Handforth Virtual Gallery – Hilltop Stories

Intimate reflections reveal the heart of a neighborhood through family and community memories. This online gallery exhibit will feature the visual art by Dionne Bonner and audio documenting the stories of Hilltop residents as recorded by Whitney Brady in a narrative description of an iconic place beloved and uniquely positioned at the heart of a city. Meet the Artist. Register Here.

Dionne's Artist Statement, opens a new window | Hilltop Exhibit Quotes and Additional Information, opens a new window | Go to the Hilltop Listening Project

For full virtual experience, click on an image to enlarge and navigate through all the images.


The Hilltop Listening Project was a concept developed by Whitney Brady and Jordan Pugsley as a way to document the oral history of the Hilltop by the people themselves. They recorded interviews with 20 people with deep connections to the Hilltop, featuring someone born in every decade from the 1920's through 2000's.

All of the recordings were done in the Spring of 2017.

Additional Information, opens a new window

Track 1, opens a new window                            

How has the neighborhood changed?

 Track 7, opens a new window                            

People Center History - Part 1
Track 2, opens a new window                            

What are your earliest memories? - Places

 Track 8, opens a new window                            

Malcolm X Center (Tom Hilyard)
Track 3, opens a new window                            

Fish House origin story, Jone's Glass and Used Materials origin story

 Track 9, opens a new window                            

Favorite Places, streets where people grew up, forgotten history (fruit trees, etc.)
Track 4, opens a new window                            

People Center History - Part 2

 Track 10, opens a new window                            

What businesses do you remember being on Hilltop?
Track 5, opens a new window                            

Names and Ages of all interviewees

 Track 11, opens a new window                            

Credits
Track 6, opens a new window                            

How did you or your family get to Hilltop? - Family History of Hilltop

  

About Dionne Bonner

Dionne is a visual artist and graphic designer and a graduate of the Art Institute of Seattle. Dionne through art and design creates space for open dialog and reflection by connecting community voice to the creative process. She has worked with a variety of organizations including museums, art collectives, nonprofit educational groups and city and state agencies. As a project-based community engagement specialist with Spaceworks Tacoma, Dionne designed a public art installation to encourage public comment with three chalkboards in the Hilltop community in Tacoma. Other examples of her community art include a temporary public installation on the grounds of the Salishan community to touch on the historical significance of indigenous land and a participatory intersection mural called Paint the Street in collaboration with the Lincoln District Revitalization Project. Dionne lives in Tacoma.

To view more information about the contributing artists you can connect with them at the following:
• Dionne Bonner, dionnebonner.com, opens a new window, dionnembonner@gmail.com, 253-219-1162
• Whitney Brady, w.m.brady@hotmail.com

Learn More About the Handforth Gallery

  • Please complete the Handforth Gallery Artwork Consideration Request Form, opens a new window. You will need to provide your name, contact info, an artist statement, and 7-10 digital images of your artwork.

  • You will be notified within 6 - 8 weeks of submitting a request to exhibit.  

  • Shows are scheduled 1 – 2 years in advance.  The Handforth Gallery hosts four shows a year.  

  • The artist is responsible for installation.  

View more about Handforth Gallery
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