The weather in Northfield has been diverse, just like the stories we have been collecting. The Wandering House received some warm welcome as it relocated to the Community Action Center early last week. Most recently , we got to experience Northfield Shares a Dinner, a one-night-event that featured an open air restaurant that spanned most of Division Street and served local delicacies. Bringing together a diverse amalgam of community members, this event gave us grounds to appeal to a big proportion of the community and gain some new narratives. Live performances from a capella singers to Mexican folk dance complemented our reflections on home and belonging, providing a unique backdrop to the audio recordings taking place inside the house. The coming week marks the conclusion of the gathering phase of our project so be sure you add your voice!
Riverwalk on August 24th was jam-packed with action, as always. We experimented with a new offering: an art-making station where young and old ones could use pencils, pastels, and ink pens to create a visual artwork in response to The Wandering House and the questions it poses. This alternative to recording participants’ voices offered the chance to express feelings and ideas in a nonverbal way that appeals to many, especially our favorite participants; Northfield children!
This was the case for Anna Imdieke, one of the winners of our fall 2018 art contest, who is entering 8th grade this year. Anna, a lover of books, art, and science got into painting at a young age thanks to an art program at her local school. This passion for art helped her develop one of the beautiful artworks that appear in all our promotional materials. By now, we trust you are familiar with it!
So, as summer leaves prepare to turn over and golden with fall, we share with you the excitement to be collaborating on this final week with the residents and staff of Laura Baker, and remind you that we will be at Riverwalk on August 31st, with the art station. We would love to see and hear your impressions on home & belonging one last time.