Rest Lab Five

Rest Lab Five was hosted by the Graduate College as a pop-up installation titled, "Rest Lab: In Search of Rest." Centered on the theme of connection, the pop-up encouraged visitors to explore rest as a way of sharing, listening, and responding to each other’s needs in community.

Inspired by community sourcing via bulletin boards and online “in search of” postings, the large glass windows of the Graduate College became a space to share requests and receive responses in and exchange of collage, text, support, and comfort. On brightly colored paper, we gathered anonymous hand-written requests from community members seeking rest. During a program at Krannert Art Museum, attendees responded to these requests through collage. The completed requests were then returned to their window displays for their makers to find again when walking by.

Visitors could contribute to Rest Lab during open hours or through programs taking place in the Graduate College and at Krannert Art Museum, allowing connections to form across time and place. Acknowledging everyone’s need for rest, we sought out offerings to the prompt, “In search of rest: what do you need right now?”