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Since 2007, the border has changed … mostly the last few months. But “Non Sign II” still stands, just down the road from the Peace Arch.

In today’s political climate, where does art at the border fit in? What if the piece was not meant to be political at all?

For @cascadiadaily.com

“I wanted it to be something that people come from either side of and see something striking,” Han told me. “So you remember the crossing of the border is something actually exciting and positive, not stressful and something that you’re afraid of.”

Artists Annie Han and Daniel Mihalyo sent me tons of photos of them building the piece in Blaine. This one of Annie welding stood out — it’s so badass!

Today, in the afternoon:

Read my Q&A with Barry MacHale, social worker and librarian for Whatcom County Library System’s Jail Library Service program, at cascadiadaily.com:

The answer hit home, as my late stepdad was incarcerated for over two decades before I met him.

Five years ago I filmed a short doc for college about Nate's experience learning to tattoo in prison. I like to think art did for Nate what reading does for others — the ability to escape in his mind.

One question I asked Barry was, "What is the importance of keeping books accessible to incarcerated folks?"

"The ability to escape in our mind," he said.