An Interactive Storytelling Installation
Come By is a site-specific installation by artist Risa Puno, created in response to the stories gathered through the Ozark Story Project, an ongoing creative storytelling initiative led by Amber Perrodin. Rooted in the voices and lived experiences of people from Springdale and across Northwest Arkansas, Come By invites the public to explore how our individual memories contribute to a collective sense of place.
The sculptural panels—each one traced from the side-facing silhouette of a local resident—light up as visitors approach, revealing engraved symbols and fragments of narrative. This interaction mimics the way we come to know one another more deeply through presence and engagement.
The panels feature personal stories from community members alongside curated excerpts from the Ozark Story Project. The center of the installation highlights new works from regional artists, including a poem by Noelia Cerna, illustrations by Maximiliano Calabotta, and a soundscape by Reilly Dickens-Hoffman.
As a whole, Come By is a collaborative mapping of the emotional and cultural terrain of this region. Each panel fits together like a puzzle piece, representing the unique stories each person carries and the way our lives intersect to shape community memory.
This installation was fabricated by Reilly Dickens-Hoffman and Jon Cromer.