T E A R D O W N T H E H O U S E
Tear Down the House
This series is meant to be a visceral representation of losing everything and being forced to start anew in a different place. The inspiration comes from a phone conversation of a stranger that I accidentally overheard. The way he spoke was so moving to me that I found myself taking out a piece of paper and writing down the words he said. He talked of the death of those closest to him. He was shaking and on the verge of tears. That feeling of loss is deeply human, and something I understood and was going through myself.
The words he spoke are printed on the notes throughout the series, and are the basis for the story being told. Using many figures to show this universalizes the tragedy of leaving home. This story is not singular. The deep and muted tones are meant to convey a sense of urgency and desperation. Not all stories get to be neatly tied up and happily resolved.
The series is named for the Avett Brothers song by the same name.