What We Carry: Reimagining the Family Archive Through Photo and Collage

A creative workshop that reimagines family archives as living materials for storytelling, artistic expression, and imagined futures.
About this Event

HTX Made and Art League Houston are thrilled to present “What We Carry”. This workshop is taught by documentary filmmaker Karla Murthy and is inspired by the creative ways Murthy engages with personal archives in her feature documentary THE GAS STATION ATTENDANT, which screens at MFAH on 6/25.

Through reflection, conversation and creative practice, the workshop invites participants to reimagine their family archives not only as records of the past, but as living materials for storytelling and artistic expression. Thank you Gluestick Mafia and Doshi House for being our community partners! Come sip on delicious chai from Doshi House and share your stories!

Attendees: please bring one photo from your personal archive! Choose an image that holds deep meaning for you.

The workshop will be organized around the following:

• Archival Methods: Attendees will learn preservation and organization techniques for working with archives across multiple mediums. This includes caring for and cataloging printed and digital photographs, as well as video in multiple formats. Resources will also be shared.

• Story Generation: Attendees will bring one photo from their archive. Through a guided “story circle” format, each participant will share the story behind their photo with the group. Facilitators will invite reflection through exploratory prompts such as: How did you feel in this moment? What happened before/after this? What exists just outside the frame? This process encourages participants to uncover context and meaning within their images.

• Archival Collage: Attendees will be given materials to create a new piece of art with their photo, which will be photocopied and placed in the center of a large piece of butcher paper. Around the photo, attendees are encouraged to expand the photo using collage, drawing and/or writing such as drawing a decorative frame, drawing in details or persons that extend the photo for what it didn’t (or couldn’t) show, or writing a letter/poem/message.

If attendees wish to make a collage in a different visual format (i.e. a storybook/zine or short video piece) or make a physical collage/assemblage with mixed materials, they are encouraged to do so, but must bring their own additional materials / software.

Free, though space is limited! This event is for all ages and family-friendly. We encourage multigenerational groups to attend! To help with our event costs, only RSVP if you intend to come!

All materials provided. Limited parking available on site (2 handicap accessible spots). Street parking available if lot is full.

About Art League Houston: The mission of Art League Houston is to connect the community through diverse, dynamic, and creative experiences that bring people together to see, make, and talk about contemporary visual art.

We hope to see you there!