This year, the Arts Center’s Considering Kin theme asks visitors to reflect on how people connect with each other, nature, and other species. Often, these connections are foundational in creating places and feelings of home. Throughout a lifetime, humans look to objects, songs, stories, movies, and photographs to hold these feelings of connection and belonging.

In John Green’s essay “Teddy Bears,” he writes, “Home is a teddy bear, but only a certain teddy bear at a certain time.” Inspired by the essay, JMKAC members and Wisconsin residents living within 125 miles of the Arts Center were invited to submit objects and stories that, at one time or currently, feel like home.

This exhibition shares all submissions fitting the parameters of the call, which included size restrictions, maximum word count, and fulfilling the prompt of how the chosen object connected to their idea of home.

You can add your expressions of connection and belonging to collaborative projects in the Social STUDIO, located near the main entrance.