Trading Going on at G.E.E.E.

Trades have been steady at the Archive House.  The calendar of trades documents the goods people are bringing in and taking, comments and some of the poems that were traded earlier in the year.

 Art supplies and handmade items have come in on trade.

Re-giftable items are always popular.

Nice housewares often come in on trade, also.

Clock Vines Blooming in February?

The same clock vines that were installed as part of the Black Artists' Retreat in August have been in active storage back at the G.E.E.E. Headquarters in Pilsen. The vines have enjoyed the winter indoors so much that they continue to blossom. We've decided to share this winter surprise of flowers with the Archive House.

Come by and pick a flower. This encourages the plants to produce more flowers.

Winter Succulents at the Archive House

Who can resist succulents?

There is something about succulents that spur the imagination, especially small succulents.

It's like we can create our own little worlds with them.

Although gardeners are in hibernation in the winter, we still love having plants round.

 With minimal care we can still have indoor gardens.

G.E.E.E. Goes Portable

In order to engage the Rebuild Foundation's community better, G.E.E.E. now has a presence at Black Cinema House screenings.  We've retrofitted and electrified a travel truck much like a mini greenhouse.

We're offering an edited selection of herbs, succulents and our hand-made preserves for sale or trade.

The goal is to be a regular presence at Rebuild Foundation events.  The Archive House has irregular foot traffic, but nonetheless we have had some incredible trades with people from all over the world.

But we want to engage the people from Grand Crossing, the south side, Chicago and Greater Chicagoland who DO attend events at Dorchester Projects regularly.

So, we want people (meaning, you, too, reader) to think twice as they're running out the door to go to a Rebuild Foundation event, including screenings at the Black Cinema House, to reconsider your things and surplus;  We want to trade!

Filmmakers at GEEE

Most events at the Archive House are held on the first floor.  The Exchange Book is full of neighbors, especially curious youth who find their way up to the second floor.  We're aware of Greater Chicagolanders, visitors from other states, and international guests to Dorchester Projects, but few document their visit.

I believe part of it is they don't know to bring something to trade, others might be wary of interacting with the art and some people don't believe that if they left a note as we request it would be a meaningful.

That's why I'm so pleased Ife left a sweet note and a business card.  We wish them well on THEIR documentation of the world through their mission!

Autumn Yet Again Arrives at GEEE

The basil, pepper plants, help-yourself parsley and Mexican daisies are just about all that is left at the exterior GEEE site behind the Archive House.  It's still gorgeous in the yard, be it nippy at times, leaves dusting the ground. People still venture out during Open House hours, more reading the notes and poems than trading.

Succulents