THE TOWN AT HOME
Views from the Porches
A PARTICIPATORY ART PROJECT AT THE KENT CULTURAL ALLIANCE
TAKE PART AND SEND YOUR PHOTO!
Deadline: Sunday, 26th October
The Town at Home - Views from the Porches is a participatory photographic project for the inhabitants of Kent County, Maryland. The invitation is to take a photograph of the urban and rural landscape from a unique and distinctive place in homes: the front porch. The porch is a special and distinctive space, a threshold, a spot that at the same time is inside and outside the home, intimate and social. It's a place for connections: with family, neighbors, friends, and the town beyond.
How is the scenery of social conversations or solitary reflections on the porch? How has that urban and town landscape evolved, how has the town and the surrounding area transformed over time?
Thanks to the photographic contributions sent by the participants, a choral photographic artwork will be created, which will be set up in the gallery of the Kent Cultural Alliance and inaugurated on October 31, 2025.
Why should I participate?
• To revalue a special and unique space in homes: the porch, a center of sociality and connections.
• To observe and become aware of the urban and rural landscape, reflecting on the evolution and transformation of towns and the county.
• To be part of a collective effort that evokes a feeling of home to strengthen the sense of community, imagining the project participants as guests on a large collective porch.
What should I do?
Get on your porch, equipped with your smartphone or camera.
Take a photo, showing what you see in front of the porch.
Send us the photo and a short text so that it can be included in the final artwork.
How should I take the photo?
You can take the picture with your smartphone, but of course you can also use a camera.
Follow the detailed instructions below and read the FAQ for any clarifications. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us: curator@kentculture.org
Take the photograph during daylight hours, when there is natural light, on a sunny or cloudy day.
The image should be horizontal. Try to keep the horizon line in the middle of the image.
Take the photograph by positioning yourself as close as possible to the wall of the house, so that the porch context can be perceived.
Hold the camera parallel to the edge of the porch. Keep any railings or pillars in the frame; these elements help to perceive the context.
FAQ
My house doesn't have a real porch, but a sort of stood. Can I still participate?
Generally speaking, yes. All spaces that can be intended both inside and outside the house, that have a socializing purpose and are directly connected to the outside world, can be included in the project. Perhaps you could also send us a photo of the stoop to better understand your specific case.
I don't have a front porch, my porch is on the side of the house. Can I still participate?
Yes, you can. Side porches are also interesting for the project.
From which point on the porch do I take the photo?
An important element for the project is to take the photo from as far inside the porch as possible, so that the porch's space is visible in the frame. Place yourself close to the wall of the house. But, that said, choose the spot you consider the "center" of your porch. Of course, this could coincide with its geometric center; but it could also be your "personal center", in emotional and memory terms: the one where you usually sit, or where you used to sit as a child, the one where your favorite chair is...
From what height should I take the photo?
Again, consider your usual or favourite point on the porch. It could be your seated or standing point. To give you a rough idea, take photos from a height of about 3 to 5 feet.
The spot I'd like to photograph has a pillar and a railing in front of it. Should I still take the photo?
Yes, of course. It's even more beautiful when the porch's most distinctive elements are included in the photographs.
I was about to take a photo, but a big truck just parked in front of my house. Should I take a photo anyway, or should I wait?
The photo you take should represent the "normal" situation, what's usually in front of the porch. If the parked truck is an exceptional occurrence, then wait; but if there are always parked vehicles, then take the photo. The shot with the vehicles might not be particularly "pretty," but it helps us reflect on how the urban landscape has transformed.
Can people be on the picture?
The project focuses on the urban and rural landscape. Try to avoid people in the photo; unless you live in a crowded part of town, where people can be intended - somehow - part of the landscape.
Can I take photos with a camera instead of a smartphone?
Yes, of course! In this case, if your camera allows it, use a wide-angle lens and a good depth of field, so that the frame is wide and detailed.
I took the photo but I'm not very satisfied with it... it's a bit crooked, dark... should I send it anyway?
Don't worry, just send it in. All the photos we receive will be edited and optimized as much as possible. Or contact me and I can try to give you some tips on how to improve it.
Can you come to my home and take the photo?
Yes, gladly. But I don't always have a car here, and we would have to plan for that.
Can I submit more than one photo of my porch?
You can send multiple photos from a porch, but only one will be selected for the exhibition, the one that best fits the project.
I can't attach the photo to an email. Can I send it via WhatsApp?
Sending via email helps us archive the collected images in an organized manner. Contact me for any technical difficulties. It's best not to use WhatsApp: it compresses photos when sent via chat, compromising image quality.
Can I spread the word about the project?
Yes, of course, thank you. Invite your neighbors or friends to participate. The only requirement is that participants (and porches) be in Kent County.
Can I post the photo on my social media?
Yes, no problem, especially if it helps us promote the project. Add this tag your posts: #ViewsFromThePorches
Take a photo from your porch and participate!
by Sunday, October 26th
And send the photo to:
The Town at Home. Views from the Porches
is a project by Claudio Beorchia,
created as part of the SFW artistic residency, Kent Cultural Alliance, 2025