Caravan Stories: Archive Argosy

The Archive of Creative Culture is a collection of books identified as being significant to the contributor’s creative practice. The books come from the personal libraries of revered artists and cultural figures including visual, literary and performance artists, designers, architects, curators, museum executives and cultural leaders. Each book has an Ex Libris - a handwritten note outlining the book’s role in their life. Many of the contributors came across this book at a pivotal moment and it changed their perspective in approaching their creative practice.

This archive uses the book as not only a source of knowledge and object of guidance but is a gateway to documenting the lives of the contributors through memories imbued on the book. The contributor’s use is reflected in the underlinings, notations and dog eared pages, offering a new insight into their life and history.

The Archive Argosy was created by Lacey Haslam, Director of Archive of Creative Culture and adjunct professor at Kennesaw State University, College of Art and Design. Lacey lives in Woodstock, Georgia, with her husband JC and cat, Nico (love that name!). The renovation of her 1973 Airstream Argosy to serve as a traveling museum for the Archive of Creative Culture began in December of 2015, and recently, Lacey did a TEDx talk on the project, which is yet to be released. We will be adding the link here as soon as possible. 

"I had high hopes that I could do it, singlehandedly, in six months," laughs Lacey. 

Fast forward to this past February, when Lacey finished up her Argosy (check out that two-tone, white and polished aluminum combo she's got going on - we love it!), and debuted her completed project at the Museum of Craft and Design in San Francisco. The Argosy was on display while the Archive team installed their collection inside the museum, although the Argosy itself is just as much a work of art and a sight to behold.

Image courtesy of the Museum of Craft and Design in San Francisco.

In planning for her renovation, Lacey set an initial budget of $5,000, post the initial cost of the Argosy ($2500) and travel costs to pick it up several states over. A friend, Karen McKay, encouraged Lacey to fund the project through a $5000 Kiva Zip Loan – a crowdfunded, zero percent interest small business loan.

"For two months after a successful two week campaign," shares Lacey,  "I searched for the right vessel and began renovating right away."

"This project has been highly self-reflective for me. At times it has been a real challenge both mentally and physically. Mentally, I would go in circles trying to figure out the electrical problems when something wasn't working. Physically, I am 5’4” and those damn subfloors are heavy and hard to fit into place. My mallet became my best friend." 

Lacey admits to losing sleep, waking up in the middle of the night with her to-do list running through her mind (we can totally identify with this!). Mostly though, she would wake and contemplate the community her project might generate through connecting various subcultures, marveling at the way an object, this Airstream, could unite so many different kinds of people. There is so much truth to that statement, and having been part of the growing Airstream community for the past three and some years, I have seen so many different types of folks uniting over our shared love for these iconic aluminum trailers. 

Lacey recalls a moment where she stood in the Airstream after it was completely gutted: 

"I stood on the exposed frame, belly pan on the ground, knowing welding needed to happen, it was then that I fully understood why people quit at this point and sell it off as a shell." 

Yet Lacey forged on, not allowing fear of difficulty to take over. For certain parts of the project, due to deadlines, Lacey hired out certain services: she brought in a welder to repair the rusted-out frame underneath the old bathroom and an electrician to get the AC up and running for an event during the summer. The highlight of the space, however, is the work done by Eamonn O'Brien to build the custom countertops and cabinetry, which are an absolute work of art, and these same folks put Lacey in touch with a paint shop for the exterior white paint and a contact for new brakes, tail light housing, and axles. 

"Each of these things were monumental in the transformation," she says, "I also have incredible support from my friends and family and find myself reflecting on my gratitude for them each day." 

And support her they did. Lacey's community knew where to find her throughout her renovation project, coming over to chat with her and understanding when she wouldn't say much back as she worked. Some friends gave time and their hands for whatever Lacey needed that day.

"As an estimate, I was spending 20-30 hrs per week on renovations, not counting the hours searching for items, materials, researching how-to’s, sitting and dreaming. It has completely consumed my life for the better and I hope this feeling is embedded into the space." 

Lacey's Archive Argosy will likely continue to shift and grow as her work does, and aside from some minor repairs and some bookshelves left to be installed, she's happily in the decorating stage and planning for pop-up events, exhibitions, workshops, and talks. She is currently researching artisan-made goods to outfit the Argosy, building up inventory to sell. 

Lacey kept the interior minimal, allowing for the space to shift and progress as need be. The space will be used for multiple event types, including workshops, dinners, exhibitions, and discussions. The interior angles were based on a flag made by artist and vexillologist Cristina Victor. Lacey added a bio-ethanol fireplace and smoky plexiglass walls to divide the main space from the library collection. Underneath the custom countertops are drawers for the gallery collection and merchandise to be stored while in transit. 

When speaking with Lacey about this project, I asked her about her choice to renovate a vintage Airstream to expand the Archive of Creative Culture. Her response: 

"Moving from place to place is part of my history. As a child, my family moved all over the country so it is only natural that I was attracted to this iconic vessel not only for its function but also design. The front windows offer a lot of light in the space and double as a projection screen for displaying video and new media works (see image below of the Argosy at Wave Pool in Cincinnati where artist Marc Governanti created and projected a new work using the books in the Archive). The term Argosy means a merchant vessel or rich store with synonyms including mother load, treasure trove, and gold mine. This concept plays directly into the spirit of what I envisioned for the moving museum space–a traveling vessel working to acknowledge creative minds, create new connections and tap into undiscovered ideas. The Archive Argosy is also designed to offer a shop with artisan made goods. We are currently building our roster of artists." Lacey goes on to describe another key piece of literature that has made it's way into the space.

Argosy at Wave Pool in Cincinnati. 

"Incredibly, the Argosy came with a 4” 3 ringed binder put together by the previous owner who passed away. This binder contains the history of the caravan, from the original manual to repair documents to printouts from Airstream Forums, to the original advertisement for when they purchased it. I will be adding "after" images to the many "before" images now that it is finishing up. It is a key book/document that connects the Archive with the vessel."

Many thanks to Lacey for sharing her incredible Argosy transformation with us all, it really is a work of art. 

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Learn more about Lacey and her Archive Argosy:

Caravan Stories: Silver Sequoia

Cynthia Tuan and Shane Beers began renovating their 1958 Airstream Overlander not too long after finding one another and settling into their relationship. The pair, both single parents, were attracted to the idea of creating something together, creating a self-imposed design challenge: honoring the Airstream's original intent, yet streamlining a plan for efficient tiny living and creating a vacation rental for folks to explore their home city of Portland, Oregon. 

When interviewing Cynthia and Shane (we share mutual friends, the ever-lovely Peter and Kate Schweitzer, who renovated and lived in a vintage Airstream for years), I loved their down-to-earth, cool responses to our questions. Their take on the work they've done and will continue to do was wise and rather pragmatic, starting with their expectations from the get-go. Knowing their responsibilities ultimately were to their jobs and parenting, they understood that their Airstream renovation project would have to be something they'd slowly chip away at. They honestly admitted to, at times, feeling that the work itself was insurmountable, yet they continue to plug away at it, pulling late-night work sessions after the kiddos are in bed. 

Shane and Cynthia began work on their Silver Sequoia, named for the 75-foot tree she lies underneath, in April of last year. In the last eleven months, they have gutted the entire space, with the exception of the rare and lucky sound subfloor and frame. They've spent the near-year sourcing materials, running new electrical, planning the design, and begun what they called 'the seemingly never-ending build and fabrication phase'. They've done the majority of the work themselves, outside of a few minor tasks, such as moving and rebuilding their property's fence for the trailer's parking space under their sequoia tree, it's namesake. They also hired an electrician to install an exterior circuit breaker to power the Airstream, jokingly calling it the 'Umbilical Cord', and had a local laser company custom cut aluminum patches with pre-drilled rivet holes (so smart!). 

The design goal for the Silver Sequoia was simple: they were seeking function, as well as a modern approach to the aesthetic. In trading out the original twin beds, they are creating a space well suited for couples who'll stay in their Airstream. Cynthia elaborated on wanting to maximize the feeling of expanse despite the actual square footage using clean lines and a neutral and light color palette. Later on down the line, they will layer in textures and elements with the hope that their guests will feel they are unwinding in their favorite homey nook. While the pair's immediate goal is to create a short-term rental for out-of-town explorers, they've also considered the weight and type of materials that will deem the Airstream road-worthy as well, hoping to one day take a road trip or two.   

They've leaned into the Instagram community quite a bit. They've shared their own story and have found knowledge and inspiration in those of us going through similar trials and tribulations. Seeing that others don't have it all figured out has helped them through moments of being stuck, and have likewise contributed their own lessons and ideas, such as their gorgeous hardwood floors and their aluminum framework they are using for the build out (side note: we almost used this same system and likely will sometime in the future!). 

One of the challenges Shane and Cynthia have faced in the last eleven months of renovation are location, yet also noted that their location is also a great thing as well! Living and renovating in the often wet and cold climate of the Pacific Northwest, much of the build has to be completed inside the Airstream trailer, requiring a bit of acrobatics and shuffling to complete tasks. However, the plus side of living in progressive, often-walkable Portland has given the couple access to the tool library just down the street, the Benjamin Moore paint store up the street, and a local neighborhood hardware store for the countless last-minute runs us renovators all know so well (too well). Managing the renovation around their children's schedules has also kept the two juggling. They sagely noted that at times, external life really does play into the renovation's clip. Weather, job loss, political climate, kids - all of these things can hinder and spill over onto progress, but these things always inevitably shift and everything begins to move along again. 

The two hope to be complete with their Silver Sequoia by late spring or early summer, yet I'll finish this piece with not my words, but theirs: 

"Even though we’re still in it; the process of creating, and journey that comes from stretching when you’re learning something new has been sweet and enduring. Often it means being pushed outside our comfort zone, but the small celebrations that come from completion has allowed us learn so much about each other." 

To Follow along with SHANE & CYNTHIA'S RENOVATION,

FOLLOW THis talented PAIR ON INSTAGRAM:

Caravan Stories: Katie & Trudy

"Live a quiet life, and work with your hands." For Katie Lindgren, a thirty-two year old middle school teacher, these are the words she lives by as she wraps up a ten month renovation on her 1989 Airstream Excella, which she's lovingly named "Trudy". 

Katie's Airstream journey began during a season of hardship. After an eight year marriage, Katie went through a terrible divorce, losing nearly everything she'd ever worked for. She walked away with just her clothing, the money in her savings account, and her sweet pup Otis. Katie recalls feeling like a failure in those moments, yet strangely free for the first time in a decade.

Unsure of her next steps, Katie contemplated using her savings for a tiny house. She had been squirreling away a portion of her paychecks for years, building a nest egg for herself and her ex-husband, and after many long discussions with her dad, Katie came to the conclusion that a house just wasn't quite the right answer, and that's when her Airstream dream was born. She came home one day and asked her dad if he'd help her build out an old Airstream, and he simply smiled and said, "Now that's an idea I can get behind!" One week later, and Katie brought her Airstream home, parked it next to the garden, and began working that very day. 

It's plain to see that this project is far more than just an Airstream project: for Katie, these past ten months working in her Airstream home has been a way to heal. When speaking with us about the work, Katie shared about her divorce and the depression that followed. At first, the Airstream was Katie's refuge. She would retreat into the work in solitude, not wishing to subject her friends and family to the pain she was going through. Yet over time, her friends began to come around and check in on her. Some folks would stay and spend the day helping her build, some simply brought her food and beer and move on. 

Over time, Katie began to recognize the need for people in her life and is seeking balance in the work and having a social life. She loves how much the Airstream renovation has brought her family closer. Her mom has excitedly helped Katie decorate and shop for things she needs in her new home, and her brothers visit and bring their tools to pitch in. Katie speaks lovingly about her dad's help with Trudy, joking that she can do things better than any man, with the exception of her father. Katie is proud that she's learned so much on her own, and credits her dad for teaching her not just how to do certain tasks, but more importantly, to be an independent and capable woman, stepping back and allowing her to do the work herself. 

Trudy is a partial gut restoration, purchased from a man who lived in the trailer for ten years prior. Katie reminisced a bit with us, sharing that the trailer was in pretty decent shape, with new axles, brakes and working electrical, but a tank leak had damaged the subfloor, and the walls were sticky and stinky. Katie chose to do a partial gut, replacing the subfloor and the insulation underneath, and simply patching and painting the existing interior skins. By reusing the kitchen cabinetry, and choosing a partial renovation, she was able to save a bit of money. Over the summer, Katie used her time off from teaching well, spending every single waking hour on her renovation. So far, Katie has invested about $14,000 in her tiny home, saying that she's over her initial budget of $10,000, but that number was based on having not done this type of work previously. Many of Katie's resources come from Instagram, along with websites specializing in vintage camper parts. She, like so many of us, love that this community is overwhelmingly full of positivity, kindness, and folks who share helpful tips and tricks. 

When deciding on her interior elements, Katie wanted her new home to be happy, positive, and welcoming. She proudly tells us that it's very feminine - because Trudy is her home and she gets to decorate it how she wants! She painted the walls and cabinetry white to give the small space an airy and open feel, and added splashes of vibrant color in coral, orange, mint green, and cobalt blue. By repurposing cedar fencing planks, she built warm, rustic walls for her cozy bedroom. Katie's love for gardening and flowers is evident throughout the space, many of her friends and family have given Katie gifts for her new home, knowing she had nothing left and was starting anew. She marvels at how these random gifts all fit together so perfectly, and how most everything she's been given is covered in flowers. 

Currently, Katie is nearing the end of her renovation. She has just a few big tasks left, including the shower and some repairs and polish on her belly pan. Smaller items, such as wallpapering, trim, facing around the fridge, and decorating, are on her to-do list. As of now, Katie has running water and is moving into Trudy full-time this week. She's been sleeping in Trudy up until now, but living part-time in her folks' home next door during the bulk of the renovation. Katie plans to be stationary through the end of the school year, but has plans to hitch up and travel around this summer. She hopes to kayak in North Carolina, go climbing out west, and see the Grand Canyon and the Sequoia National Forest. She also wants to stop in Colorado to see friends and then round out the trip by spending time with family, especially her grandmother, in Missouri. 

Katie is looking forward to the simplicity life with Trudy will bring. She has found herself scaling down and living as a minimalist, realizing that she spent too many years spending money on fleeting things. She's found that she lives in the moment more and is putting emphasis on experiences rather than expenses - putting her extra money toward traveling, savings, and the people in her life. She believes this way of life is going to make her feel free. 

Katie's life is truly reflective of the words she lives by. She spends her days teaching eighth grade students, coaching softball and the majorette team, and returning to her little Airstream home in the evening. Turning on her patio lights, Katie grabs a beer to sit outside with Otis and reflect on her day, sometimes strumming on her ukulele, sometimes she is simply still. She retreats to cook in her little kitchen, and then rounds out the evening working a bit on the Airstream before retiring to her warm, cozy bedroom. She loves when it rains, and she's looking forward to the spring, when she can polish Trudy and work in the garden. 

It's amazing what a project like this can do, and the healing it can bring into our lives. Katie's story is incredibly touching and inspiring, and for me, struck home. Divorce can really shake up a person's life in so many ways, but hope and renewal are possible. Beauty can come from brokenness, and sometimes losing everything allows us to gain so much more than we could have ever thought possible. For Katie, working on her Airstream home has given her confidence she didn't know she had, and a sense of accomplishment she needed. She realizes that even though she walked away from everything she'd once worked for, by starting over and through the process of building her new home, she's gained more than she ever could have imagined. What a beautiful thing. We're so happy for you and your new life, Katie!