In one-of-a-kind collaborations that focus on the re/creation of objects, we follow lines of inquiry and curiosity to delve into the object’s cultural context, and then invite students, educators, and skilled professionals to work side-by-side to re/create the object with its original tools, materials, and methods. Re/creation allows us to venture into the “mind of the maker” through the process of the hand in action. This personal, tactile understanding of the ingenuity and cultural significance of the object awakens history and heritage that cannot be brought to life any other way.

Handshouse projects have included reconstructing a full-scale medieval truss that once supported the roof of Notre-Dame de Paris and sending project representatives to help reconstruct the Gothic cathedral’s 315 ft timber spire in France, building an operable replica of a wooden submarine from the American Revolution, reconstructing the Gwozdziec wooden synagogue in Poland, recreating several human-powered wooden cranes used to build many of Europe’s architectural wonders, remaking historic gourd banjos that played a foundational tune in America’s history, exploring authentic art and form of the legendary Trojan Horse, as well as creating dozens of innovative Environmental Enrichment Devices to improve the wellbeing of over a dozen different species of animals living under human care at zoos and sanctuaries.

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Handshouse reaches large audiences regionally, nationally, and internationally through workshops, exhibitions, lectures, films, and publications. Handshouse projects have been exhibited in museums such at the National Building Museum (Washington, DC), POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews (Warsaw, Poland) and the International Spy Museum (Washington, DC) Handshouse has collaborated with film companies such as

Trillium Studios, PBS’s NOVA, Discovery Channel, National Geographic Television, and StudioOrsopolis. The award winning documentary film Raise the Roof created by Trillium Studios about the Gwozdziec Synagogue ReConstruction project can be viewed here.

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Marie Brown, Handshouse Studio, Executive Director, has worked in leadership positions with Handshouse since its founding, and served as director since 2018. A director, maker, and educator, Brown received her MFA in Directing from the University of Texas (Austin, TX), a BA in Music and Theatre from the University of Puget Sound (Tacoma, WA), and has learned broad spectrum of skills through a life-long practice of the learn-by-doing philosophy that founded Handshouse. Brown is drawn to collaborations that invite multi-disciplinary approaches to exploring challenging questions, making connections, cultivating curiosity, and empowering the
voice, body, heart, and hand.

 

handshouse studio​ -- https://www.handshouse.org/

@handshousestudio