What does it mean to visit an archive? How does it feel to use an archive as your base, your "home", for days, weeks or months? How do the papers inside the archives relate to the outside world? Why is there often a sense of trepidation or mysticism shrouding the prospect of an archival expedition? Joana P.R. Neves uses her experience at Smithsonian's Archives of American Art in Washington DC to explore these issues. Establishing a relationship between archival finds, the present day and her own research, Joana reflects of the "usefulness" of archives and art.