Disasters inspire artist to create Story Catcher Mailbox

A Santa Barbara artist created the Story Catcher Mailbox Project to let people affected by the Thomas Fire and the mudslides to tell their stories.

Artist Danielle Siano says she was inspired by the stories her friends told her about their experiences from the recent disasters that she created this project to give others a platform to tell their stories.

“The goal of this project is to allow people to process their most tender moments, acknowledging the light and dark sides of living,” said Siano. “Communicating about these topics together is how we begin to heal from the trauma of death, loss, war, and suffering.”

The Mailbox is located on the corner of Anapamu and State Street. One side of the mailbox has an opening for letters of praise. The other side of the mailbox has an opening for letters of grief.

“Every one of us has felt loss or suffering in our lifetime,” said Siano. “Every one of us knows the joys in life worthy of praise. For some, grieving is a way of honoring what is missed. Each one of us has a letter of grief and praise inside of us.”

If you would like to leave a letter, drop it off at the mailbox by 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays.

There will be a public reading of the letters every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the mailbox until the end of the State of the Art Gallery.

For more information on the Story Catcher Mailbox Project, click here.