Cross-City Challenge: Looking for Loci
Have you ever found a place in your home, neighborhood or city, and felt an invisible energy, almost like magic? In Roman culture, this was called "Genius Loci", which referred to a location's distinctive atmosphere, or spirit. In our urban environments these places can be more difficult to ?nd, or lost altogether– but they do exist.
Locate a special place in your city and create a visual tribute to the genius loci of the spot. It can be part of your home, in a park or garden, on a street corner, or just a forgotten place in the alley.
Artifacts can take any form; photos, drawings, handmade sculptures or totems, a written account - anything that shares the essence of the place.
Community Challenge #6: Wonder Room
Wunderkammer, or wonder cabinets, were some of the earliest forms of collections; objects that inspired curiosity and awe. During the last show at the Riverfront Park location of the Denver Community Museum we’ll celebrate the fantastic, exotic and unique items of Denver. Bring in any artifact(s) related to our city - whether it’s natural specimens, historic memorabilia, handmade tributes, drawings of landscapes/creatures or oddities found around town - everything is welcome in the Wonder Room. Findings can be scientific or fantasy, multiple submissions accepted.
Community Challenge #5: Bottled Up!
What are the experiences you would like to preserve? Fill a bottle with the memories of people and places from your life. Saved material can take any form - messages, objects, smells, sounds, photos - anything that shares your story. Multiple bottles welcome. Please decide if your bottle can be opened by visitors or if it should remain sealed.
Community Challenge # 4: My Little Mania
Passion takes many forms. It can stem from hobbies, phobias or interests and develop into obsessions. What are you fanatical about? From shrines and collages to poetic odes and collections, create/bring in an artifact that portrays your greatest passion.
Community Challenge #3: 29
Mystics believe that the 29th year of life is a time of great change and significance. What were/will you be doing at age 29? Share the memories, hopes, goals, dreams or stories about you or someone you love. Artifacts can take any form - drawings, photos, written accounts, oral histories and objects - anything that tells the tale.
Community Challenge #2: Mummify Me
Statistics show that mummies are the top rated exhibits in museums worldwide. What object would you give eternal life to? Mummify something you would like to preserve - any shape/size, using any materials you desire. Share any relevant mummy stories, facts, accoutrements or charms for display. Inanimate, non-decaying mummies only please.
Community Challenge #1: The Missing Map
Historically, globes were always sold in pairs, terrestrial and celestial. At some point, globes of the Earth became more popular and maps of the heavens faded away. If you had the chance to design a globe to take its place what would it be? In its simplest form, a globe is spherical body that conveys information. From imaginary worlds to factual presentation, what would your globe share? A map of the world’s best ice cream stores or it’s largest population centers? A chart of all the places you’ve visited with stories and photos at each port? The possibilities are endless.
Create a globe of any size, any material, sharing any narrative you desire.
Please consider how your globe could be displayed (i.e. stand or suspended) and incorporate any necessary hardware etc. into your design.