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Call for Trophies

May 1st, 2007

[Update: Oct. 31 2007 - I have stopped collecting trophies for this project and begun installing the work at The Dallas Contemporary. If you have not received a DHL waybill in the mail, then I will not be able to use your trophies inthis project and I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you. To all those who have commented on this post, whom I have spoken with over the phone, via email, and in person I dearly thank you for your support of this project and for making it all possible through your generous trophy donations. I will update and post a comprehensive list of everyone once the project is completely installed.]

Work is steadily progressing on my trophy-covered stairway to be installed in November as part of the Open Doors Expansion exhibition at The Dallas Contemporary. With the help of many generous individuals and Texas’ thriftstore abundance, the trophy count has topped 1,500. However, I need more trophies.

trophy boxen

If you or your family members have any old trophies boxed up in the garage and would like them to be re-used and digitally archived, please consider donating them to this project. If you know of any trophy-makers liquidating old stock or athletic organizations freeing up store-rooms, please don’t be afraid to contact me to arrange a pickup. I am willing to arrange shipping if neccessary.

Focused Re-Use

I feel that the process of collecting trophies is a key element of the work and began in earnest in mid-2005 as part of the develoment of Arch for Open Doors’ In Between. This work focuses on re-using these golden statuettes en-masse, each representative of a particular person at a particular moment in time.

In effect, each statuette represents a datapoint from someone’s competitive life and through their individual choices for co-operation, something larger is created. The distinct impulses for competition and co-operation are brought together. Further, the work’s construction and reliance on recycled material expresses well the concept of “small pieces loosely joined” and supports ideas of a more sustainable art practice that need not look like nature or feel like garbage.

Often, I hear trophy donors say that they wanted to free up space. Your donation of these trophies requires an implicit acknowledgement and acceptance of the shifting priorities in your life as new objects, priorities and memories lay claim to the importance once held for the trophies and competitions they represent.

stairway, scale model (2006)

Population Representation

Each trophy is to be photographed and archived online. This trophy archive is a mass of individual’s metadata, a representation of a participatory population and document of the changing styles in the last 50 years of American trophy-making. The work contributes to the digitally knowable identities of the individuals involved. In this way, the memories of the trophies are honored while their physicality becomes part of a larger more communal form.

Here are links to the online portions of the project, still very much in development. I look forward to everyone experiencing the installation in Dallas, TX in November 2007:

Trophy Collection, 2005-2007



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Tuesday, May 1st, 2007 at 11:57 am
topic: art, personal

93 responses

  1. Rob Utley (May 7th, 2007 at 2:26 pm)

    Hi, I live in Washington DC and would like to donate dozens of old bowling and golf trophies to your project. Are you still accepting them?


  2. Rob Utley (May 7th, 2007 at 2:28 pm)

    You can contact me at [email removed to prevent spam for rob - hc]


  3. hunter (May 7th, 2007 at 3:05 pm)

    Wonderful! Thank you so much, Rob. I will contact you today and we can schedule a DHL pickup through email. I will be gathering trophies for this project until November 2007.


  4. jim berthold (May 13th, 2007 at 4:44 pm)

    We have 70 to 80 trophies plus another 50 or 60 plaques if you are interest in either. We live in Illinois and would be glad to box them up if you wanted to have them picked up. Thanks.


  5. hunter (May 19th, 2007 at 8:53 pm)

    thanks jim, i will followup with you via email and arrange for DHL to pick them up from either your home or office. i will not be able to use the plaques, however, so perhaps another artist might find a use for them.


  6. Bob (May 22nd, 2007 at 7:17 am)

    I have a few boxes of trophies and plaques to donate.


  7. hunter (May 23rd, 2007 at 11:52 am)

    Bob,
    Please email me at hunter@huntercross.com and I will arrange a DHL pickup at your home or office, whichever is convenient. I will need an estimated weight of the boxes and their dimensions. Then I will mail you a waybill to put on the packages. As soon, as you receive the waybill then I will set up a date for pickup. Thank you so much, Bob!


  8. Lisa Schaub (May 29th, 2007 at 2:05 pm)

    We have trophies that we are looking to donate although we were planning to keep the plates that are engraved with the award and date. Would this interfere with your ability to use them?


  9. Barbara Helm (June 2nd, 2007 at 9:09 am)

    We have 40+ trophies that can be boxed up to send if you can arrange a pick-up. We’re in Connecticut. Thank you.


  10. Maureen Denniston (June 3rd, 2007 at 10:23 am)

    We have many trophies that I would like to donate. Are you still accepting them? I live in upstate New York.


  11. hunter (June 5th, 2007 at 4:25 pm)

    Lisa,
    Hi, thank you very much for finding my project and offering to help. There is no problem with removing the engraving plates. Many people have done this, and it no way interferes with my project. I will contact you soon via email for your mailing address so that DHL can pick up the trophies at your convenience. Thank you.
    hunter


  12. hunter (June 5th, 2007 at 4:29 pm)

    Barbara,
    I will arrange a pickup through DHL. They require a waybill to ship the package, so I will fill out the details on that. First thing thursday, I’ll get one to Connecticut!
    hunter


  13. hunter (June 5th, 2007 at 4:33 pm)

    Maureen,
    Yes, I am still accepting trophies. Please box the trophies and I will work with you through email to organize a pickup. Thank you very much for the help, I will be sure to send you photos.
    hunter


  14. wendy havens (June 9th, 2007 at 10:30 pm)

    Are you still accepting trophies? If so, I have some that could be shipped from Arlington, VA. Thanks.


  15. Mike Hischak (June 10th, 2007 at 6:03 pm)

    I ran across this website and I would like to help you with your project. I have between 40-50 trophies that I would be glad to donate. Most are already packaged and ready to go. I live in northeast Pennsylvania. Thanks!


  16. Kathy Franklin (June 12th, 2007 at 9:36 pm)

    I have a box of bowling trophies that I would love to donate, if you can use them. I also have a few plaques. They are already boxed and wrapped. I live in Mesquite, Texas. Please let me know if you can use them. Thanks!


  17. Linda Meissner (June 16th, 2007 at 2:25 pm)

    Hunter,

    I have several trophies (softball, volleyball, basketball) that I would like to donate to your project.

    Please let me know if you still need trophies and we can arrange shipment (from St. Charles, Missouri).

    Thanks!

    Linda


  18. Carol McCoin (June 17th, 2007 at 8:42 pm)

    Hunter,

    Have three boxes of trophies here in OKC. Ready to ship if you need them.
    Carol


  19. Jane Maitski (June 25th, 2007 at 10:21 pm)

    I have about 50 trophies to donate. I live in Florida.
    Thanks.
    Jane


  20. jay levy (July 7th, 2007 at 11:43 am)

    Got 50 or more trophies. All in perfect condition shiny and like new. Do you still need them? Will you pay for shipping from Maryland? Zip is 20896. Please let me know. Thanks.


  21. hunter (July 9th, 2007 at 11:08 am)

    Dear Wendy,
    I just emailed you to start the process of exchanging addresses and shipping trophies. Sorry for the delay!
    thanks,
    hunter


  22. hunter (July 9th, 2007 at 11:12 am)

    Hi Mike H,
    I believe we received the package of trophies sometime last week. thank you so much!
    hunter


  23. hunter (July 9th, 2007 at 11:15 am)

    Dear Kathy,
    I have emailed you more information about the DHL shipping process and look forward to seeing all of the bowling trophies! thank you for contacting me,
    hunter


  24. hunter (July 9th, 2007 at 11:21 am)

    Dear Linda,
    I was unsure if Maritsa, who is handling a lot of the shipping details and waybills with me, had contacted you about your trophies. I’ve emailed you more information regardless, and we would be happy to pay for and arrange shipping via DHL. thank you!
    hunter


  25. hunter (July 9th, 2007 at 11:26 am)

    Hi Carol,
    I definitely need the trophies and have contacted you via email. Please send me your address via email and I will get a waybill out to OKC shortly. thanks,
    hunter


  26. hunter (July 9th, 2007 at 11:32 am)

    Dear Jane,
    I have emailed you more info about how we go about shipping your trophies from Florida to Austin. Thank you for your help,
    hunter


  27. hunter (July 9th, 2007 at 11:37 am)

    Jay from Maryland,
    I am thrilled to have your trophies be a part of this piece. I have emailed you details about how I use DHL. I will pay for shipping so don’t worry about that at all. Email me back and I will get a waybill out to you soon.
    thank you
    hunter


  28. Kathleen Buckley (July 12th, 2007 at 10:54 am)

    Hi… I have about 50-60 trophies that my daughter won at Irish Dancing competitions. Can you use them? I am located in Yonkers, New York!! Can you arrange for shipping!!! Thanks!!

    Kathleen Buckley


  29. Sous le soleil . . . » Woah! (July 12th, 2007 at 9:19 pm)

    [...] I also ran across some old trophies of mine, but I can’t see just throwing them out…so wasteful (I’m big into “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”). So, again, I used the internet and found there is an artist who will pay for shipping to get trophies for his big art project. Also, I found I can send them (and plaques) to a company in Grove City, PA that makes them reusable for non-profits like the Special Olympics and such. There’s also a company in Montana. Cool, huh? And I figured out I can pry off the little part with my name and award on it for my scrapbooks. Very cool… [...]


  30. hunter (July 13th, 2007 at 9:25 pm)

    Hi Kathleen,
    I can arrange shipping and have emailed you, so please send me your address and i will get your DHL waybill out this week. Thank you so much,
    hunter


  31. Kristi (July 17th, 2007 at 8:38 pm)

    I have some tennis and track and field plaques and trophies. I’d love to donate them if you are still interested in helping with shipping. I also saw that website about the drop off in Grove city but it’s a little far from Philly, PA. Hope you can use them.


  32. Diane F. Klonowski (July 26th, 2007 at 11:10 am)

    Would like to donate tropies, how do I go about it? Do you help with shipping? Pls. advise. Thank you


  33. Susan Dority (July 26th, 2007 at 11:23 am)

    I have some trophies that I would like to donate to you. How do I ship them to you? I live in Boston Mass.

    Thanks
    Susan Dority


  34. J. Koster (July 27th, 2007 at 9:51 am)

    I’m also interested in donating trophies. Maybe have 15. If you give me the mailing address, I will send them out to you UPS.


  35. Clube (July 27th, 2007 at 7:31 pm)

    I have an aunt who is 90. Her husband recently passed away and has rooms full of golf trophies. He lives in Junction City, Kansas.
    My aunt would donate but at her age its impossible for her to box them up and ship them. I live in another state and could not help. Do you have any one in Kansas area that is helping with the project that could come and box them. I believe at a conservative estimate she has a couple hundred gold trophies-.


  36. Gillian (July 28th, 2007 at 1:18 pm)

    I have some trophies to donate. Please email me the address to mail them to.


  37. Jill Janson (July 28th, 2007 at 7:54 pm)

    I have about a dozen trophies to donate, including some rather large/tall basketball and beauty pageant ones. Please let me know how I can send these to you? Thanks!

    Jill
    VA/DC Area


  38. April Svetlik (July 30th, 2007 at 11:36 am)

    We have several large boxes of trophies to donate - all sizes and sports. We are going to Austin this weekend. Any chance we can deliver the trophies to you?
    Thanks,
    April
    Houston, TX


  39. Carolyn (August 4th, 2007 at 7:54 am)

    My mom has many boxes of trophies that were awarded to her late husband for raising and showing chickens at livestock shows. This could be a unique addition to your collection if you are still accepting donations. I live near Austin and could deliver them to you the week of August 12.
    Thanks,
    Carolyn
    Pflugerville, TX


  40. Brianna (August 4th, 2007 at 3:41 pm)

    Hello,
    I have about 50 or so swimming trophies from the past 10 years. My parents might be making a trip to Texas before November and could drop them off. If they aren’t, I live in California and it might be too much to send them. Anyway, let me know if you want them!
    Brianna
    Tehachapi,CA


  41. Carolyn Conrad (August 6th, 2007 at 4:09 pm)

    Hello Hunter-
    This is a follow-up to an email-we’d love to contribute our old trophies to your project. We have 40-45 (and that doesn’t count what may be squirreled away under a couple kids’ beds). How would I get them to you? I live in the Baltimore, MD area (Fallston to be exact). Thanks.
    Carolyn Conrad


  42. Kathy Freund (August 6th, 2007 at 7:39 pm)

    Hunter,

    I have 15 to 20 trophies of different sizes that I would like to donate to your project. If you send me an address, I can ship them to you. Thanks!

    Kathy Freund


  43. MARK (August 7th, 2007 at 9:52 am)

    I got about 60 trophies coming your way, Hunter.


  44. Beverly (August 8th, 2007 at 5:15 pm)

    I live in Canton MI and have some track and field
    trophies from the 1990’s. If you are interested
    in about 6-8 of them please let me know.
    Thanks, bev


  45. Ron Battocchi (August 9th, 2007 at 8:21 am)

    I have about 35 trophies to donate. The box is 16″x14″x13″ and weighs about 335 pounds. My address is 5900 4th Road N. Arlington, VA 22203. Thanks. Ron Battocchi


  46. Steve (August 10th, 2007 at 2:40 pm)

    I have about 80 trophies to donate if you want them. If you are interested let me know.


  47. amy inman (August 14th, 2007 at 11:38 am)

    I have about 50 trophies to donate if you are interested. Please let me know. I live in Northern Michigan so I don’t know how much they would be to ship.

    Thanks


  48. Kelly Schultz (August 23rd, 2007 at 2:13 pm)

    I have around 100 sports (mainly soccer and swimming) trophies I would like to donate. I live in Houston so if you wanted to arrange a pick-up, that would be great. Let me know. Thanks.


  49. Kelly Schultz (August 23rd, 2007 at 2:15 pm)

    I have around 80 sports (mainly soccer and swimming) trophies I would like to donate. I live in Houston so if you wanted to arrange a pick-up, that would be great. Let me know. Thanks.


  50. Sara Jeska (September 9th, 2007 at 3:16 am)

    I have many trophies that I would also like to donate. I am also aware of quite a few people in my racquetball community that would like to find a good home for their trophies as well. This could end up pretty big. Please let me know if you are interested and how this would be handled. Thank you so very much for solving a ‘large’ problem for many of us.


  51. Lee Garner (September 9th, 2007 at 9:08 pm)

    Hunter,
    If you are still accepting trophies, my daughter would like to donate hers. Please e-mail me the details.
    Thanks


  52. Val Loskota (September 14th, 2007 at 5:58 pm)

    We have a big box of trophies from baseball, soccer and hockey that we’d like to donate now that my son is in college.


  53. Megan Schulte (September 14th, 2007 at 11:15 pm)

    Hi Hunter,

    I too, have trophies that I’d like to donate. I live in California. If you’d e-mail me the details, that’d be great!

    Thanks! Good luck with your project.

    -Megan


  54. Gladys (September 20th, 2007 at 5:09 pm)

    Hello Hunter.
    Still interested in some trophies?
    Write back if you are. I have someone who wants to donate trophies.


  55. Ron (September 24th, 2007 at 10:33 am)

    Hunter, I contacted you on August 9th (#45 above). The approximate weight is 33 pounds not 335 pounds. If you’re still interested, please let me know.


  56. Rita McAuley (September 24th, 2007 at 11:32 am)

    We have some trophies that I would like to donate to you. How do I ship them to you? We live in Shelby Twp., Michigan.

    Thank you.


  57. Betty matiskella (September 27th, 2007 at 10:47 am)

    I ahve several used trophies that I would donate if you are still collecting. Just let me kow. They are from various junior sports.


  58. Kathleen (September 27th, 2007 at 1:23 pm)

    I’ve got a bin full of trophies with your name on it if you’re still collecting. Are you still offering the pay for shipping?


  59. Gayla (October 1st, 2007 at 7:52 pm)

    This would be great if you are still taking trophies…. I have over 350 trophies that were won doing baton twirling of all shapes and sizes that I would love to give to a good cause… Are you still taking donations?
    They would need to be shipped from Michagan


  60. Cheryl (October 2nd, 2007 at 4:55 pm)

    My son (25) has recently cleaned up his room and he would like to donate his trophies if you are still collecting them. My other son, Alan, passed away in 1998, and we would like to donate some of his as well. We probably have close to 30. We live in Miami…if you are intersted please email and tell me how the process can get to you. We would be honored.

    They would need to shipped from Coral Gables, Florida. I noticed that you said you would be collecting until November.

    Thank you Cheryl


  61. eliza (October 3rd, 2007 at 11:36 pm)

    do you still need any trophies? i have about a dozen or so old swimming trophies. please let me know where to ship them.
    thank you, eliza


  62. Lauren (October 5th, 2007 at 9:36 pm)

    Sounds like a great project! I have a few trophies and wall plaques if you are interested. Let me know the details. Thanks lauren


  63. Rhonda Lahey (October 10th, 2007 at 11:15 am)

    By looking at your posted pictures, it’s amazing how beautiful and eye-catching the trophy art is.

    I have approx. 50 trophies that I can donate if you are still accepting them. They are from my husband’s junior bowling and my band/ academic accomplishments in the 70’s and 80’s.

    Please contact me with details. Thanks, Rhonda


  64. Lindsey (October 17th, 2007 at 11:10 am)

    I also have lots of Bowling trphies for years ago…probably 50 plus
    Please contact with details if interested.
    Lindsey


  65. Jesus Morales (October 17th, 2007 at 6:13 pm)

    We have several dozen dance trophies our daughter has won. Tried donating them to Special Olympics and the local YMCA, they said they don’t take such donations. Can you use them and how can we get them to you? Hope t hear for you. Thanks.
    JMM


  66. Jesus Morales (October 17th, 2007 at 6:14 pm)

    P.S. We are in Californina


  67. Trisha (October 27th, 2007 at 2:58 pm)

    I have a handful of old trophies that no organization will take here. Are you still collecting? I am near Philadelphia, PA?


  68. DENYSE (October 28th, 2007 at 3:25 pm)

    Are you still looking for trophies? We have a bunch that we are getting rid of, if it would help. We’re in Chicago. Please advise!


  69. patty (October 30th, 2007 at 4:09 pm)

    I am in Boston, MA. I have old hockey, baseball and football trophies I would like to donate somewhere. Please advise. Thank you.


  70. Robin Metoyer (November 4th, 2007 at 1:39 pm)

    Are you still in need of trophies? I have 5 sons who all played sports & would love to donate their trophies.


  71. Vivian (November 25th, 2007 at 8:59 pm)

    Hi! I am so glad to have found your site and your need of old trophies. I had hoped to donate them to a sports organization but none want them. Your art project sounds wonderful, so I would like to give them to you. If they are sent with the name tags, will they be photographed and the photos sent to me? (Is this what you mean by “archived” and is the “archive” part of the artwork itself?) If not, is it okay to remove the tags? I think you answered this question earlier but I just want to be sure. Also, would you be able to have them shipped to you from New Jersey? Looking forward to hearing from you.


  72. Charles Daniel Ross (November 26th, 2007 at 8:33 pm)

    Mr. Cross, I had sent you trophies a while ago and I was wondering If I would be receiving any type of archive pictures of my awards for a keep sake. C. D. Ross


  73. Jen Schultz (January 2nd, 2008 at 6:08 pm)

    I know it is now 2008. Do you still need any trophies? I found all my old track/cross country trophies from 20 years ago. What about plaques? Thanks!


  74. Melissa (February 10th, 2008 at 3:10 pm)

    HI just wondering if you still need some trophies?


  75. Eileen Fitzpatrick (February 17th, 2008 at 3:07 pm)

    Let me know if you still need trophies. I have some to contribute to this project. Thanks.


  76. jimmi (February 19th, 2008 at 1:32 pm)

    Do you need more trophies? I have a bunch of Karate ones. Let me know.


  77. Lil (March 9th, 2008 at 11:17 am)

    I have several boxes of trophies available for your project from days gone by.

    Are you still interested in receiving more?


  78. Betty Willard (June 20th, 2008 at 9:04 pm)

    We are moving my father from an assisted living apartment to a memory care room. He has 20-30 fishing trophies that we are uncertain what to do with. We hate to throw them out, but family does not want. Any interest???


  79. Kate (July 8th, 2008 at 8:25 pm)

    We are moving and have a bunch of old trophies from the kids’ early years - soccer, baseball, etc. Like others, we hate to add to the landfills. - Could you use some more?


  80. michelle (July 16th, 2008 at 8:30 am)

    I have some also…do you still need them? It is hard to find a place that recycle trophies here.


  81. MAXINE JOHNSON (July 26th, 2008 at 10:11 pm)

    I was wondering and would like to know if you still need trophies. My daughter and I just closed our dance studio after 22 years in business and have several boxes of trophies of various sizes that we would love to donate. We do not want to throw them in the trash. We would love to donate or recycle them. Please let me know and how they are picked up or gotten to you. Thank you. Sincerely, Maxine


  82. Deirdre (July 27th, 2008 at 4:08 pm)

    My dance studio cannot accommodate the many trophies we now have. We have many boxes of all sizes and also plaques. How may we dontate them?

    Thank you.


  83. dorann (August 2nd, 2008 at 10:40 am)

    are you stll accepting trophies?
    thanks from Tampa,fl


  84. Ethel P. Kruse (August 15th, 2008 at 3:28 pm)

    Are you still collecting trophies? I am moving and my 3 children have quite a collection and I feel bad about just putting them in the trash. EPK


  85. Mike Kulaga (September 1st, 2008 at 11:07 am)

    I have 25-30 trophies, all type. Baseball, soccer,basketball. If you still need trophies please let me know and I will ship them to you.


  86. K Reinhold (September 11th, 2008 at 3:16 pm)

    Hello
    I am wondering if you are still collecting trophies? I would much rather donate than ditch!
    Thanks, K


  87. L. Reichhart (September 16th, 2008 at 7:41 am)

    I have access to 90 or so twirling trophies. Any interest?

    Thanks,
    Lynne


  88. Bryan Butler (September 17th, 2008 at 5:15 pm)

    Hi, just wondering if you are still collecting trophies. Please let me know!


  89. Joanne Pulaski (September 29th, 2008 at 1:30 pm)

    are you still taking old tropies? Thanks.


  90. NS Knowles (October 12th, 2008 at 8:30 pm)

    I have some jetski trophies. Are you still collecting trophies.


  91. Pat (November 3rd, 2008 at 12:41 pm)

    I have about 25 baseball, golf, bowling, etc. trophies that I would like to donate. What is the process for donating?


  92. Pat (November 3rd, 2008 at 12:42 pm)

    How do I donate trophies?


  93. Nan Cox (November 6th, 2008 at 12:21 pm)

    I have trophies and medals from three kids I’d like to donate to a worthy cause. Is anyone aware of where I can send them?

    Thanks,

    nan


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