Two years ago, I started exhibiting in outdoor art festivals. I planned on traveling to these shows in my Volkswagen hatchback. It’s a small car, but hatchbacks can fit a surprising amount of stuff with the back seats folded down. In this space, I aspired to fit: Framed and matted photographs, 300 square feet of display walls, a canopy tent, display bins, lighting, and a dolly. I bought a rooftop bag for extra room. And yes, I thought it would work. Even though everyone else would be driving RVs and cargo vans, I would discover new ways of compactness which would allow me to fit all the same stuff into a compact car. Minimize, minimize! I always bring too much stuff anyways. It’ll be good for me.

When it comes down to it, after putting all the investment into printing/framing and display materials, I didn’t want to spend any more money on a larger vehicle.

After I had all my equipment together, it occurred to me that perhaps my heroic hatchback wouldn’t be up for the job. Even with the rooftop bag, and supreme Tetris style arranging skills, I don’t think I would’ve had a chance. That spring, on the way to a local art festival, I noticed a full size van for sale. It was brown 1992 Ford E150, complete with a two toned paint job and racing stripe goodness. No… I couldn’t. I went home and looked at my big pile of art show stuff and that little hatchback.

I called the owner of the van, who happens to be a potter that lives about 10 minutes away from me. The van was in fabulous shape. The interior looked almost new. The back bench seat folds out into a full size bed, perfect for camping out during long trips. And, it was so roomy. I could fit all the art show stuff with room to spare. You know how this logic goes - when you’ve decided that you need something, the correct rationale appears. We came to an agreement, and arranged for me to take it home the next day. By the way, she said, we’ve named the van Mongo. There was a tone of longing adoration in her voice as she declared it’s name, “Mongo”.

The next day, the seller mentioned that they gave Mongo a proper goodbye. The previous evening, she and her husband sat in the van with glasses of wine, and toasted to the good journeys that they had shared. She told me, take good care of Mongo. They added: Be prepared, now, for helping everyone that you know when they need to move something big.

And so began, in May 2006, our adventures with Mongo. More to come….