A SELF–PORTRAIT
The Self-Portrait presents my unique personal history growing up at the family-run motel in Lawrence, Kansas.
I designed a banner incorporating old family photos and installed the original key-cutting machine and various keys from the motel for the project exhibition.
THE VIRGINIA INN
Named after the previous owner’s wife, the motel is located on Highway 40 in the college town of Lawrence, Kansas. My parents purchased the motel in 1982 as part of the motel chain, EconoLodge. It was a Best Western for a short bit before my Dad decided to split off from the chains and run his own motel.
LIVING AT THE MOTEL
We lived in an apartment attached to the front lobby for the first year of my life. This photo was taken the day before I was born.
I came home from the hospital to the motel. The Virignia Inn is where I learned to eat, walk and talk.
OUR BIG BACKYARD
My parents never shipped us off to summer camp or hired a babysitter. We were always on the motel grounds, doing our homework in the apartment, riding our bikes in the hallways and swimming in the pool all summer long.
LIVING IN KANSAS
My parents moved the family from Los Angeles to Lawrence, Kansas because of the motel. Lawrence is a lively college town with lots of big wide open spaces—I loved growing up there.
My parents acclimated well and found ways to mix business and fun.
OWNERS, PARTNERS, PARENTS
In addition to being the owners my parents doubled as the managers, accountants and housekeepers. All of the kids also helped in the day to day operations of the motel.
On any given day you could find one of the Lius out cleaning the pool, doing the laundry or fixing broken furniture.
