Becoming a Contagious Catalogue

Dinner Anyone?

I read a great article on CNN.com about an artist named Marc Horowitz. Marc did something most of us would never dream of doing. Marc was setting up a shot for a Crate Barrel catalogue of a "desk hutch" when he noticed that the blank white board in the picture was just too plain. On impulse he wrote "Dinner with Marc, Call 510-872-7326" on the board. Since then he has gotten thousands of phone calls from people all over the country. What Marc has found is how much people are willing to open up to him, a total stranger, about all kinds of things, and that they actually want to have dinner! One particular person said that she couldn't believe that he would do such a thing, and that his act has restored her faith in humanity.

Now that's possibly a little overstated, but it does say something that Marc made himself vulnerable by listing his phone number and people responded by making contact with him. The CNN article has some really interesting insights into why Marc thinks people have responded the way they have. What Marc says really struck me, he states:

"It's about illuminating the importance of conversation between strangers. We just plug into our computers and think that's the way to live, but old-fashioned face to face is what it's about. It's about really listening and knowing that everybody has something important to say and that their stories are fascinating," he says. "This is real conversation with real people -- it's something you can't buy."

I have to tell you as a person I can learn a lot from this, especially the "really listen, and everyone has something important to say" part. And as a Christian I think there is a lot to take from this about that loaded word "evangelism". Marc has no ulterior motive other than to make good on his promise to have dinner with as many people as he can. He isn't trying to exploit them or turn the people into a reality show, or enlighten them about art; he is just connecting with people. Like I said there is so much insight to gain from this, but the one that hits me first is that people will respond to authenticity and vulnerability. I would love to hear any insights you might have with regard to this and how this art project can inform your evangelism.

Check out Marc's website to watch his interview on the Today Show and see some of his other very good and very funny work.