Wish House/Dream House

A six month long collaborative effort with Virginia Fleck and residents of all ages from Shalom House, a shelter for unhoused families in Austin, Texas, produced the sparkling, ethereal Wish House/dream house sculpture and accompanying soundtrack by Tim Weins. After a series of interviews, writing and drawing sessions the residents determined that the sculpture would take shape as a floating, dreamlike house with a soundtrack. Residents of Shalom House worked closely with the artist, designing and constructing the sculpture and recording songs, sounds and stories for the soundtrack. Residents built Wish House/dream house by the simple act of chaining together recycled can tabs from beverage cans to safety pins to create the long chains that comprise the sculpture. Shalom House child residents helped with the chaining and created hundred of trinkets that were hung all over the wish house. Wish House/dream house toured throughout Texas for 2 years helping to create visibility and a voice for a marginalized population. Visitors had the opportunity to add trinkets to Wish House/dream house.

Location: Dougherty Arts Center, Austin, TX

Post-consumer can tabs, safety pins, and assorted trinkets.
10’ H x 8’ W x 8’ D