Accumulate

An immersive, communal experience by Jessie Houff

How do our life experiences influence the way we live? How do positive connections encourage us to thrive? Are we resilient or do we dwell in heartache? No matter the answers, it is all part of our development as humans.

This piece reflects both the agony as well as the promise of a healthy future. Accumulate is an interactive manifestation of collective energy curated for connection and play. These energies evaporate, creating a special environment. It is a cycle: pages accumulate, they are released into the air, and the process repeats. It grows over time as more souls contribute. You are encouraged to add to the pile. What heartaches or joys do you bring to this space? I hope this piece sparks something in you, viewer, whether it be happiness, intrigue, even pain. Let’s experience it together.

About the Artist

Multidisciplinary artist, Jessie Houff, was born in Fairfax County, Virginia and raised in the Shenandoah Valley. She grew up with values rooted in family, travel, and spirituality. Jessie's primary disciplines include papermaking, book arts, printmaking, and installation. Jessie is an Adjunct Faculty and Communications Manager at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. She received her Master of Fine Art in Community Art from Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in Baltimore, Maryland. She enjoys diving deeply into her spiritual roots living a peaceful, minimalist life, buying only what is needed, reusing what she can, and spreading goodness wherever she goes. When Jessie is not at home or in the studio, you can most likely find her buried in a vintage book store drinking a café au lait, dreaming of being in a Gene Kelly movie, and planning a fun evening with friends, charcuterie, and games.