Year One

This barn used to store grain but has remained unused since the 70s. Naturally there were a few structural elements we needed to fix. The first couple days of the project were spend adding new footing, studs and supporting the trusses on one side. There used to be a farm house near this site, which was torn down many years ago. The lumber from that house was stored in the barn, so we actually were able to use mostly recycled wood to fix it. My sister and I were talking about painting our own mural one day, and the idea just grew from there! We really latched onto the idea of using this barn in particular because it sits at the top of our favorite sledding hill. Both of us have fond memories of that barn. Barns like these are landmarks. They are remnants of a different era that are often left forgotten or eventually torn down.

The planning process brought together input and materials from a variety of people. We got an abundance of paint from a local Buy Nothing Group. The first step was opening up the cans to see what colors we actually collected, then cataloging the inventory. We also got 10 gallons of grey paint from Waste Management. They offer shades of white, grey and tan. All mixed together from disposed paint. That served as an excellent primer! The barn has not been touched in decades. It soaked up an incredible amount of paint! Thankfully we sourced recycled paint to get us started. One side of the wall was designed as a family portrait. I asked family members to submit an object that represented them, then built a composition that included all of those choices. The second side turned into a Kansas landscape. I chose three key colors, then everyone let their imaginations fly as the wall transformed throughout the day.

Watching my family dive into the project and use their imagination was one of my favorite parts! It provided an opportunity to share stories of the past, musing over the original use of the barn vs what we were creating at the time. It was a chance to learn more about each other as we talked about what objects were chosen and how they fit into the overall collage. This barn is visible from the road and has also worked to create a dialog about restoration. Many structures like this are abandoned and eventually torn down. But this project demonstrates the possibilities of coming together with a common goal to create art in local places using recycled materials. Painting together was a rewarding experience. It provided an opportunity to share stories of the past, musing over the original use of the barn vs what we were creating at the time. It was a chance to learn more about each other as we talked about what objects were chosen and how they fit into the overall collage. This barn is visible from the road and has also worked to create a dialog about restoration. Many structures like this are abandoned and eventually torn down. But this project demonstrates the possibilities of coming together with a common goal to create art in local places using recycled materials.