A site such as the former home or the childhood home is a mnemonic of absence – speaking to objects and times that no longer exist. Just as often, the physical home offers memory a tangibleness. Edward Said claims that with home and love of home “loss is inherent in the very existence of both” (Reflections 185). Coming to terms with this loss, I feel, is an interesting and possibly transformative element of nostalgia.
With the re:moved project, I encourage people to share their experiences with "home" in a multitude of ways. This may be displayed in works of fiction, photography, poetry, and especially memoir. The lines between real and imagined experiences are indeed blurred. Of course, participants may write whatever narrative of home they are comfortable with, but if a starting point is needed, here are some questions to consider:
-what were the circumstances that caused you to leave your former/childhood home?
-for how long did you live at this location? when did you move?
-what are some examples of the emotional associations with your former/childhood home? (ie. is the time spent at this site idealized? traumatic? why?)
-does your nostalgia often include physical elements of the home (certain areas? views? rooms? furniture?)
-is your former home the same physically? changed? destroyed? replaced? inaccessible?
-how does a changed (renovated, painted, etc.) physical home affect your nostalgia for home?
-if the home is the same, how does this relate to your nostalgia? how does it affect your response to the building?
Using supplied and found narratives of home, I also hope to map the provided locations or addresses of the participants former home. With these elements I will feature the maps and photos in mixed media pieces inspired by the narrative text I receive (which will also be incorporated into the project, likely as visual poems). This is an experiment in mapping out nostalgia and diverse experiences of home and I'm sure re:moved will transform and grow beyond these parameters, reflecting the malleability inherent in places.
Please note: This project is ongoing. I ask for one-time rights, with copyright remaining with the author. Authors may remain anonymous if they prefer.
I hope to showcase some submissions at an exhibit or academic conference. Another goal for this project is to raise funds for a collection of these submissions in a chapbook.
Please send stories, comments, and questions to: removedproject@gmail.com
