Matchbox Homage to Homes

Step 1

What does it mean to investigate and be more attentive in the way we live in our communities?  Check out this great video that explores how art is always hiding all around us!

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be sure to turn the sound on

Step 2

Get Outside

Take a walk around your neighborhood and think about how people in your neighborhood are creating a sense of home

Pay Attention

Think about what people have done to make their spaces feel like their own. Have they planted gardens?  Put out flags? Decorated their entryway?

Take Notes

Be sure to write down what you see.  Do sketches, take photos, pay attention and document what you see.  These notes will be helpful when you work on the next step.

Document

When you come home take some time to collage or draw about the question and how your neighborhood answers it - You could make a detailed map, documenting how people have created or recreated a sense of home, you could pick one home that has done something special to create a sense of home, you could think about what you have done to create a sense of home at your own home. 

Step 3

Check out this great artist's neighborhood installations that ask people to stop, be attentive and slow down in an attempt to bring her community together! (click the picture to visit her website)

Step 4

Materials

Gather your materials and get ready to get creative.

matchbox (you can get ten of these for $1 at the Dollar Tree)

tape and/or glue

Paper

paint and brushes

magazines, books, old photographs

drawing materials (colored pencils, pens, etc...)

Step 5

Remember your neighborhood/home exploration from earlier?  You are going to revisit that now! First though, consider how Kathleen White asks people in her neighborhood to pay attention and tune into each other.  Spend a little time revisiting your reflections on home from earlier - try free writing about /around the question - In what ways do people create (or recreate) a sense of home (Rex & Woywood, 2014)? Now you are going to make a small offering that celebrates someone's home and how it makes your own home community feel warmer.  This could be something you mail to someone in your neighborhood, or a little offering you leave in their mailbox or on their front porch.  The materials you will use are your matchbox and the other materials listed above.  The prompt to think about is:  In what ways do people create (or recreate) a sense of home AND how can recognizing/tuning into/and celebrating these ways impact your community?  Be sure get inspired and check out the examples of matchbox art below!

Step 6

We want to see what you made!

 

Use the hashtag #catchingsummermemories to share on social media.

OR

Upload to our google drive folder with your description and we'll include it on our website!!  Just click the icon to below to get started!

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© 2020 by Sara Scott Shields

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