I grew up in Flint, Michigan, where the fridge served as our family’s modest trophy case. Little wins by my brother and me were often celebrated by posting them on that door—report cards, art projects, you name it.
This past weekend, I brought that same spirit to the Cherokee Heights Arts Festival with the intent of spreading positivity. Cherokee Heights is a National Historic Register neighborhood built in 1924 just a mile north of Marietta Square outside of Atlanta. The festival originally began as an invitation-only art show among Cherokee Heights neighbors to show off their skills. I was excited to participate with my friends and neighbors, Elizabeth and Kurt Seidle, who not only showcase their Knits & Prints offerings but also lend their talents to organizing and promoting the festival.
The small pop-up appeared as an art activation titled “Noteworthy,”. Festival-goers walked a mini red carpet past velvet ropes and were asked a few quirky, introspective questions. From that, I crafted a personal compliment, crudely typewritten onto a scrap of recycled paper—154 in total, gifted out one by one. In a world that often feels disconnected and divisive, it was my way of sharing joy, spreading positivity, and reminding people of their uniqueness. The quick conversations sparked many smiles, laughter, and sometimes fond memories. By the day's end, those tiny compliments felt like something bigger.
The next day, a parent stopped me at a local gym to say their kid had received a compliment and that it was hanging proudly on their fridge. I sheepishly grinned in admiration. Now my wife calls me the “Fridge Man,” picturing all those heartfelt notes possibly finding their way onto refrigerators around town.
