{"id":18142,"date":"2015-07-14T06:28:52","date_gmt":"2015-07-14T10:28:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/artbridgesblog.ca\/en\/?p=18142"},"modified":"2015-07-14T06:28:52","modified_gmt":"2015-07-14T10:28:52","slug":"witness-blanket","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/artbridges.ca\/fr\/witness-blanket\/","title":{"rendered":"Witness Blanket: Traveling large scale art installation recognizes the Indian Residential School era"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"WitnessBlanket_1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThe blanket is a universal symbol of protection. For many of us, it identifies who we are and where we\u2019re from \u2013 we wear them in ceremony and give them as gifts. Blankets protect our young and comfort our elders.<\/p>\n

Inspired by a woven blanket, we have created a large scale art installation, made out of hundreds of items reclaimed from Residential Schools, churches, government buildings and traditional and cultural structures including Friendship Centres, band offices, treatment centres and universities, from across Canada. The Witness Blanket stands as a national monument to recognise the atrocities of the Indian Residential School era, honour the children, and symbolise ongoing reconciliation.<\/p>\n

Inspiration for the Project:<\/strong>
\nStrewn in the wake of the Indian Residential Schools are an immeasurable number of broken or damaged pieces. These fragmented cultures, crumbling buildings, segments of language, and grains of diminished pride are often connected only by the common experience that created them. Imagine those pieces, symbolic and tangible, woven together in the form of a blanket. A blanket made from pieces of residential schools, churches, government buildings, and cultural structures.<\/em><\/p>\n

A blanket where the story of each piece is as important to its construction as the wood and screws that hold it together.<\/em><\/p>\n

A blanket with the sole purpose of standing in eternal witness to the effects of the Indian Residential School era \u2013 the system created and run by churches and the Canadian government to \u201ctake the Indian out of the child\u201d. Left alone, these pieces may be forgotten, lost, buried, or worse \u2013 be uncomfortable reminders that leave painful impressions on the minds and hearts of those who recognize what they represent. Individually, they are paragraphs of a disappearing narrative. Together they are strong and formidable, collectively able to recount for future generations the true story of loss, strength, reconciliation and pride.<\/em>
\n– Artist Carey Newman (Ha-yalth-kingeme) <\/em><\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to read a speech by Carey Newman (Ha-yalth-kingeme)<\/p>\n

\"WitnessBlanket_2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

If you\u2019d like to get involved with the project, there are three ways:<\/strong>
\n1. SHARE<\/a><\/strong> – Spread the word about the project, or share your story with us.
\n2. CHAMPION<\/a><\/strong> – Help us bring the Witness Blanket to your community.
\n3. GIVE<\/strong> – Click here<\/a> to financially support the Witness Blanket project.<\/p>\n

We are currently in the planning stages for a National Tour of the Witness Blanket. Please click here to download our Call for Expressions of Interest for venues, communities, organizations etc. who would like to exhibit the Blanket. For any questions regarding the National Tour, please contact us by email info@witnessblanket.ca<\/a> or phone 1-855-888-6998.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

Upcoming Tour Dates:<\/strong><\/p>\n