As a new citizen in Boulder, artist Parisa Tashakori observed something unique about the city: strangers frequently exchanged greetings on the streets, spreading positive energy without needing any prior connection. Tashakori also noticed a similar friendly atmosphere at the public library, where people from diverse backgrounds—different countries, religions, ethnicities, and languages—came together to learn and enjoy the community.
Inspired by these observations over eight months, Tashakori created Hello, a temporary public art piece. She envisioned it as a tribute to Boulder’s culture of friendliness and as a way to encourage further connection. The word “hello” is universally recognized as the first step of communication across languages and cultures, and Tashakori wanted to build on this simplicity to make Boulder feel even more welcoming and inclusive.
For this project, Tashakori combined the concepts of saying “hello” and the tradition of memorial fences. She was inspired by memorials seen around the world, which often serve as symbols of remembrance. In her home country of Iran, people tie green strings or fabric to fences or trees around holy sites to make a wish or express a prayer. Hello took this tradition and adapted it into a series of conceptual fences installed near civic spaces.
The initial piece, titled Hello Boulder, was installed outside the main library door or in its garden, accompanied by an invitation for community interaction. People were invited to hang objects like locks, dolls, or flowers, and some could even add handmade fabric artwork to the installation. The project encouraged people to contribute personal items, fostering a sense of ownership and expanding the “Hello” culture.
As Hello grew, Tashakori created fences of varying sizes to say “hello” in different languages (Arabic, Spanish, and English), welcoming people of all nationalities and inviting them to connect through shared symbols of greeting and goodwill.
