Touchable Stories
Touchable Stories began in 1996 with the idea of using the talents of contemporary artists to help individual communities define their own voice and give it public expression. The idea caught on, and has since become a series of community profiles telling the unique stories of these routinely marginalized neighborhoods.
Artists create rooms based on themes from the community. Ten to twelve rooms are then connected to form a walk-through maze, each interactive, each designed by a different hand, each using soundtracks created from the recorded interviews. The result is an intimate and dramatic journey in the life of a singular place through time—a journey with many voices.
Through a process of listening and observation, Touchable Stories networks to bring people and resources together in an effort to create sustainable futures.
Location
Founding sponsors
The Boston Foundation
LEF Foundation
The Martin Fund
Host Site Sponsors
Boston Wharf Co. (Fort Point)
Brighton Ave. Baptist Church (Allston)
First Baptist Church of Cambridge (Central Square)
Maxwell Community Business Park (Upham’s Corner)
Port of Richmond, CA (Richmond: Introduction & The Story Continues)
Other Affiliates:
Bobby Mendes Peace Legacy (Shannon Flaherty, Co-Director).
Current projects can be seen here. They include: Animating Archives, Echoes From The Edge, the New England Folk Music Archives, Richmond: The Story Continues, the Bobby Mendes Peace Legacy, and Tent City Peace Movement among others. Recurring themes include music, history, (anti-)violence, and more.