In the words of President Elect Biden today, “Enough, Enough.”
Protest Art
2020 look back #3
2020 look back #3
Perhaps the darkest day amongst too many dark days in 2020 was May 25, the day we witnessed George Floyd murdered by asphyxiation in real time for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. This barbaric criminal act resulted in condemnation and demonstrations across America and around the world and it highlighted many other crimes against the black population by rogue police officers including Breana Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, Eric Garner and so many more.
June 19th
Inspired by the words of President Obama and in support of those marching for Equality, Justice and Freedom in New York and across America today, including here in Vancouver. “Juneteenth is a time to recommit ourselves to the work that remains undone. We remember that even in the darkest hours, there’s cause to hope for tomorrow’s light.” Barack Obama, 2016.
Sadly last week on December 22nd the name of 47 year old Andre Maurice Hill must be added to the list, unarmed and shot by a white police officer in Columbus Ohio.
20 new leaves
666…in progress – Day XLV
7 new leaves
666+33…in progress – Day XLIV
the journey continues
666+: Day XLII – The journey continues as described in my Shame and Prejudice post two days ago.
Shame and Prejudice
Today we visited an exhibition at the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver, Shame and Prejudice – A Story of Resilience. It was created by the brilliant artist Kent Monkman as a project for the Art Museum at the University of Toronto in 2014. Kent is a Canadian First Nations artist of Cree Ancestry whose maternal Grandmother was a survivor of the Brandon residential school in Manitoba. He writes, “I could not think of any history paintings that conveyed or authorized Indigenous experience into the canon of art History…Could my own paintings reach forward a hundred and fifty years to tell our history of the colonization of our people?” The answer is that with his moving and powerful paintings indeed they have. He is a true master in the same tradition as Giotto, Caravaggio and Picasso.
I could write so much more about how this exhibition has affected me particularly after the completion of my leaves drawn to represent the children separated from their parents by the US Government. After seeing Kent’s work today and seeing his painting The Scream with the children being taken from their parents by our own Canadian Government and placed in residential schools hundreds of miles away from their families and homes, I realize that my own work is no way complete.
Today I have reembarked on the leaf drawings once again so that the final piece will include an acknowledgment of our own shameful history to represent how Canada failed the children of this country in a manner as cruel and inhuman as the treatment of the children of families seeking asylum by our neighbours to the south.
mightier than the sword
666 Day XLII – The proverb states “the pen is mightier than the sword” but how about the pencil. As I sharpened mine at the beginning of each day to act as “weapons” against injustice they became shorter and shorter as you can see. The power of the simple act of drawing is worth celebrating, for a picture can indeed be worth a thousand words.
Tomorrow I look forward to attending a webinar by Physicians for Human Rights on the “Family Separation and Reunification Efforts.” These are the details for those of you interested in attending if you have the time.
Each leaf’s a child alone and scared
Taken from the ones that cared
Kidnapped by a soulless state
That wallows in its lies and hate.
How fortunate it is that in our times
Good people exist to fight these crimes
And work to bring back love and joy
To every precious girl and boy.
home sweet home
666 Day XLI
The leaves are now home where they will be loved, and be a reminder every day, not that I need one, of the precious children that they represent who sadly have no home and no parents to love and protect them. With the dedication and commitment however of all those working so hard to reunite the families we can only hope that the day will come when that love and protection will be possible once again.
a home for the leaves
666 Day XL
I have had this perspex box for a number of years and always wondered what I could put into it. Since I have been reluctant to say goodbye to the leaves, today they found a home and the box finally has a purpose.
Families Belong Together
666 for the children
On Day XXXIX of my 666 journey the final leaf has been drawn but sadly for the separated children and their families their journey is far from over. They have been in my thoughts each day and will continue to be until all the children have been united with their parents.
I would like to thank those of you who have been following my leaf journey since the first day and those of you who joined along the way. Knowing you feel as I do has been a great support and encouragement.
I would also like to thank Jacob Soboroff today for his book “Separated: Inside an American Tragedy”, which should be read by everyone. His telling the story of the children is truly heartbreaking. Take a look at his post on Instagram today Jacob Soboroff where he writes about the book and supporting local booksellers during the pandemic.
Thank you also to Lee Gelernt and the ACLU, and The Physicians for Human Rights for their dedicated advocacy for the children and their families seeking to reunite them and find justice so that those responsible can be held accountable.
‘666: a graphite journey” is dedicated to the children.
Keep them in your thoughts.
thechangingpalette 