Boston Common's Awesome, Giant Hammock

How many times have you walked across Boston Common, that great green swath in the middle of Beantown, and thought to yourself, "if there's one thing this place needs, it's a giant hammock."

I know, right? About a million times.

It is a truly inspired idea, giving new voice in this era of divisiveness and danger to the fact that "we are all in it together."

But until recently, it was just that — an idea. Then along came the Awesome Foundation for the Arts, and now the hammock is just one push away from becoming a reality.

Founded in June of this year, the Awesome Foundation is taking a bold stand for inspired ideas. The foundation, composed of "a small group of individuals making personal contributions in the name of awesomeness," sets its sights on "advanc[ing] the interest of Awesomeness in our universe" by giving a grant of $1,000 to one deserving project every month.

The application requirements are short and sweet, and winners only have to agree to one condition: they must share the story of their awesome project with foundation staff and others a month later. "Winners," the foundation's blog states, "receive the money in cash, check, or gold doubloons, no strings attached."

So what is an awesome idea? The foundation wants uncommon inspiration: "Awesomeness is more the product of a creator’s passion than the prospect of audience or profit. Awesome creations are novel and non-obvious, evoking surprise and delight."

The big hammock on Boston Common is the first awesome thing the group has funded. Rhode Island School of Design professor and architect Hansy Better Barraza has gotten her gold dubloons for the project and will presumably begin stringing up her creation soon.

In the meantime, are you awesome enough to compete?

Photo courtesy of stock.xchng