Can a community archive preserve the soul of a neighborhood facing rapid change?
In short: This project explores how residents of Crown Heights, Brooklyn, use collaborative art to document their lives. By collecting stories, portraits, and photos of cherished objects, the initiative aims to create a living record of a community before it disappears.
The Brooklyn Hi-Art! Machine, led by artists Mildred Beltré and Oasa DuVerney, treats art-making as a method for strengthening local bonds. Through their residency with The Met’s Civic Practice Partnership, they engage neighbors in conversations about their history in the area, their desires for the future, and the elements of their community they hope to protect.
The resulting archive, titled Before It’s Gone: Archive to Survive, compiles these personal narratives and visual documentation into a book. This effort is supported by The Met’s Civic Practice Partnership, a program established in 2017 to connect artists with local stakeholders to foster healthier communities across New York City.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Brooklyn Hi-Art! Machine: Before It’s Gone: Archive to Survive | Civic Practice Partnership 2023–25
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