WE-ARE-FAMILIA was co-founded by Jennifer Garcia and Christian Calabro nearly four years ago as "an extensive global network of creative individuals from all disciplines whom have come together to explore the powerful, complex ties which consciously and unconsciously touch all that we experience as humans." Their primary ongoing project has been a series of 25 unique keepsake boxes:

Each Keepsake Box is a sculptural assemblage of found, recycled and surplus materials [that houses] approximately 40 original 'mementos' contributed by its family of artists. Possessing nostalgic warmth yet employing contemporary forms of expression, the boxes provide a new and exotic understanding of ordinary things.

Last Thursday saw the opening of KIN CODA, a group exhibition comprised of boxes 12 through 25, at the Fritz Hansen showroom in New York City, which is home to the majority of the artists and designers. The latest installment of works completes the collection, featuring work by Brendan Ravenhill, Fort Standard, Chen Chen and Kai, David Weeks, Joe Doucet, UM Project, Nightwood, Silva Bradshaw, Steph Mantis, Kiel Mead, Iacoli + McAllister, Patrick Townsend, MN*LS, Brian Balderston and Garcia herself.

The challenge for each of the 14 artists and designers was to incorporate scrap material from none other than Fritz Hansen itself, including bits and pieces from, say, highly iconic Arne Jacobsen designs.

Fritz Hansen... donated a bulk of products and materials [that were] rejected, damaged or otherwise unmarketable. Fritz Hansen has long believed that sustainability, quality and design are all equally important. By creating products that are meant to last forever, even the remnants are considered useful.

A closer look at some of the pieces after the jump...

We-Are-Familia Keepsake Box No. 22 of 25, "Household," by Steph Mantis. Made with a Kasper Salto Nap Chair base, an Arne Jacobsen Series 7 chair, various Fritz Hansen fabrics and vinyls and an enclosed set of works by We-Are-Familia artists.

It's interesting to see how these works—many of which are by designers that we've covered before, not least for their collective exposure at Noho Design District this past April—strike a sometimes uncanny, sometimes uncomfortable contrast with the highly refined and understated aesthetic of the storied Danish brand.

We-Are-Familia Keepsake Box No. 21 of 25, by Silva Bradshaw. Made with a discontinued Attitude Table by Morten Voss, resin and an enclosed set of works by We-Are-Familia artists.

We-Are-Familia Keepsake Box No. 4 of 25, "Mailed It," by Nightwood. Made with a Star base from a Swan chair by Arne Jacobsen, reclaimed wood and includes an enclosed set of works by We-Are-Familia artists.

Still, the partnership was deemed a success by both parties: Garcia notes that it "has truly been an honor" to work with Fritz Hansen, who in turn see the collaboration as an innovative way to "extend the life of these pieces."

We-Are-Familia Keepsake Box No. 18 of 25 by UM Project. Made with damaged Arne Jacobsen Series 7 chairs, steam compressed wood and an enclosed set of works by We-Are-Familia artists.

We-Are-Familia Keepsake Box No. 16 of 25 by David Weeks. Used resin PK8 chair shells by Poul Kjaerholm, bungie cord and an enclosed set of works by We-Are-Familia artists.

See the previous keepsake boxes in the series here

We-Are-Familia Keepsake Box No. 12 of 25 by Iacoli & McAllister. Made with reclaimed Fritz Hansen furniture and includes an enclosed set of works by We-Are-Familia artists.

We-Are-Familia Keepsake Box No. 15 of 25 by Chen Chen and Kai Williams. Painted cement, deconstructed Fritz Hansen Star Base Swivel Chair, Fritz Hansen metal logo mark and an enclosed set of works by We-Are-Familia artists.

Catch KIN CODA at the Fritz Hansen showroom today (literally; it closes tomorrow), before the show is deinstalled and packed for travel to Miami to be exhibited there during the first week of December.

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