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In the woodworking space at NextFab, something extraordinary is taking shape. Filmmaker and visual artist jasmine lynea is seven months into the Leeway x NextFab Art + Technology Artist Residency program, building what they call a “Love Machine.” The tiny house installation explores themes of family, community, preserving history, gentrification, and the power of love to heal generational trauma.
jasmine’s journey began with a short film called “The Love Machine,” which follows a teenage scientist who creates a time machine in his basement to restore missing love within his family and break cycles of intergenerational trauma. The film explores how family members enter the machine to relive and resolve traumatic experiences, ultimately healing their relationships.ƒw
“I’m making that machine,” jasmine explains. “And what it is becoming is a home. And thinking about the homes that are in my neighborhood or other neighborhoods, these are all love machines.”
The installation has evolved significantly since jasmine’s residency began in January. What started as an immersive art installation for parks and vacant lots has transformed into a tiny house with windows that serve as portals into different worlds of love, family, community, grief, and remembrance, and embracing the power of it all.
Living in Cobbs Creek, a neighborhood in West Philadelphia, jasmine draws inspiration from the stories and histories surrounding them. They observe the empty houses of elderly residents who have passed away, the vacant lots where homes once stood, and the small businesses that have been forgotten, like the old ice cream shop windows that still bear their names but no longer serve the community.
“I always think about the history of that and the people who lived here before I lived here, before a lot of people were moving in.” jasmine shares. “I think about that type of connection people once had, and it’s still here, but it feels kind of blurry.
One particularly powerful story that influences their work involves a 93-year-old woman named Margaret T. Strothers living near Clark Park. After a lifetime in the same place, she faces the threat of losing her home due to the destruction of connected row houses by a developer trying to modernize the neighborhood. The developer refuses to help repair the damage caused to her home, instead wanting her to leave.
“For her to lose her home and history to that, it’s like, where is she supposed to go?” jasmine reflects. “Her home brought in so many friends and family. And there’s so much love there. So much community was there. And all she wants is her house to be fixed.”
For jasmine, the solution to these challenges lies in rebuilding community connections. Their art installation aims to amplify the love that already exists in their neighborhood while paying homage to what has been lost.
“Wherever there are people, there is community,” they emphasize. “So I ask, what are the ways that we can be more independent of the government and rely on each other instead? What are ways we can know our neighbors more?”
The Love Machine installation will feature three components: the tiny house with projected images in the windows showing memories of love and family, the original film displayed on an old TV monitor, and a collage piece with a diorama of a Black living room. Together, these elements create a space for reflection and connection.
Initially intimidated by the scale and machinery at NextFab, jasmine found their footing with encouragement from Director of Programming Melissa Guglielmo and guidance from Woodshop Manager Hannah Declerq. The residency has provided not just workspace and tools, but a supportive community.
“I think having the type of support and patience to really get into myself and get into this project is something I would definitely keep emphasizing about how great this residency is. People really be rooting for you, you know, I’m not alone,” jasmine explains.
The hands-on nature of woodworking has been transformative for jasmine as a filmmaker. “Being a filmmaker, you’re not carrying anything unless you’re carrying the equipment,” they note. “But now, being in it where I’m building, I’m molding something. These things are things I’m touching. It’s a different type of mindset.”
The Leeway Foundation’s support extends beyond funding, providing application assistance, feedback, and ongoing check-ins throughout the residency. jasmine has also conducted workshops as part of their residency, including a creative writing workshop at the Arts League in West Philadelphia and a collage workshop at NextFab in collaboration with another member, Yannick Lowery.
“I didn’t have to do two workshops, but I did it because this is stuff I also want to learn,” Jasmine says. The workshops have created ripple effects in the community, with participants reporting that the experience inspired them to reconnect with their own families.
The Love Machine installation will debut in early October for Second Thursdays, marking the culmination of jasmine’s residency journey. But their artistic exploration continues with another film, “Della Can Fly,” premiering at the BlackStar Film Festival on July 31st at 5 p.m.
“Della Can Fly” follows an older man trying to prove to his family that his long-lost sister could fly, exploring themes of grief, family preservation, and the connections between elders and youth. Like “The Love Machine,” it questions what’s possible when we challenge conventional thinking about family history and the power of love.
Through their work, jasmine considers the “what-ifs” as they challenge social norms and promote the idea that change is possible. “I believe that with an imagination, things can come true,” they explain. “And with the pieces that I’m creating, I move with love in terms of being very compassionate and being someone who moves with care in my work.”
In times of violence and isolation, jasmine’s art offers an alternative vision, one where community connection, self-love, and radical imagination can create the impossible. Their Love Machine stands as both artwork and invitation, asking viewers to consider what might be possible when we center love, preserve history, and build community together.
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jasmine lynea’s “Love Machine” installation will be exhibited in early October 2025. Their film “Della Can Fly” premieres at the BlackStar Film Festival on Thursday, July 31st at 5 p.m. The festival runs from July 31st to August 3rd in Philadelphia.
In Partnership with FORMATION. Media
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