Art Book by Jacinta Bunnell

“Latchkey Township: Assorted Stories of Resiliency”

Collected by Jacinta Bunnelll

This paperback book is over 90 pages of short stories and color photographs.The stories have been collected from writers who grew up as latchkey kids. It is filled with hilarious and heartbreaking short stories about little brothers having yard sales while parents are at work, skipping school to watch soap operas, playing Robin Hood in the woods, reading Tiger Beat and romance novels, making microwaved snacks on Saltines, prank calling, and wearing handmade lanyards with keys around your neck. Contributors include Zia Lawrence, Sari Botton, Neko Case, Julie Novak, Jon Wurster, Buddy Valentine, Cal Patch, and more.

These writers turned fear, loneliness, and confusion into humor with an eye toward not losing their minds. Because of what one learns to do — first tentatively and sloppily, and then with great efficiency — when you are your own custodian and governess for stretches of time, you become a special kind of magisterial wizard of adaptation and inventive solution-finding. This book illuminates this notion clearly and beautifully.

The photographs in the book are from Jacinta Bunnell’s installation LATCHKEY LATCH HOOK TOWNSHIP -- structures Bunnell spent years building out of latch hook rugs — on exhibit at ArtPort Kingston from February 18 - March 26, 2023.