From July 1 (Canada Day) 2010, through July 1, 2011 I performed Impact Afghanistan War, a memorial project where I fell 100 times every day in a public space (each fall in recognition of an Afghan death).
Impact was my attempt to reach beyond the numbness produced by abstract numbers, political debates and media spectacularization. It was an attempt to register, through my body, the impact of our (Canada’s) engagement in Afghanistan. In a larger sense, it was an inquiry into empathy, an investigation of the space between “us” and “other,” between individual and social grief, between personal ritual and public protest and between art and politics.
Click here for a record of each day’s falls.
Helene- you sewed me together with another under the full moon tonight.
I have been thinking about this Impact project you told me about. I cannot get it out of my head.
I was wondering… if you would be open to falling together one day? If perhaps I could join you? I know that you are performing at young and dundas on saturday- as am I. I will be performing there from 4-5pm. Maybe sometime in and around this would be a good opportunity?
I completely understand if this work is for you to explore alone, but, if not… I am here.
Thank you for your work tonight.
with love,
Adriana
Adriana,
One of the things I love about intervention work is the moments of connection. Your availability to the moment of sewing almost brought tears to my eyes. Doing Impact is like that. Sometimes one in 100 people stops and really takes it in, and it’s so special. It’s like for a moment we are able to break the spell of the spectacle and really see one another.
I would love to fall together. I’ll email so we can figure out a time/place.
Helene
Just discovered your page.
Thank you for your poignant work….
Joanne Rice
Dear Joanne,
Somehow I missed this post. I thank you as well for your beautiful piece! (See link to Joanne’s project under arts activism.)
Helene