Researcher(s)
- Victoria Simons, Visual Communications, University of Delaware
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Bill Starkey, Art & Design, University of Delaware
Abstract
Each town goes through changes over time, replacing buildings or places the community once knew into something entirely different. However, the stories created by those who lived there before aren’t lost, but live in memory. The concept for this project focuses on creating new artifacts that will increase a stronger sense of community and preserve the “home” identity of the town. My research focuses on preserving the memories of the Long Branch residents based on interviews, historical documents, and multiple online sources. Throughout this research, I focused on understanding what the town of Long Branch used to look like, as well as the thoughts and feelings that surface in a person’s mind when they think about the previous times. Thus, the sense of nostalgia ensures that lives and stories of long-term residents continue to shape the community, even with new generations coming in.
Based on the information gathered, I created a living artifact that allows individuals to share old stories to new audiences, allowing memories to always be present. The memories shared are turned into visual stories of imagery and graphics that foster a connection among townspeople. In doing so, the sense of community and town ownership stays strong, encouraging new generations to have empathy and a deeper understanding of the changes the town has undergone. This platform can be a tool for Long Branch to unite new generations with long term residents through stories, encouraging newcomers to create their own memories while in town.