Sandy Storyline

Artist : Rachel Falcone & Michael Premo
Location : New York
Year : 2012
Researcher : Megan Guerber

Sandy Storyline is a multimedia participatory documentary chronicling the experiences of those who lived through Hurricane Sandy and the relief efforts that followed. Many volunteers have come together to assist with the project and document as many stories as possible. The goal of the project is to capture the narrative of a natural disaster, to allow those that actually experienced it to create that narrative (rather than outsiders, news outlets and a small team of professionals) and to give community members some agency in the rebuilding of their neighborhoods. Hurricane Sandy was responsible for the deaths of 182 people and is estimated to have caused $65 billion in damages, making it the second-­‐costliest hurricane in US history. The storm surge hit New York City on October 29, 2012 and caused severe destruction throughout New York, New Jersey and along the Eastern seaboard. Relief efforts are still underway today. The Sandy Storyline project exists in three parts. The first is the extensive website, which provides written and recorded stories (including audio, video and photography). All stories are told in the first-­‐person. Second, Sandy Storyline has organized events and exhibitions throughout New York to share stories and information as well as to facilitate further gatherings for Sandy survivors. Third, educational programs (including workshops and media training) for both youths and adults have assisted with the inclusion of voices often marginalized by the mainstream media, particularly those of young adults. Rachel Falcone and Michael Premo founded the project. Falcone’s experience with oral history documentation and radio/multimedia broadcast production as well as Premo’s experience as a photographer, journalist, documentary storyteller and community organizer helped to shape the project.

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The project has helped to address problems entrenched within Sandy’s destruction, including climate change, sustainability and economic inequality. In summary, Sandy Storyline is a revolutionary approach to public art due to its creation of civic dialogue via the use of technology and story sharing. The project is successful because it captures the community narrative of a natural disaster and has given these communities a say in their own future. The accessibility of the online format has allowed for many to contribute as well as for an easy dissemination of information. The education initiatives have allowed for those normally without a political voice (including youths and those without access to technology) to learn multimedia skills and to contribute their thoughts, memories and viewpoints. Finally, the project has uniquely captured the human side of Hurricane Sandy, a side easily forgotten by history. It has brought people together and continues to do so through events, exhibitions, seminars and talks.

While volunteering with relief efforts following Hurricane Sandy, Rachel Falcone, Michael Premo and other creators of Sandy Storyline realized how devastating the damage to many communities was. They recognized the opportunity for these communities to be reshaped physically and politically following the storm and the need for actual community members to be a part of this process. This participatory documentary was created in order to document the voices of those impacted by Sandy and to help create an inclusive, democratic process of community rebuilding. Falcone’s experience with oral history documentation and radio/multimedia broadcast production as well as Premo’s experience as a photographer, journalist, documentary storyteller and community organizer helped to shape the project.

All copyright belongs to Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, Shanghai University.

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