Resistance Architecture, Southside Together Organizing for Power (STOP) and the Healing Village, 2018
Project Fielding was so honored to have Resistance Architecture present at the Healing Village, an encampment on 63rd and Woodlawn in Chicago organized by STOP (Southside Together Organizing for Power) between July and October of 2018. The village was a community building space that addressed safety and mental health through a variety of events and programming for healing practices such as: restorative justice peace circles, gardening, tai chi, yoga, meditation, traditional talk and group therapy, comedy, storytelling, art therapy, etc. Members of the Mental Health Movement led community discussions on the ongoing trauma of racism and how we find healing. The Healing Village challenged the notion of what quality mental health care could and should look like.
Resistance Architecture, designed and built by Project Fielding teachers and students – is an adaptable structure intended for political encampment that was designed to fulfill the needs of long-term protesters. In recognition of a political climate which demands sustained resistance, Project Fielding led a design build workshop in February 2017 to create these two structures. This physically adaptive structure functions in two positions: open and in lockdown. When in lockdown, the structure serves as a locker or a safe. When open, the structure is a spacious and ready to use shelter.
