w ard . G A R L A N D w ondered if they w ould ha v e said something J E S S I C A ’ S D I S A PP E A R A N C E had H E not as k ed . T H A T W A S HUGE NEWS. MORE IMPORTANT THAN HIS LITTLE SCHOOL PROJECT. Y E S , B U T , H ere is w hen G A R L A N D S memory got a L ittle fu z z y . H E w as o v ercome by a bit of a p anic attac k . H E w ondered w hat H E w ould ha v e thought H A D the shoe B E E N O N the other foot – if H I S niece H A D G O N E missing and S O O N T H E R E A F T E R H E got a L etter li k e the one H E sent N ebras k a G A R L A N D . . .
NEBRASKA GARLAND AND LINDA
P A R A N O I D , G A R L A N D thought N ebras k a G A R L A N D and L inda W E R E U N D E R T H E I M P R E S S I O N T H A T H E had something to w ith the disa p p earance of their niece . G A R L A N D F I G U R E D T H A T that w as w hy they came out to meet H I M . H E W A S U N D E R SURVEILLANCE. THE CUSTOMERS IN THE BOOTH BEHIND NEBRASKA GARLAND WEREN’T CUSTOMERS. AS FAR AS GARLAND WAS CONCERNED THEY WERE F B I A G E N T S . L inda w asn ’ t interested in the p ro p osal for this p roject , S he looK E D for A ns w ers as to the w hereabouts of her niece . L I N D A A N D T H E N ebras k a G A R L A N D thought G A R L A N D w as there to deli v er a ransom note or something to that effect . M aybe one or both of them w ore a w ire . G A R L A N D F E L T L I K E A S U S P E C T – A p erson of I nterest . H E ordered another glass of W I N E W H I L E L I N D A A N D NEBRASKA GARLAND GOT REFILLS ON THEIR ICED TEA. T H E N T H A T W A S I T . D inner W A S O V E R A N D GARLAND INSISTED ON PAYING THE TAB. HE FIGURED DOING SO WOULD PROVE TO THE UNDERCOVER AGENTS THAT HE WAS WHO HE SAID H E W A S – N O T A K I D N A PP E R . I N A L L O F T H E E X C I T E M E N T , G A R L A N D almost forgot to ta k E A p icture W I T H N E B R A S K A GARLAND. LINDA WAS EAGER TO GET A SHOT OF T H E T W O O F T H E M . I t hadn ’ t gotten dar k yet . G A R L A N D set H I S camera u p on the tri p od and too k a shot of the t w o of them . L inda too k one of T H E T W O G A R L A N D S T O O . ON HIS WAY BACK TO HIS MOTEL, GARLAND BY T H E I R sto p p ed their B uic k and as k ed if they had another one of J essica ’ s missing p erson flyer S . N ebras k a G arland got out and ga v e G A R L A N D the one he had ta p ed to the rear w indo w of his car . H o w disa p p ointed T H E Y must ha v e been .
SUNDAY, 21ST MAY 2006 RETURN TO CHICAGO FROM OMAHa G arland of R ichmond p honed at 7 : 4 6 p . m . H e ’ ll be here in C hicago attending the res taurant con v ention at M c C ormic k Place . We ha v e p lans to meet on M onday morning at the coffee sho p in the lobby of the H otel M o naco . G arland told M E he is the oldest of three siblings ; he ’ s 4 4 . H is younger sis ter is a scul p tor in N e w Y or k S tate , a p lace called E lmyra , and she is married to a p rint ma k er . T hey both teach A T A college there . “ T hey li v e li k e G y p sies , ” he said . “ I ho p e something w or k s out for them . ” G arland S O U N D E D thorough and business - li k e .
MONDAY, 22ND MAY 2006 THE VIRGINIA GARLAND I arri v ed at the H otel M onaco @ 0 8 : 5 5 for a 9 - 9 : 3 0 meeting w ith the G arland of R ichmond . I t w as a cro w ded lobby . I sat on the p ur p le v el v et sofa w ith z ebra s k in , p each chec k ered , and tan and A V O C A D O colored p ol k a dot p illo w s . E v ery other chair w as occu p ied ; the w oman in the w ing - bac k ed chair com p lained about the sound of car alarms that k e p t her a w a k e all night . T here w as a lounge chair , a fire p lace , and a k noc k off of a G ree k statue . T here w as a security guard w ho w his k ed a w ay the free coffee stationed ne x t to the rece p tionist , re p lacing it w ith stac k s of C O M P L I M E N T A R Y ne w s p a p ers – U S A T oday , the T ribune and C rain ’ s . G arland and I agreed to meet at nine a . m . I w as gi v ing him until nine - fifteen w hen , at nine - t w el v e , I recei v ed his call . G arland said he had to go bac k u p to his room to get my number . H e had w aiting for me in the restaurant adjacent to the M onaco : the S outh Water Kitchen . We e x changed life stories . I ga v e him the rundo w n of my life from my N a v y days in 1 9 8 8 to my start - u p marriage and subsequent di v orce in 1 9 9 7 , u p to my marriage w ith M ichelle , and the birth of our son , M alcolm . H e told me about his tra v els all o v er the w orld , tra v el that began w hen he w as a college student . G arland chec k ed his w atch more frequently no w . H e had to catch a flight B A C K H O M E . I w ant to say w e had a great con v ersation . I T WAS A LESS INTENSE THAN MY TALK IN NEBRASKA. G arland ga v e me a ball ca p w ith his restau rant logo on it . I need a “ G arland Project “ sou v enir .
WEDNESDAY, 24TH MAY 2006 GARLAND OF LOUISIANA – RESPONSE TO INITIAL LETTER M ary A nn T aylor sent A N e - mail . S H E S A I D H E R husband , the G arland of L ouisiana , A S K E D H E R T O D O S O . I re p lied to M ary A nn this e v ening . I told her I reali z ed that it w as short notice but w ondered if she and G arland w ere able to meet w ith me on the 2 nd or 3 rd of J une ? I said I ’ d dri v e do w n there and bac k before I headed out to C alifornia on the 7 th of J une . We ’ ll see w hat she has to say . T he L ouisiana G ar land li v es about 8 3 0 miles south of C hica go and 3 0 miles east of B aton R ouge – 4 4 feet abo v e sea le v el .
THURSDAY, 25TH MAY OFF FOR LOUISIANA Well , it ’ s off to L ouisiana . M ary A nn re s p onded to the message I sent requesting a G arland meeting on S aturday the 3 rd of J une . S he w ondered if our meeting w as going to ta k e u p much time . S he said that she and G ar land Were I N T H E M I D D L E O F p re p aring for the grand o p ening of a ne w business that follo w ing M onday , J une 5 th . I re p lied , T E L L I N G H E R T H A T a B O U T an hour W A S A L L T H E T I M E I need ed for the I N T E R V I E W . I T ’ S T O O B A D T H E Y W E R E S O B U S Y . w hat I R E A L L Y w ant E D to do W A s go fishing . T here are so many la k es and ri v ers do w n there . L i k e the A mite R i v er that C U T B E T W E E N L i v ingston A N D A scension Parish , O R L A K E Pontchartrain .
B rian , M Y B R O T H E R M y little brother thin k s its cra z y for me to not ha v e disclosed the fact that I ’ m a blac k man to the L ouisiana G arland and his w ife before going do w n there . H is fear is that mom and I stand the chance of becoming the v ictims of a hate crime . H e yelled at me and hung u p the p hone . ALSO, I ’ m afraid that the T e x as G arland has bac k ed out of the p roject . I t ’ s been o v er t w o w ee k s since I res p onded to his letter and p hotogra p h . I sent him the same , a letter and a p hoto . I tried to match the machismo but maybe it w as too much for him . I didn ’ t w ant him to thin k I w as just another city slic k er w ith no connection to the outdoors .
FRIDAY, 2ND JUNE 2006 OFF TO BATON ROUGE O n our w ay out of N e w O rleans I too k p ictures of a flood damaged F ord G ala x ie 5 0 0 a “ do not to w ” sign underneath the w indshield w i p er in the dri v e w ay of a ra v aged house .
SATURDAY, 3RD JUNE 2006 THE LOUISIANA GARLAND G A R L A N D A N D H I S M O T H E R , N E D R A , p ulled into t H E tiny L ouisiana to w n , p o p ulation 2 0 0 0 , at a quarter P A S T one that afternoon . T H E Y w ere about forty - fi v e minutes ahead O F schedule . T H E I R p osition ; N : 3 0 . 4 5 9 4 1 9 ˚ by W : 0 9 0 . 7 4 7 7 3 ˚ at 2 5 feet abo v e sea le v el . T H E Y w aited in the p ar k ing lot of a stri p mall w ith a J ones M ar k et , a C ur v es , and a T iger T anning S alon . I t w as the ne w est sho p p ing center in to w n . N E D R A T O L D H I M , at about 1 : 1 0 , G A R L A N D , I ’ ll bet you that ’ s the p erson you ’ re L O O K I N G F O R . S he w as right ; the middle - aged w oman w earing a blue slee v eless blouse w as the L ouisiana G arland ’ s w ife , M ary A nn . S he o w ned the C ur v es and G arland w as about to o p en a dry cleaning ser v ice t w o doors do w n . T H E Y small tal k ed for about fifteen minutes as M ary A nn ans w ered questions from a p o tentially ne w C ur v es club member . G A R L A N D as k ed G arland if he fished . “ O h yes ” he re p lied . “ I fish right o v er there in L a k e Pon tchartrain mostly . ” G A R L A N D R U S H E D T O t A k E T H E p icture of H I S mother , G A R L A N D , and L I N D A inside the C ur v es B E F O R E T H E Y headed do w n the street T O E A T p it barbecue .
Wayne ’ s real p it B B Q W A Y N E ’ S w as M ary A nn ’ s idea . S he w orried that N E D R A , ha v ing ne v er seen nor eaten it , w ouldn ’ t care for cra w fish . T he B B Q w as ama z ing . N ot li k e the city v ersion . T he smo k e fla v or w ent w ay dee p er than the sauce . M om lo v ed it . We ordered a F amily p ac k that came w ith beef bris k et , B arbecued chic k en , hand made p or k and de E r S ausage , green beans , o k ra , corn bread , and S w eet - tea .
T he R E W A S S I L E N C E A T T H E I R table . E v ery one seemed to enjoy it all . T he o w ner of the joint sat T W O T A B L E S A W A Y F R O M T H E M . H e and L O U I S I A N A G arland W E N T W A Y B A C K .
M ary A nn A N D L O U I S I A N A G A R L A N D k ne w e v ery one w ho came into the joint . G A R L A N D felt F A M O U S . L O U I S I A N A G arland told e v eryone H E came in contact w ith that G A R L A N D w as “ an artist from C hicago w or k ing on an art p iece about all of the G arland T aylors in the w orld . ” “ T here are forty of us ! ” L O U I S I A N A G arland e x claimed . THEY LEFT WAYNE’S AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR THEN HEADED OUT TO MARY ANN AND LOUISIANA GARL A N D ’ S H O U S E . F I R S T T H E S T O PP E D T O G E T T H E CRAWFISH. LOUISIANA GARLAND TOLD GARLAND TIGER SEAFOOD’S CRAWFISH WAS THE SECOND BEST AROUND. IT WAS FAMILY RUN.
THEY TOOK THE BOILED SHRIMP, CORN ON THE COB, NEW POTATOES, AND CRAWFISH TO GO AND ATE IT OUT AT THE LOUISIANA GARLAND’S HOUSE.
U N S U R P R I S I N G L Y , M ary A nn w as right , N E D R A D I D N ’ T Q U I T E G E T I N T O the C R A W F I S H . G A R L A N D BROUGHT UP FISHING AGAIN SO LOUISIANA GARLAND TOLD HIM PEOPLE AROUND THOSE PARTS CALLED H I M Y ello w C at . Y ello w C at G A V E G A R L A N D A GLIMPSE OF THE KIND OF FISHING HE WAS INTO AND TOLD HIM HE DONS A SNORKEL AND FINS, SWIMS DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF LAKE Pontchartrain A N D W R E S T L E S L A R G E catfish O U T O F T H E W A T E R . Y ello w C at P U L L E D O U T A COUPLE OF ALBUMS FULL OF PICTURES OF HIM AND HIS CONQUERED FISH. YELLOW CAT ALSO H U N T E D , tra p p ed , and hosted huge cra w fish boils . Wal k ing around Y E L L O W C A T ’ s p ro p erty , G A R L A N D reached out and grabbed hold of a v ine . “ T hat ’ s p oison oa k ! ” Y E L L O W C A T said , C almly . L uc k ily G A R L A N D w asn ’ t affected by it . H E w ent into the house and w ashed H I S hands w here H I S M om and M ary A nn w ere . N E D R A found a G arland ® B rand coffee can S I M I L A R T O T H E O N E G A R L A N D found in T e x as three or four years ago . G A R L A N D p ro p p ed it U P on the p icnic bench A N D T O O K a p icture of it .
NEDRA (MOM)
GARLAND’S MEMORABILIA
TUESDAY, 6TH JUNE, 2006 CALIFORNIA GARLAND O F F to C alifornia tomorro w – O U R V E R Y F I R S T FAMILY TRIP VIA AIRPLANE. MALCOLM IS SO EXCITED HE SCREACHES. WE’LL HOOK UP WITH MY PATERNAL AUNT MAXINE AND SOME COUSINS WHILE WE’RE THERE. I WISH MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY FATHER’S SIDE OF THE FAMILY WAS NOT SO DISTANT. IF I DIDN’T MAKE THE EFFORT TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THEM...
THURSDAY, 8TH JUNE GARLAND OF CALIFORNIA T here ’ s nothing li k e flying all the w ay out to sunny C alifornia , donning a fleece hoodie , and bas k ing in the finest West C oast fog . I p ictured this p lace as sunny and w arm , but it w as A C old and cloudy si x ty - eight degrees in P A C I F I C A , C A L I F O R N I A . We w ere p ar k ed outside of the coffee sho p G arland chose as O U R meeting p lace . I t ’ s at N 3 7 . 4 6 6 3 0 by 1 2 2 . 4 2 8 7 0 ˚ and 4 2 F T . abo v e sea le v el . We arri v ed about t w enty minutes early so , since M alcolm hadn ’ t A w o k en from his na p , M I C H E L L E A N D I too k a 1 5 minute C A T na p I N T H E C A R . T he moment someone p ulled u p on a H arley D A V I D S O N motorcycle T H E T H R E E O F U S Wo k e u p . M ichelle said I snored . F ifteen minutes felt li k e and hour . M ichelle got M alcolm , I got the bac k p ac k out of the trun k and w e w ent into the H alf moon B ay C offee C om p any . M ichelle w as right ; the C alifornia G arland w as the guy that rode in on the H eritage S O F T A I L – red p earl o v er blac k p earl p aint . G arland ac k no w ledged us right a w ay ; he loo k ed me in the eyes , p ointed to me w ith his left hand from the hi p . I hadn ’ t e v en C R O S S E D THE THRESHOLD C O M P L E T E L Y . Y et , H E S E E M E D T O R E C O G N I Z E D M E . I held T H E D O O R O P E N for M ichelle and M alcolm . T H E N I w al k ed u p to the guy and said , “ G arland T aylor ? ” “ G arland T aylor , ” H e re p lied , H is p ointing hand S W I T C H E D T O A N e x tended right hand for an old fashioned handsha k e . I T W A S A C O N F I D E N T H A N D S H A K E , N O T TIMID LIKE WITH NEBRASKA, NOR WAS IT OVER-COMPENSATED LIKE WITH VIRGINIA, BUT FIRM AND CONFIDENT LIKE YELLOW CAT’S HANDSHAKE. I introduced G ar to M ichelle and M alcolm .
G arland w as in the middle of ordering his soy D E C A F latte from the w oman behind the cof fee bar . S he loo k ed at me and said “ H ello G arland T aylor ” G arland had ob v iously told her that I w as coming to meet him . I ordered a cu p of tea . T he ser v er suggested I mi x the green tea w ith D A R J E E L I N G . N early forty - fi v e minutes had p assed and I ’ d F O R G O T T E N about my stee p ing tea . I t w as the strongest cu p of tea I had e v er drun k . I t lasted our entire meeting . What also loomed hea v ily o v er the air of this meeting w ere t w o questions I k e p t as k ing myself , “ H o w did G ar land k no w that I w as G arland , and w hy , unli k e the other G arlands , w as he not sur p rised that I w as a blac k man ? ” O ne of the things that stood out in the meet ing w as the fact that G arland H I N T E D A T ha v ing issues w ith his father as w ell . G ar said his father w as mean . H e said his father bought a 2 6 0 acre farm and made his children w or k it e v ery other w ee k end as w ell as on summer v acations . G ar blamed his father for robbing him of his childhood . T he G arland of Virginia had a similar grie v ance w ith his father .
SUNDAY, JULY 1, 2006 MEET THE FLORIDA GARLAND T he F lorida G arland p ic k ed J . A le x ander ’ s R estaurant A S A M E E T I N G P L A C E . I W A S early ; it W A S about 1 1 : 3 0 . I W A I T E D outside on the p atio and I C O U L D see e v ery car that entered the mall p ar k ing lot . H A D A bloody M ary . I W A S just as ner v ous as I w as before meeting the other G arlands . F O R the second time this tri p I ’ D thought about dad and ho w he used to ma k e me ner v ous . E s p ecially w hen H E ’ D A R R I V E D home F R O M W O R K . I don ’ t remember being ha p p y w hen he came home ; I w as afraid more than anything else . A fraid of getting a s p an k ing , or get ting yelled at for something I ’ D D O N E w rong . H e w as al w ays so angry , M Y F A T H E R . M y broth er and I used to go run and hide some w here in the bac k of the house w hen w e heard his k ey o p ening the door . T H E I N D I C A T I O N T H A T it w as safe to come out O F H I D I N G W A S T H E S O U N D H I S K E Y S M A D E W H E N he tossed T H E M on the p iano . I F H E hadn ’ t yelled B Y T H E N , A L L W A S G O O D . T H E F L O R I D A G A R L A N D , A K A B U T C H , called my cell p hone W H E N he arri v ed . I W A L K E D u p to the p odium w here B U T C H stood W I T H H I S W I F E AND TWO CHILDREN. W E introduced O ursel v es , “ G arland ? ” I as k ed . “ H ey G A R L A N D ” , G A R L A N D said . We w ere T H E N seated at a round table A T W H I C H B U T C H and I sat ne x t to each other . H is k ids w ere so cute . S eeing his son made me miss M alcolm and M ichelle . I ’ D B E E N G O N E F O R F O U R D A Y S . ( I ’ V E N E V E R U N D E R S T O O D ho w my father w as able to s p end so much time a w ay from his family . ) T he w aiter came and w e or dered iced tea . I as k ed ho w he felt w hen he got the
L E T T E R and he said that G race , his w ife , ga v e him the letter and said , “ H ey G arland , you got a letter from yourself . ” B U T C H said he scanned the letter and sent it to some of his family members , all of w hom thought it w as a good idea for him to meet w ith me . B U T C H or dered halibut . I told him about my idea to bring all of the G arland T aylors in A merica together for a big fishing tri p . B U T C H W A S N ’ T I N T E R E S T E D I N G O I N G F I S H I N G . H E said this w as the first time H E ’ D e v er E A T E N halibut . A L S O S A I D H E W A S not much of fisherman . N ot li k e the L ouisiana G arland w ho w restles C A T F I S H in L a k e Pontchartrain . I ordered the shrim p P O ’ B O Y . I t w as a far cry from the P O ’ B O Y S mom and I had in N e w O rleans . I z oned out of the C O N V E R S A T I O N w ondering w hat this F lorida v ersion of the sand w ich w as going to taste li k e . T here is something about the te x ture of the bread in N e w O rleans that has not been du p licated any w here else I ’ v e ordered the same sand w ich . w e small - tal k ed , A N D B U T C H ’ S daughter I L L U S T R A T E D O U R C O N V E R S A T I O N on the p a p er tablecloth . I t w as an easy meeting . B U T C H P I C K E D U P T H E T A B . I T W A S A N EASY MEETING, AND A GREAT MEAL. IT TOOK ABOUT TWO HOURS; ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME AS THE OTHER GARLAND MEETINGS. I KNEW WE’D NEVER SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN. OUTSIDE, I PUT the camera on a tri p od A N D too k S O M E P I C T U R E S . T H E N B U T C H A N D I said O U R good - byes .
THE SHALLOW FLATS OF THE GULF OF MEXICO
CAPTAIN BRUCE WILLIAMS, A. K. A THE HONORARY GARLAND TAYLOR
SUNDAY, JULY 2ND 2006 HOMOSASSA FLORIDA H E w ent trout fishing w ith A G U I D E B Y T H E N A M E O F ca p tain B ruce Williams from H omo sassa , F lorida . T H A T F I S H I N G W A S S O M E T H I N G GARLAND NEVER GOT TO DO WITH HIS FATHER WAS W H Y , F R O M T H E M O M E N T H E S T E PP E D O N T H E B O A T , BRUCE WAS HIS HONORARY GARLAND TAYLOR THAT D A Y . H e p ointed to w ard the marina and remi nisced about ho w w hat used to be there w as the house he gre w u p in – his mother ’ s house . H O N O R A R Y G A R L A N D p ointed out historic land mar k s all T H E W A Y U P A N D A R O U N D the W I N D I N G bayou T O T H E F L A T S . H e and his family L I V E D around those p arts for generations . GARLAND HIRED HONORARY GARLAND TO HELP HIM C A T C H redfish , but the redfish w eren ’ t in season . H urricane Katrina caused the shrim p and crabs usually found in the grass and sea w eeds of the shallo w G U L F w aters H A D G O N E out to sea , ta k ing w ith them the redfish that T H R I V E D on them . S O T H E Y F I S H E D F O R T R O U T I N S T E A D . H E thought it strange , T H E H O N O R A R Y G A R L A N D , G A R L A N D S request to catch G arfish .
FRIDAY, JULY 14TH 2006 10:11 PM EDGEMONT, ARKANSAS T he bullfrogs W E N T 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , - 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 … “ What ’ s that noise Pa p a , ” M A L C O L M A S K E D . 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , - 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 … . I e x p lained to M alcolm ho w our trailer Was com p letely surrounded by bullfrogs croa k ing , counting ; 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , - 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 … H e fell aslee p to th A T sound . I heard , behind that rhythm , a much more deli cate S O U N D – cric k ets counting A T almost the same T E M P O . T he air conditioner cycled on and it frightened the gooseflesh out of M E , A N D M A L C O L M . H e fell right bac k to slee p . H e didn ’ t hear T H A T something T H A T cra w led on the to p of the trailer . M alcolm and I W E R E in the foothills of the O Z A R K S at an R V and cab in resort T H A T o v erloo k ed a la k e . H e did so w ell in the v an on our 1 3 hour sojourn from the city to this p lace .
SATURDAY, JULY 15TH 2006 EDGEMONT, ARKANSAS M alcolm got to go on our first fishing tri p . We caught no fish . We set the lefto v er min no w s free , and tossed the w orms out into the w oods instead . We p layed w ith p ebbles ; w e w atched the w orms ; w e ate our lunch , and then w e head bac k to the trailer for na p s .
SUNDAY, JULY 16TH 2006 GARLAND SPRINGS, ARKANSAS THE ARKANSAS GARLAND STOOD ME UP SO MALCOLM AND I DROVE OUT TO FIND THIS PLACE ON THE MAP NAMED GARLAND SPRINGS. NONE OF LOCALS I’VE A S K E D K N E W A B O U T W H A T W A S S U PP O S E D T O B E A NATURAL SPRING.
WE FOLLOWED MAP QUEST’S DIRECTIONS TO THE LETTER BUT FOUND NO GARLAND SPRINGS. ALL WE FOUND WAS A TWO-MILE LONG ROAD BY THE SAME NAME, THANKS TO AN OLD MAN IN A PICKUP TRUCK. STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF GARLAND SPRINGS ROAD, I TOOK HIS PICTURE.
GARLAND SPRINGS ROAD, GARLAND SPRINGS, ARKANSAS
MONDAY, 31ST JULY 2006 G A R L A N D called the Virginia G arland this afternoon B U T H I S call didn ’ t connect . H E heard the p arty on the recei v ing end o p en their p hone , there w as a rustling sound , th E N N O T H I N G . T he connection w as dead . H E tried again and his p hone w ent right to Vir ginia G arland ’ S v oice mail . G A R L A N D hung u p the p hone . H E got the hint . Virginia G arland didn ’ t res p ond to the e - mail H E sent him a w ee k ago . T H E S T O R Y W A S T H E S A M E W I T H T H E NEBRASKA GARLAND. GARLAND CALLED HIM TOO SHORTLY AFTER HIS TRIP WITH FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS. HE LEFT A MESSAGE ON NEBRASKA GARLAND’S ANSWERING MACHINE BUT HE NEVER GOT BACK TO GARLAND.
MONDAY, 31ST JULY 2006 I called the G arland of Virginia this after noon . M y call didn ’ t connect . I heard the p arty on the recei v ing end o p en their p hone , there w as a rustling sound that w as immedi ately follo w ed by deadness . T he connection w as dead . I tried again and his p hone w ent right to v oice mail . I hung u p the p hone . I got the hint . H e didn ’ t res p ond to the e - mail I sent him a w ee k ago .
DECEMBER 11, 06 E-MAIL FROM CALIFORNIA GARLAND H i G arland , H ere ’ s another little tidbit for your p roj ect if it ’ s still in p rogress . S o ho w is it go ing ? G ar
JANUARY 11TH 2007 R e p ly to G arland C alifornia H i G ar , S orry for the delay . G ood to hear from you and I ’ m glad all is w ell . T han k s for the cli p p ings . N ice hole in one . What are the chances of hitting another one ? Y es , the p roject is in full s w ing . I t w ill be com p leted in about three months I thought I ’ d ha v e an e x act date of the e x hibition three or four w ee k s ago but our class is still w or k ing out details w ith the administration . I t w ill be sometime in the middle of M ay . D o you thin k you ’ ll be able to ma k e it to C hicago ? T hat w ould be cool . I regret not meeting your mother in Virginia . I cancelled my R ichmond tri p . T he G arland of R ichmond , ha v ing met me once in C hicago , de cided not to return my tele p hone and e - mail requests for another meeting . I w as p retty much e x hausted by then , ha v ing dri v en a to tal of 1 1 , 5 0 0 miles bet w een J une and A ugust and ha v ing not found w hat I w as loo k ing for . R emind me if I sent you a co p y of the p hoto w e too k together at the coffee house , if not I ’ ll send you one . Peace , G arland
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2007 I ’ m not sur p rised that I ’ v e gotten no w ord from the C alifornia G arland . T he tone of his e - mail got me thin k ing that he w as interested in the t w o of us k ee p ing in touch .
A p p arently not . I n the beginning , I fanta si z ed about k ee p ing in touch w ith the G ar lands ( at least one of them ) . T hat w as just my imagination at w or k . I t ’ s too bad . O ut of all of the G arlands I met last summer , he seemed li k e the one w ith w hom I had the most in common .
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 2007 GARLAND GOT AN EMAIL MESSAGE FROM MARY ANN, THE LOUISIANA GARLAND’S WIFE. SHE SAID, SIMP L Y , H I A N D A S K E D “ H o w ’ s the p roject going ? ” S I G N E D M ary A nn .
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A. Motley Student Fund Colleagues @ MAVCS Garland’s and Family Michelle & Malcolm Glover & Family Misale Family P. Jackson M . L a v in L. Palmer S. Alatalo P. Rivers K. Morris my Mom Dad
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