Grace In Dwelling

by Carla Lobmier

Grace In Dwelling began as a photographic project, as well as a collected journal of thoughts. As part of Queens Art Intervention 2017, on the afternoon of September 23, the general public was invited to pause and meet artist Carla Lobmier on the sidewalk near Travers Park, Jackson Heights, Queens. Jackson Heights is her home neighborhood. Participants were asked to write responses to two questions. The questions: What makes a happy home for you? What is your understanding of this in your community? Lobmier took photographs of each person(s) in front of a park tree to document responses. This project was designed around Lobmier’s interest in studying how people define home, and, in particular, a happy home. Individuals, couples and families answered these questions making for a variety of perceptions of grace in dwelling.

This collected text informed the art piece Lobmier made for the Queens Museum group exhibition of the work of the 2017 QAI artists. This exhibition was on view at the QM, December 11, 2017 through January 19, 2018. Words or phrases from the intervention responses were selected and lettered by hand on vellum paper to make the top layer of Lobmier’s art piece. The underneath layer of the painting was painted on traditional watercolor paper. The two layers are sandwiched together forming a scroll with painted imagery visible through the filmy vellum with text.

Grace In Dwelling, the book, was published on the occasion of the Queens Museum exhibition and includes the painting of the same title as well as text and photographs of interviewed participants.

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