What does home mean to you? Where is your hometown? What kind of hometown is Albany if you're growing up here now? We'll gather to explore homes and hometowns past, present and future, nearby and far away.

Together we'll make "artists' books" in order to delve into what makes us feel at home--or out of place.  "Artists' books" are intriguing, tactile objects that are a bit like a cross between a book and a sculpture. They might have no words at all or be full of words. You don't need to be an artist, or a writer, to make them! More than anything, they are great conversation starters, and easy and fun to create.

Artists Lauri Twitchell and Peter Suchecki of REDSTARTstudio will share their own artists' books and teach us three different book structures. They'll provide basic supplies and prompts; you'll provide ideas and we'll discuss materials you can forage at home. Then you'll finish your books on your own at home and we'll reconvene two weeks later to show and tell about our finished books.

Our discussions as we make and share these "books" will be as illuminating as the objects themselves and are an integral part of the experience. You might find it fun to come with a couple of friends or neighbors!

The Ohlone Greenway is our Path to Belonging. We'll gather under the BART tracks where you'll have a chance to see some of the artists' books people made in the October workshops. Come have a cup of coffee and a chat!

Old-school monuments are statues of men on horses. What kind of monuments do we need for today and the future? What hidden stories should be known, what unknown heroes celebrated? 

Inspired by a creative project in New Orleans called Paper Monuments, we'll create 2-D paper monuments (posters) that grow out of the stories and ideas in the October artist's books and conversations.

We'll make artwork that we'll turn into posters for display in public places.

The example image in this photo simulation is from a mural by artists Helice Wen and Kalani Ware, created in collaboration with young artists from the Community Youth Center (CYC)'s Bayview Youth Advocates and Bayview YMCA. 

On the pillars of the BART tracks we'll  project images distilled from all of the art and conversation created. We'll invite the whole community to watch a video performance while they picnic on a summer evening.

The example images in this photo simulation are from a project by artist Robin Lasser.

We'll display the process and products of this year of art and conversations in the lobby of the Albany Community Center and gather for a potluck dinner.