Faces of Frinklepod: Cheryl Miller from the 46 Million Turkeys Project (meet her at our Pop-Up Markets!)
Where are you from and where do you live?
I'm originally from Staten Island, NY. I moved to Maine in 1988 and currently live in Augusta.
What is the 46 Million Turkeys Project?
46 Million Turkeys is a community participatory art project I initiated in 2013. The project's primary goal is to represent through portraiture the staggering number of turkeys eaten on a single Thanksgiving Day. For over a decade I've been engaging with community members to draw a small 3" x 3" portrait of a turkey. And, every portrait I collect is as unique as the individual who created it.
What is one surprising thing you've learned doing this work? Irrespective of whether or not a person agrees with my beliefs regarding animals as food, they will nevertheless draw me a turkey portrait for the collection. I love that!
What do you do when NOT thinking about turkeys?
When I'm not attending events--art walks, festivals and Frinklepod pop ups--to collect turkey portraits from the public, I make art. My preferred media is watercolor and the subjects I paint most often are trees, rats, octopus, and fish. For outdoor exercise, I "walk" my cat on a leash.
What is something you like about Frinklepod?
My favorite thing about visiting Frinklepod is the people, both staff and visitors. It is so heartening to be around so many warm and kind people. I'm grateful for the variety of vendors like Frinklepod who grow, make, and sell products that align with my chosen way of living.
What is something that brings you joy?
Joy for me is an animal rescue that was successful. I once rescued a kitten from the Lincoln Tunnel in Manhattan!