One painting that I really liked after visiting the Van Gogh museum was called Almond Blossom in which Van Gogh created as a gift to celebrate the birth of his nephew. Throughout the entire museum, the story that was being told was of the supportive and loving relationship between Van Gogh and his brother Theo. As an art dealer, Theo was able to support his brother emotionally and financially to pursue his painting career throughout his mental health struggles. They had exchanged multiple letters with each other and it was evident how close they were. I could just imagine how overjoyed he was, and how much love was put into Almond Blossom after hearing news of his newborn nephew. The story behind the painting made it so significant to me.
At another museum about a year later (I forget which one), there was a dedicated wall that was for visitors to write down the recipes of the foods they enjoy making from their culture. There were many pieces of paper on the wall with recipes from many different countries. Some had a sentence or two in the beginning that explained why they chose to share that specific recipe, such as it being easy to make for beginners or a personal comfort food. Some had tips and tricks at certain steps, and many were in different languages. I doubt very many people actually wrote down the recipes and made it for themselves at home, but I think the main purpose of the exhibit was to show the diverse community of people that had passed though the museum. Even on a small piece of paper with instructions on how to make a particular dish, I could see snippets of the stories of those in the past that took their time to write down a recipe.
At my library, every summer we have a section of a wall in the children’s area, with sticky notes and pencils nearby, where children can write down questions they have about anything. Within the next following days, the library staff will attempt to write a sticky note answer below the original question. Even if at first it may just seem like a questions and answer board, I can see how these can also tell a story. A kid might come back another day, read the answer, and ask a follow-up question. Children might have cultural specific questions, include slang I’ve never heard of, or ask intentionally humorous questions. From the handwriting, you can guess the age group of the asker, or if a parent helped transcribe the question for them. By the end of the summer there is a board showcasing connection and community. When I create my own programs, I hope to also make opportunities for this kind of storytelling. It’s simple, does not require a group of people to be in the same space at the same time, yet it still creates a sense of connectedness.