The aim of Open Shutters is to collect stories of different people that are living at the Gulf Coast and trying to rebuild their home due to the destructions caused by the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Therefore, the Open Shutters project created a video booth. Inside, you have the possibility to record your testimony by video. Afterwards Open Shutters will post your clip online within about 24 hours. The advantage: Everyone can hear your story, without restriction or edition.
The portable Story-Booth
The Open Shutters project is a collaboration and grant project with the Interactive Telecommunications program of the NYU and the Xavier University in New Orleans. The team found its inspiration by Ruth Sergel. Modeled after her project “Voices of 911″, the Open Shutters project built a moveable and simple private place where the stories can be told and recorded. The art program of the Xavier University designed the booth with materials that primarily had been found objects and edited building goods of homes after Katrina.
There are two non-profit organizations (Habitat Re-Store, Green Project) reconstructing historical buildings all over New Orleans. Their goal is to reduce waste and save historically materials.
The Stories
People that are telling their story get, of course, very emotional while describing the experiences they made during and after the destructive hurricane Katrina. The Story-Booth already visited the campus of the Xavier University in New Orleans. A lot of students told their stories and were recorded. Their collected and unedited versions supported “Open Shutters: Stories of Recovery from the Gulf Coast”. They will be history.