Life in the city can be isolating. Common spaces are no longer common: economic restructuring that began in the 1980s has converted much of what were once public gathering spaces into private areas geared more towards shopping than open interaction. This is part of a global trend of turning shared land, resources, and experiences into commodities, diminishing people’s sense that this world of ours is shared, not privately owned.
This project is about people who are experimenting with alternatives to the isolating individualism of modern cities. It is the result of months spent living at and interacting with four “intentional communities” in South Minneapolis. These communities consist of people who come together to live cooperatively with others who share their values in order to better uphold those values. They’re guided by the belief that the best way to create a better world is with and for others, so they sacrifice some autonomy to the collective process of remaking and reimagining their lives.
Like the communities themselves, this project was born out of an attempt to figure out how to live in a way that supports my values. I initially romanticized communal living, but soon came to learn that it can breed its own forms of isolation and individualism.
Maddy Shaw, one of the founding members of Sprout House, smiles into the light
A flower pot outside the Lake House door reads, “Dispose of stuff.” Communities such as Lake House pride themselves on their anti-materialist ethic of sharing resources and objects within their houses.
Members of Sprout House grow tired in the second hour of their bi-weekly meeting. House meetings like these give the community a chance to air out grievances, check in on each other, divvy up chores, plan events like open mics, and iron out some of the messiness of communal life.
Mist Franckowiak from Sprout House cradles a watermelon bought from that weekend's neighborhood farmer's market
Sprout House was loosely formed as a place for young people to live in community with others interested in maintaining a spiritual practice. Although not everyone who lives there is spiritual, the house hosts regular meditation breakfasts and Shabbat potlucks that are open to anyone.
Yard yoga in the Sprout House garden after that morning's meditation gathering
At times, communal living can detract from attempts to create a better world beyond the house. Maddy Shaw from Sprout House spends many long days volunteering at a local Latino-run farm called Sin Fronteras, because, in her own words, “backing indigenous and people of color in being leaders and being heard is a big step toward dismantling racism.” Maddy feels that the activities and responsibilities of living community compete for her time and energy, preventing her from committing as fully to either the farm or Sprout House as she might like.
Angie and Jarren, guests at Rye House, share a moment during a community meal. Unlike the other communities, Rye is a Catholic Worker House, which entails a commitment to personalism, the principle that rather than expecting the state or other institutions to create a better world, every individual must take it upon her or himself to aid those in need and work towards change. In short, as one of the residents explained, “If you don’t feel personally responsible for shit that’s going wrong, you’re not gonna do anything about it.”
For Rye House, personalism involves keeping two of its spare bedrooms open as temporary living spaces for those who are in need of transitional housing, and offering support for those individuals. Angie and Jarren have been guests at the house for almost a year now.
To varying extents, all of these communities share property, skills, and domestic work, and hold cooperation as a core value. Ryan, who lives in Lake House, feels that the community cultivates a form of mutual support that works like “a bank of love instead of a bank of money.” This “bank of love” allows members to participate less in the monetized economy by alleviating some of the burden of sustaining themselves independently.
Zach Johnson from the Rye House plays in the backyard with a neighbor boy who came over for their weekly community meal.
Steven Hobert, professional pianist and Lake House resident, prepares food in the Lake House kitchen.
Emily Duma of the Rye House, Libby London, and Brian Hedberg of Sprout House do partner yoga in the park at Emily’s going-away party. The party’s theme was “dress like Emily.”
Nathanael Bonnell of Sprout House uses a push lawn mower to cut the grass outside Sprout House in exchange for a discount on rent.
Will Gilman of Sprout House makes popcorn on a “Swedish torch” he made, an efficient way of building a fire using only one log.
Curtis from the Dreamland House invites neighborhood girls to compete in the Jell-O kicking contest that’s about to go down in the middle of the street. The contest is part of the block party Lake House and Dreamland House held for National Night Out, an annual event meant to promote neighborhood community building through block parties.
The Sprout House fridge
Friends gather in the Lake House living room for a day dedicated to co-working on creative projects. The event was posted publicly on social media, but only close friends of residents showed up.
Zach Johnson of the Rye House reads to a child who lives at the Lake City Catholic Worker Farm. In many ways, the farm is the rural “branch” of the Rye House, providing, at least in theory, a sustainable source of food for the house.
Erica Seltzer-Schultz gives Maddy Shaw a neck massage on the floor of the Sprout House living room for Maddy’s birthday. Not pictured: several other Sprout House residents massaging other parts of Maddy’s body and expressing their appreciation for her.
Sucharit Katyal meditates alone in his room at Sprout House. He moved into the house when it originally formed, believing it would be a space dedicated to shared contemplative practice. Over time, he felt that other members of the house did not prioritize this mission in the same ways he did, and returned to largely solo practice.
Members of Rye House and many of their neighbors gather before the weekly community meal to voice gratitude for whatever they feel grateful for in that moment.