Public Art Swap Boxes

Swap, connect, and create at this interactive public art installation. Designed with and for the neighborhood, the 3D mural features “swap boxes” where visitors can leave or take free treasures—like music, plants, toys, or trinkets—and participate in the joy of everyday generosity. With rotating themes shaped by community input, Give & Take transforms simple exchanges into acts of kindness, care, and sustainability. Join the artists for free seasonal workshops. Engage in hands-on activities, fill the boxes with love, and co-create with neighbors. Small acts, big impact—one thoughtful (or whimsical!) swap at a time.

[Previous themes: Tiny Art Gallery, Little Kitchen Cupboard, Ceramics, Plants & Art Supplies]

Special thanks to project partners Ceramics Program at the Office for the Arts at Harvard, Create Art in Community, and all of the generous local artists and neighbors who have donated items to the swap boxes.

Photo Credit: Mel Taing

Give & Take: Swap Boxes for Allston-Brighton is an interactive public art installation designed to encourage generosity, sustainability, and joy through community exchange. Inspired by projects like Little Free Library, Sidewalk Joy, and local mutual aid networks, the projects invites neighbors to give and take freely—whether it's books, plants, toys, or handmade goods. Boxes have a rotating theme, shaped by community input, and serve as a hub for communal participation. Through quarterly workshops, participants can also learn new skills, craft items to share, and deepen their connection to the neighborhood.

At its core, this project is a circular economy experiment—keeping object and resources in motion, rather than in landfills, creating relationships through shared materials, and reimagining public spaces as sites of care. A small but deliberate act of resistance against waste, it inspires regeneration while sparking moments of joy and connection. Influenced by grassroots traditions of sharing, the project challenges capitalist ideas of ownership by nurturing collective care.

Non Issue Studio is a multimedia design studio founded by Brooke Scibelli and Dyllan Nguyen, based in Boston, MA. Rooted in shared values of creativity, curiosity, and community engagement, the studio produces distinct handmade objects and develops workshops, interventions, and experiences that span art, design, and education. Drawing from diverse backgrounds in media such as sculpture, printmaking, and illustration, Non Issue Studio emphasizes accessible, hands-on creativity for diverse audiences.

Brooke and Dyllan’s collaborative and individual practices center art as a tool for learning, connection, and social change. Their work has been shared through exhibitions, public programs, and partnerships with organizations including Harvard EdPortal, Harvard ArtLab, Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston, The Eliot School of Fine & Applied Arts, MassArt, Snow Farm, Boston Children's Museum, and more.

Non Issue Studio offers unique experiences and programming throughout Greater Boston and beyond. Both Brooke and Dyllan are current participants in the 2024–2025 Harvard EdPortal Artist Pipeline Program. In addition to their work with the studio, Dyllan teaches sculpture and design and manages shop spaces at Olin College of Engineering,  and Brooke teaches mixed-media art at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and works as a User Experience Designer.

Learn more about the studio at www.nonissue.info and on social media @nonissuestudio.

Headshots by Mel Taing