Update: November 2010
Soon the world will commemorate the tenth anniversary of the events of September 11th. It is humbling and astounding to think it has been ten years since these events rocked our world.
Little has changed, yet many have been transformed.
The events of September 11th marked a pivotal shift in my own art work, as well as the focus of my educational and community work. Prior to 9/11 much of my studio art work concentrated on exploring themes of family and personal struggles.
On 9/11/2001 I was working on a piece titled "Amulet: a mother's prayer". In this piece I was puzzling over the dilemma of trying to hold on to my children, to keep them safe and at the same time I knew that I had to let them go, to fly and discover the ups and downs of the world.
As the events of 9/11 unfolded, I was sewing on this piece; crying, my heart expanding with the grief of the world. In that instant I knew my family was bigger than the people who lived in my house or even the people on my Christmas list. My sense of family had grown to include all humanity.
"Each One: The Button Project, a 9/11 Memorial" became my way of processing the confusion, deep grief and frustration that I was experiencing. A couple of weeks after 9/11, I sent out one email requesting white buttons no more then size for an art project. Within 24 hours I had a stranger at my studio door with a handful of buttons. I quickly learned that in the process of healing and reconciling my own emotions, I tapped into parallel emotions in our global family. Buttons continued to stream into my studio for six months, each accompanied with a note mentioning how appreciative the sender was to be able to contribute to the project.
Towards the completion of the art work, I saw another opportunity for people to become involved. I needed help sewing the over 3,000 buttons on to the hand woven linen fabric.
Again, I sent out an email inviting community members to participate; and again, strangers came to my studio door happy to participate. For ten days 25 volunteers showed up, hand-sewing buttons and sharing stories.
In the nine months that I worked on designing and creating this work, I found that through my own journey to heal, I was helping others heal. Through the simple gesture of sending me buttons for the art work or coming to the studio to sew buttons, I discovered that people were sincerely appreciative for the opportunity to "do something". I also learned that the process of making art builds community.
The power of "Each One: The Button Project, a 9/11 Memorial" is its elegant simplicity in honoring all the people that died on that day. The 3,116 hand-sewn white buttons on the black linen each mark a life that was lost.
"Each One: The Button Project, a 9/11 Memorial" launched a personal transition and continues to inspire my journey. For the past nine years, my skills and tools as a creative worker have grown. Art works that followed "Each One: The Button Project, a 9/11 Memorial" are visual evidence of my continuing personal transformation.
As an educator and community artist I strive to offer art opportunities that move this world in a humane and compassionate direction. "Woven Voices: Messages from the Heart" is one such effort. Learn more about this global community art project inspired by Tibetan prayer flags, Shinto paper prayers, and the Buddhist concept of impermanence by exploring the blog and links.
All in all, the events of 9/11 have been instrumental in my becoming a Healing-Artist; a creative worker who uses art to transform individuals and communities. And because I strongly believe in the power of art to transform and heal, I continue to pursue exhibit opportunities and a permanent location for the Button Project.
Please contact me to learn more.
