Event Recap for "Letters": A Journey of Reflection at Village Antiques & Art

Last Updated 8/7/2024

On August 3, 2024, Tacie Jones and Caleb Flood led participants on a unique journey during their event "Letters" in the Village Antiques & Art Side Yard. Centered around a compost pile, 16 guests silently reflected on personal memories through an interactive performance. Guests were encouraged to bring old letters, bills, mail, or any meaningful biodegradable items.

The performance began with Tacie silently viewing her materials before shredding them by hand and adding them to the compost pile. Each guest followed suit, one by one, shredding their items and contributing to the pile. Meanwhile, Caleb enhanced the experience with a multi-media presentation, playing a handmade flute instrument and various sounds alongside a video montage projected onto the building. His soundboard and flute created an immersive experience, some participants compared the performance to a sound bath.

Isa McMullen, a former Marshall student and previous student of Tacie, described the performance as intense. "It felt like I went through stages of grief during the performance," Isa shared, noting it was a positive and emotional journey. They were particularly mesmerized by the different ways others tore their items and placed them in the compost pile. "You could really see the different emotions everyone else was experiencing as they ripped their letters or items apart and placed them in the soil," they added.

The "Letters" event was a powerful, communal experience, blending personal reflection with artistic expression. Participants were able to take home a Queen of the Night flower, which was potted with the compost soil they created during the experience. If you are a local artist and want to bring your artistic abilities to our space, please contact RenewAll at any time with your ideas! We look forward to offering more unique and artistic experiences for the Central City community to enjoy!