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The Healing Memorial Unveiled at the TCF Center
August 31, 2021 at 12 Noon
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I attended the media unveiling of The Healing Memorial since I had been in communication with some of the speackers who would be at the event. Deputy Mayor, Conrad Mallett introduced the work, addressed the importance of the project for all Detroiters and pointed out the many detailed objects on the 24 x 24 inch panels. Thus far, 32 panels have been completed and mounted on the wall. More panels will be added throughout the remainder of this year.
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Rochelle Riley, (on the left) Director of Arts, Cultural Affairs and Entrepreneurship for the City of Detroit spoke of the heavy losses experienced by Detroiters during the COVID-19 Pandemic. She addressed the inability of families to hold funerals and grieve together. She referred to the Memorial Drive which honored the first 900 people in Detroit who died of COVID-19 that was organized by her department on Belle Isle one year ago and of the many who have died since. She also spoke of the collaboration between the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, the City of Detroit, her department, the TCF Center, the Cranbrook Art Museum, and the artist, Sonya Clark, as well as the individual makers who worked together to make this memorial a reality.
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Mark Wallace, President and CEO of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy (not pictured), spoke enthusiastically of the project and the Conservancy's efforts to collaborate with the City of Detroit, the TCF Center, and the Cranbrook Art Museum in making the concept of the Healing Memorial a reality. Laura Mott, Senior Curator of Contemporary Art and Design, at the Cranbrook Art Museum (also not pictured), addressed the museum's involvement in working with Sonya Clark, the history of Clarks's Beaded Prayer Project and the unique aspect of this project for Detroit. This is the first time that Clark has designated such an installation for a specific city. The museum is also charged with collecting the amulets, mounting them on the panels, presenting, and preserving the installation for the future.
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Rachel Frierson, (above on the right) Director of Programming for the Riverfront Conservancy, spoke of her own loss of her husband (not due to COVID) in the past year and of her inability to mourn with family due to the pandemic. She understood the need for some personal expression of grief, not only for herself, but also for everyone else during this pandemic. She was only too glad to initiate hosting “making stations” on the Dequindre Cut, the Riverwalk and to facilitate more such events at the Sidewalk Festivals, churches, neighborhoods, and other locations around the city to promote the healing process for Detroiters.
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Maureen Devine, Curator for the TCF Center, indicated that she was delighted to house The Healing Memorial at the TCF Center. The space it occupies was unused and open and would provide adequate space for people to be able to experience the panels both from the 3rd and 4th floors as the space is two floors high. There is also an escalator that connects the two floors that will allow people to see the work as they descend from the 4th to the 3rd floor. The explanatory panel will also be in place until the panels are returned to the Cranbrook Art Museum where they will become part of the collection some time after August 31, 2022.
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32 panels have been completed thus far and are in place. Each panel measures 24 x 24 in, is made of wood, has a piece of archival foam core laid on top and is tightly wrapped in muslin. Each amulet contains a handwritten message that is folded, covered with fabric, stitched or tied closed, and embellished with at least one bead. Preparators at the Cranbrook Art Museum pinned each amulet in place, carefully packed the panels and installed them at the TCF Center. Approximately 1200 amulets have been included in this portion of the installation. More amulets are in process and still more will be collected from future making sessions at the Cranbrook Art Museum and around the city. People are encouraged to host making stations at their churches, in their neighborhoods and in their homes with family and friends.
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For more information, go to:
https://detroitriverfront.org/thehealingmemorial
or
https://cranbrookartmuseum.org
or
Attend an upcoming making station:
September 4 & 5, 11 & 12, 18 & 19
Cranbrook Art Museum, 12-5PM
September 18
West Riverfront Block Party
West Riverfront Park, 11-6PM
October 9 & 10
Detroit Harvest Fest
Dequindre Cut, 11-6PM
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I was fortunate to have been interviewed by The Detroit News writer, Maureen Feighan, for an article about The Healing Memorial that appeared in the paper on August 24, 2021. I met her for the first time on August 31st at the TCF Center and we spoke briefly. To see her articles please go to my website:
https://www.doloresslowinski.com click on MEDIA in the menu bar, then scroll down to the items listed under the video. Click on the one you want to see.
Thank you to everyone who came to Slowinski Studios in July and August not only to work on amulets, but also to be in community and share stories about our losses. Thanks too to those of you who invited friends to your homes to give even more people the opportunity to express their grief and transmute it into something beautiful encompassing us all. I hope all of you have the opportunity to see the installation at the TCF Center.
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Urbanization: The Bloodlust of the Built Environment, (on the left) will be on view at the Watermark Art Center, 505 Bemidji Ave., Bemidji, MN 56601 from September 3 - October 30, 2021 as part of the Surface Design Association juried, members exhibition called Earth Matters. For more information, please go to:
https://watermarkartcenter.org/earth-matters/
Wildernization: The Triumph of Overgrowth,( on the right) will be on view at Woman Made Gallery, 2150 S.Canalport, 4A-3, Chicago, IL60608 from October 7 to Novermber 6, 2021 as part of the gallery's 5th Midwest Open exhibition. For more information, please go to: https://womanmade.org/
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