On a vibrant sunny Friday in July, 6-year-old Louie examines a display of small plastic dinosaurs in a Southeast Portland side yard, gleefully sharing that one is his ‘second favorite dinosaur.’
His mother, Stephanie, engages him with curiosity, asking, ‘What kind of dinosaur is it?’ Louie, however, shyly admits he has forgotten.
This delightful interaction takes place at The Dino Exchange, one of many whimsical installations created by local artist Rachael Harms Mahlandt.
The artist describes her collection, which includes not only The Dino Exchange but a squirrel exchange, a thimble exchange, and two little free libraries, among other unique pieces, totaling nearly a dozen installations designed to uplift and create joy in her Montavilla neighborhood.
Harms Mahlandt refers to her creations as ‘sidewalk joy,’ a trend that has gained traction across the country since the advent of free little libraries, which endorse the idea of ‘take a book, leave a book.’
The concept inspired Harms Mahlandt during the pandemic, a time she explored Portland with her young children.
Relocating from Washington D.C. a few years prior, she felt a growing disconnection from the community and a longing to explore her new surroundings fully.
To remedy this, she established the Urban Explorers Club, setting out each day with her children for local adventures that included neighborhood strolls and hiking excursions.
During these explorations, they frequently stumbled upon enchanting installations, from rubber duck exchanges to miniature galleries showcasing local artists.
Inspired by their joyful experiences, Harms Mahlandt decided to create her own space filled with delightful surprises.
Each installation in her yard tells a unique story.
One such feature, The Bee-Stop, operates as a pollinator seed library dedicated to a bumblebee she and her children rescued and named Harriet.
However, the journey of sharing sidewalk joy has not been without its challenges.
Harms Mahlandt acknowledges the risk of vandalism, stating, ‘I think as humans it’s really easy for us to picture physical destruction, and it’s hard for us to picture intangible rewards.’
Yet, she maintains that the joy and community connections established in her three-plus years of creating these exchanges far outweigh the negatives.
As a self-proclaimed steward of sidewalk joy, Harms Mahlandt sought not only for her community to enjoy the installations but also to encourage connections.
When passersby would stop to interact with her creations, she shared information about similar installations in the area.
This enthusiastic sharing eventually sparked the idea for a collective guide.
In 2023, she partnered with artist Grant Brady to develop the PDX Sidewalk Joy Map, which now features around 130 locations offering various installations, including tiny, hand-crank music boxes and a vintage candy machine full of ‘Super Awesome Prizes’ like rock facts and pinback buttons.
Among the diverse installations highlighted are a keychain exchange, a sticker exchange, a mini Blockbuster Video, a card trading post, and even a rubber duck swap.
Some installations, however, have left visitors scratching their heads, such as the Wishing Tree in Northeast Portland, which at first glance appears to be covered in debris.
Upon closer inspection, the tree reveals its true nature: palm-sized notecards filled with people’s heartfelt wishes, ranging from the simple request ‘To make more art’ to the poignant hope ‘I wish for the ability to feel love again.’
The PDX Sidewalk Joy Map has gained popularity beyond Portland, attracting attention from individuals around the globe.
Messages have poured in from visitors as far away as Japan and Australia, as well as individuals expressing interest in bringing similar installations to their cities.
In response to this growing enthusiasm, Harms Mahlandt launched the Worldwide Sidewalk Joy Map, which features a variety of installations, from a mug exchange in Eugene to a little art gallery in Puerto Rico.
She encourages those excited about the movement to check the worldwide map and explore local options.
For those who do not find something near them, she motivates them to consider creating their own sidewalk joy installations in their communities, fostering connection and happiness through art and creativity.
image source from：opb
