Future Artifacts is a project developed by Jillian Logee with the goal of photographing and documenting a unique cross-section of items that have been made by, designed by, or created for people living today.
In archaeology, when we excavate an artifact, it immediately connects us back to an ancient person and their life. The artifact's very existence implies the existence of the ancient person - you can't have one without the other. These items tell a story of the material culture of the period by demonstrating the stylistic and utilitarian preferences of people at that time. We can learn about their day-to-day lives, discern social structures, figure out trade routes, understand rituals, and so much more. Though we can glean a wealth of information about the artifact itself and the context it's found in, unfortunately, the people behind these pieces are often anonymous, their identities lost to the passage of time.
As with ancient artifacts, modern objects may tell similar stories and offer invaluable information someday. With the Future Artifacts project, we have a chance to tell the story of the
people behind things being made now, to uncover the unexpected, and to
share our collective need to create something that lasts. These items will go on into the future as examples of the material culture of our time.
For the purposes of this project, the criteria of a Future Artifact includes: - It is an item you own that was created or designed for you, or made by you.
- The "artifact" wouldn't exist had it not been for you.
- It is unlikely to be thrown in the landfill upon your passing,
regardless of if it ends up as an heirloom piece or someone's special
thrift store find.
If you're interested in participating, please fill out the form below to the best of your ability. It doesn't have to be perfect! My goal is to feature as many objects as possible from a wide variety of backgrounds and stories.
Thank you so much for your interest in the Future Artifacts project! If you have any questions before or after filling out this form, please email me at jlogee@gmail.com.
