What is BURY2020?
BURY2020 is a project taken on by Nation of Makers’ Champion, Joel Leonard, that invites us all to create a time capsule and literally and figuratively, BURY the unprecedented year that is 2020.
BURY2020.org was created to provide guidance for individuals or organizations that would like to make a time capsule to help better prepare the future with lessons learned during 2020.
Do we have to bury the time capsule?
No! Since most traditional time capsules are lost or forgotten, we encourage time capsules to be stored or hidden in plain sight, for example, inside an art piece.
However, if you do bury your time capsule, please prepare your container to be strong and wrapped in plastic to protect it from getting wet.
Do the time capsules have to be made a certain way or to a certain size specification?
The team at BURY2020 is a support and guide to this process, and not dictating specific dimensions or materials. You have the creative freedom to make your time capsule in whatever way you desire - be as creative as you’d like! You can store content in a sealed jar, a box, a pvc tube, a metal container. Whatever you would like to make in whatever materials, you would like to use. You can even add a flash drive with content into a Christmas ornament if you like.
What items should we include in our time capsule?
To make sure the future recipient does not think the time capsule is a bomb, we strongly encourage you to include a listing of all contents of the time capsule.
So the future understands why the makers made the time capsule, it would be great to make a documentary video of the fabrication and interviews with the makers of the time capsule. It is great if you can include your video on a USB flash drive that is within your time capsule (assuming the future will be able to play USB flash drives!).
You may also consider including items that are unique to the 2020 experience. What do you feel represent the challenges and solutions to 2020? Perhaps PPE Masks, Gloves, Toilet Paper, hand sanitizer, sanitation wipes, canned soup, medical kits, or other items. Feel free to add newspaper articles, headlines, obituaries, social justice challenges, 2020 election issues, and other items that represent 2020.
Add whatever you’d like - this is YOUR personal memory of 2020 and your lessons learned for the future!
Can you capture real experiences from 2020?
Absolutely yes! Please be creative, and allow your time capsule to represent your unique experience of 2020. For example, you may want to include your own struggles and experiences in the capsule.
For educators: If you would like your students to make a BURY 2020 Time capsule, you may consider asking them to research and interview the following groups
to capture the struggles to mitigate the spread of the pandemic.
All these groups have important stories and lessons to share with the future. Their persistence, their drive, and their sacrifices need to be documented and shared.
What should I do when my Time Capsule is complete?
Please share high-resolution pictures of your time capsules with Joelskilltv@gmail.com so we can post and share.
On December 30, 2020, at 7 pm Eastern time, we are hosting a Zoom call where makers can show their time capsules and experiences. Join by registering at: https://lu.ma/auu01j1w
What if I have more questions?
If you have questions regarding the BURY2020 time capsule project, feel free to call Joel Leonard at 336 338 1011.