The past few days have been a time of anger, shock and disappointment regarding the Walker Art Center; emotions are running high and negative for many of us. But I wanted to make sure that amidst this harsh and hurtful drama, blame and dishonor didn't fall on those who did nothing wrong, and thus I wanted to give a shoutout to our friend the cherry. The cherry, of Spoonbridge & Cherry, is innocent, today and (as far as I know) most days. The cherry, in fact, has endured its share of discomfort. Usually ready to greet each day with a bright, mirror-shiny red smile, it's instead collected layers and layers of mud, silt, dust and detritus during the Walker's long construction process, to the point that it currently looks more like a cocoa truffle. Acclimated to being gazed at with love from the visiting public, it's been isolated for a year by bulldozers and trenches; I don't know that it's even able to get mail or messages. Even before the construction began, every few years (most recently in 2009) the cherry was spirited away under dark cover of night by a secret, unmarked aircraft carrier (suitable for cherry transport) to be repainted its own secret, copyrighted shade of crimson in an undisclosed location far away, and then stealthily returned again. This process took a few weeks from start to finish, and I can't imagine it feels good to have a life shrouded in such mystery. I sense this would leave most small fruits on edge. So, I encourage everyone to appreciate the cherry and its beauty, strength and resilience, despite the strife that swirls in its vicinity. The cherry feels your pain. The cherry empathizes with you.