Museum of the City of Lost and Found, 2007

The City of the Lost and Found Museum is an interactive exploration of the St. Roch neighborhood in New Orleans, in collaboration with K.K. Projects. The museum was built onto a bicycle, and will be half gallery space (front), and half workshop (back). All displayed works were made in collaboration with residents of the neighborhood. Interpretive texts describing each piece were written and/or transcribed by city residents onto business card size postcards. The purpose of the project being on bicycle was to create audience for the works in other parts of the city during Prospect 1. The bicycle also allowed for greater access to the “collaborators” on the streets of the St. Roch neighborhood.

The City of Lost and Found Museum speaks to issues of museum display, hierarchy, and interpretation. However, it also speaks more personally to issues of loss autobiography, and the value we give to “things.” This project addresses New Orleans’ recent history, and seems particularly poignant in this time of memory and healing. Furthermore, it grows directly out of Wilson’s own career as an artist, museum curator, and recent experience of loss.