Support the Watermelon Couch Season 2!

Peace Y’all. My name is James ‘Creative Shields’ and I’m back for another amazing adventure with the Watermelon Couch Road Trip. Visit my website to view last year's collection of interviews and get further details on the project.

In 2022 I made this couch as part of my sculpture series for a Juneteenth event in Oakland, CA.

The purpose of the couch is to collect stories, amplify voices, and build community in the realms of food justice, Black culture, and raising awareness about our ongoing climate crisis. This project features amazing, talented, everyday people in the form of farmers, business owners, artists, activists, and many more. Thanks for joining me on this journey

With your help we raised $14k last year! It not only allowed me to complete a 30 day road trip, but also helped me develop new art and publish a series of interviews that’s now available on my website and YouTube.

This year I am running it back to complete my tour of the South. If last year's experience taught me anything, it’s that the Watermelon Couch is a year-round endeavor. The road trip alone is a significant undertaking, and producing footage for videos, fine art, public programming, and merchandise (gifts) demands a deliberate financial commitment. Your contribution will directly support these costs and help make this ambitious project a reality.

This year, I'm doubling my time on the road to two months and planning for a 12-month cycle. Investing in this project will allow me to:

1. Hire an editor to produce video content that matches the project's scale.

2. Develop a workshop curriculum for the Watermelon Couch focusing on environmental and social justice issues.

3. Create a range of creative works, including a coloring book, a coffee table photo book, paintings, apparel, and collectible figurines and sculptures.

Here’s the breakdown of costs:

Startup Costs (to get started): $11,000

Starting my journey on the East coast instead of from my home base in Oakland requires a significant initial investment.

$2,500: Secures a truck or other enclosed vehicle.

Approximately $50: Covers daily transportation rental.

$600: Covers round-trip flights to and from the east coast.

$2,000: Covers shipping the truck and the couch between the East coast and home base.

$5,000: Covers home base overhead costs.

On the Road Trip: $16,000

I anticipate being on the road for 56 days. While costs vary daily, the average daily expense is approximately $320.

$60: Gas for heavy driving days.

$60: Food for three solid meals.

$200: Quality hotel accommodation. Last year, budgeting for cheaper hotels didn’t work out, so this year I'm prioritizing quality.

Program Development: $30,500

Video and Media Editor for Season 2: $15,000

This year, I plan to publish a collection of 20 interviews. To maintain and improve the quality of my content, I’m actively seeking to hire a team of skilled media producers.

Art and Concept Development: $15,500

Studio Work for 8 months: $8,000

Print Production: $5,000

Administrative Costs (website, subscriptions, tolls, etc.): $2,500