Back to the Work: Encounters with Historical & Contemporary Voices

“Are the walls made of plaster? Why is the table set half-eaten? Why don’t I know anything about my grandparents?”
— Written reflection from an audience member

It has been said that a building is the extension of the owner’s mind, but a building is also the extension of the builder’s arms. By asking, "Who built Lippitt House?" Strange Attractor and Lippitt House Museum created a multi-sensory installation for visitors in Providence, RI in the Spring of 2018.

Focusing on the central theme of labor, this project revealed the fingerprints on our built environment, bringing to light the human effort and expertise that created the clothes we wear, the houses we live in, and the objects that surround us. 


Jed and Rebecca discuss the overall vision

Emily Shapiro discusses Props /Researcher/Sets


Creative Team:

Jed Hancock-Brainerd, Rebecca Noon, Andy Russ, Emily Shapiro

All Video & Images:

 Stray Creatives

Featured Voices:

Dave Painter, Property Manager and Restoration Specialist

Marie Alfred, House Cleaner and Owner of Keep It Clean

Tom Bouckaert, Bouckaert Industrial

And special guest, Rebecca Gibel

This project was developed with support from the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities.