Parkeology excavates social histories of civic space through public art projects. We think old places like parks or museums are grounds for new forms of intimacy. We treat museum collections as arenas for storytelling, and streets and parks as hidden archives.

Originating in Balboa Park, San Diego, Parkeology has developed performances, videos, and exhibitions throughout the United States and Europe with museums, guilds, nonprofits, community centers, and history centers. Founded in 2015, Parkeology is a nomadic institution that works with artists, activists historians, community groups, and scientists. All projects are free to the public and grant supported.

True to our our motto—“in dust we trust.” Dust can tell you a lot: it is the dandruff of monuments and castoffs. Our projects begin by digging through the many truths that form a dust cloud around one artifact, parking lot, or border fence. What emerges from this research can vary between an experimental concert for 500, a play for 1,000, or an intimate sound installation for 3.

Through our programs, we work to connect segregated communities and highlight narratives that often don’t make it into the historical ledger. We work closely with our collaborators—over the course of months to years—to develop projects that are sensitive and thought provoking.