Experimental Archives
We can view physical documents from centuries ago because they are physical objects. In one hundred years will we be able to view a website in the same way? We are in a Tower of Babel moment, approaching a Library of Alexandria level disaster, where our data exists digitally and can be lost in an instant. So let's write poetry.
August 10, 2026
I've always been pleasantly surprised by who shows up at these archival sessions. We started a little late, but we were still able to observe and ruminate on several websites and create a group poem. I'm excited about using other artistic practices to archive a website.
August 4, 2026
Hosting consistent opportunities for gathering, dicussing archives, and writing poetry has been a driver for me to interrogate these subjects with friends of all ages even when a session isn't in progress.
July 27, 2026
I had a website building class at This & That Art Gallery in South Minneapolis scheduled for the past month. A day before the event I decided to invite people who I had been inviting to Experimental Archive Sessions. It was a blast.
July 14, 2026
This session was small but mighty. The range of different experiences with the Web could be felt. We teased out themes which helped us understand the facets of a website that need describing.
July 7, 2026
On the heels of the United States' 250th anniversary, I was recommended to host an archival session at a community gathering space, the Open Market. I arrived an hour into the event and found nobody there because all of the food was distributed! An Open Market win.
June 30, 2026
Not everybody has time to commit to waxing away the day and musing about the past, present, and future. Amongst the various feelings one feels when pulled away from the steady hum of daily activities, I can imagine feeling that our time could be better spent, a feeling of slacking off, or as I'm discovering, a discomfort with publically creating poetic works.