Gina Popovic
Yakima, Washington
On the side of the road in rural Washington State, I found a tossed away cassette tape: Devo's "Freedom of Choice.” At six years old, I recognized the genius in this music and immediately conscripted my sister and our two neighbors for a five-part pageant of astonishing scope and detail. In addition to the choreography, costume changes, and lighting effects we created a 20-seat theatre in the front lawn and filled it with our neighbors: farmers, housewives, mill workers. That day I found my calling. I make cool things happen.