Our Story
On January 1, 2020, author MK Punky started a new writing project, composing a poem every day of the year, all beginning with the same word.
In 2021, aided by artists from around the world, MK and co-creator Ethan Christy paired each poem with a work of visual art: paintings, photographs, collages, sculptures, videos, and audio recordings.
In 2022, in collaboration with tech guru Todd Brown, the team assembled the “tiles” into an interactive mosaic, a living book that allows viewers to explore the massive project by touch.
How it Works
THE YEAR OF WHEN is a living book. It may be enjoyed by hundreds of museum-goers simultaneously viewing the animated mosaic on a large display screen, where “tiles” change positions randomly.
Fully searchable by Date, Keyword, and Table of Contents, THE YEAR OF WHEN also invites visitors to explore the work with their fingers, using stand-alone kiosks programmed with touch-screen technology.
Inspired by
the events of 2020
GLOBAL PANDEMIC
DEMOCRACY ON THE BRINK
BLACK LIVES MATTER
ISOLATION
SOCIAL JUSTICE UPRISINGS
Meet the Creators
the people behind the work
MK Punky
Co-founder of the 80‘s hardcore punk band The Clitboys, MK PUNKY is the poetry and performance alter ego of Michael Konik, author of 13 books, including The Smart Money: How the World’s Best Sports Bettors Beat the Bookies out of Millions; Ella in Europe: An American Dog’s International Adventures; The Unexpected Guest: How a Homeless Man from the Streets of Los Angeles Transformed our Home, as well as the novels Becoming Bobby, The Termite Squad, and Year 14. Formerly the golf columnist for Delta Air Lines SKY magazine and a commentator on FoxSports poker broadcasts, MK serves as poet laureate of Vista Street Community Library in Los Angeles.
Ethan Christy
Ethan Christy is a filmmaker and photographer from the Hudson Valley and currently based in Brooklyn, NY. He enjoys traveling, meeting new people, meditating, watching flicks, film photography, and generally being silly. In helping to create The Year Of When, he found it liberating to work so spontaneously and collaboratively, a practical experience of the Maya Angelou quote: "You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” Ethan has written several feature screenplays and is currently developing a film for production in 2023.
Todd W. Brown
Tech
A respected technology leader in a variety of industries, ranging from music and video production to enterprise website design and project management, Todd W. Brown creates innovative media strategies, delivering compelling visual storytelling on behalf of corporations, award-winning entertainers, internal departments -- and art projects.