Introduction

Murmurations seeks to share the hidden experiences of older people, queer people and the crip community - the highs, the lows, and the strategies we use to navigate the world.

We have worked closely with groups spanning these communities, listening, talking, and finding out what must be heard. We co-designed values with members of these groups, bringing these into an experience that aims to make the invisible visible.

For those unlike us, this is a chance to learn about the lives of those around you. For those who have lived through these experiences themselves, this is a chance to find your flock - to hear that you are not alone and find those who can fly with you, finding ways to communicate and create new patterns in life.

Murmurations exists as a collection of experiences, and a visual language to hold those together. You can rest on our blanket, touch a symbol, and listen to the words of age, queer and crip. If you prefer, you may choose to read these words, in a zine, or online. We only ask that you turn in and find out, rather than turning away to stay in your comfort.

If these symbols may help you start a conversation about your own experiences, we invite you to use them yourselves.

This is a prototype, and as a dictionary of our communities it is incomplete. The project has a vision to tour nationally, meeting new people, discovering new experiences and growing this new language.

Raquel: A few things about how to interact with the blanket: 

To listen to the audios activate the symbol by touching or stroking the pipe cleaners on the symbol that you are drawn to. This will start the audio. Touching the symbol again will stop the audio. Each audio has a short introduction, followed by a 5 - 14 minute audio piece. 

Some of these audio journeys are difficult and some are joyous. Most are a mixture of both, so please take care of yourself and only listen to or take in what you can manage today. There is a gentle trigger warning at the beginning of the two tracks whose content is a little more difficult to hear. 

Lastly, a huge thank you to everyone who was involved and who participated - you know who you are.