People’s Homes, pt. I

People’s Homes is a socially engaged  project that honors Portland’s longtime residents and investigates expanded notions of home. This first iteration repurposed the form of front yard billboards that are often used as real estate signage. Instead of seeing the expected ‘for sale’ sign, passersby are met with artworks about longevity, place, home, and aging. The project explores the often-overlooked experiences of Portland’s oldest homeowners and the local histories they carry. We paired local artists with longtime residents to share their life stories and draw attention to the city’s quickly changing landscape. The artists and homeowners have worked together to create small-scale billboards that were installed in the residents front yards.