RADAR 88 - Hugs and
Kisses - A Stupendous Success! Over 1000 Visitors and Participants!!!
RADAR 88 – Hugs and
Kisses / Câlins et Tendres BaisersScenes from the Nuit Blanche Ottawa
2012 York Fountain Venue. Over 1000 visitors and participants!
What a stupendous success
Nuit Blanche Ottawa 2012 was!
On the night of September
22, 2012, something happened to people that, under normal circumstances, would not have happened in Ottawa. People came together as a group, a community of
warm caring human beings.
In these economic and
conservative political times, where we recognize the discourse of power and
fear over essence of spirit.
The intallation drew in an
estimated number of over 1000 visitors!!! And this is the first Nuit
Blanche in Ottawa. I can only imagine the numbers that the following years will
yield. I must say I was awestruck to see so many people all throughout the
night until the very early hours of the morning.
The Radar 88 venue had
flocks and flocks of people coming to see, admire, learn, share, cry, heal,
remember, foregive, atone, and especially engage. Many candles were light in
memory of those who had been the target of homphobia and in sign of engagement
towards ending it.
I must say, that as an
artist, I have never been so profoundly touched by the beauty of humanity
as I did that night. People would come in droves and witness in pure
awsome silence each and every tableau, taking the time to read the postings
above each one of them where were written statistics and facts about suicide and
violence rates concerning people belonging to the GBLTTQ community in Canada
and the world as well as some recent historical and current political GBLTTQ
issues.
People arrived from all
corners of the Byward market and circulated around the York fountain, and the
circle grew more and more as the night progressed so much so that there were
sometimes 3 to 4 people deep circulating introspectively while the solemn music
excerpts of Benjamin Britten, Arvo Pärt and Mozart’s Agnus Dei were played. These pieces
were also interspersed with sonar sounds reminding participants of the
very real action of the eugenicist program to which I refer in the Radar
88 artistic statement.
Incense was burned and all
the elements of the sacred were present: the water of the fountain, the flames
of the candles, the wind, the circle of life and sacredness of the circular
motion of going from one tableau to the next akin to the religious stations one
would be exposed to in church. Of course, this was not a religious experience
as much as it was a spiritual one. In fact, a very dear friend of mine
who practices shamanic sacred rituals had previously opened a sacred space at
the York fountain for the Great Spirit to take its place. And what a
great place it was! For example, much later, as the
night progressed, the night brought on a slightly more conservative demographic
maybe, but still very much interested in the art. And, interestingly enough,
even when groups of drunken people were headed towards the installation from
across the street, all laughing and screaming, something happened...they
stopped. They tuned down, took in the art, became silent almost as if they had
stepped into a church.
I knew I was compelled to
create this space and this installation (Build it, and they shall come!), but
little did I know what I was about to learn and the great gift I was about to
receive.
First off, it dawned on me
that there is no sacred space where one can bring one’s grief and hurt
concerning this issue. And as all these people were demonstrating and one
participant confirmed through her testimony, it was high time that such a space
was created. What I especially appreciated about this space was the fact
that it was a space were no lies were told, no excuses were made; and that
ordinary people were confronted with the beauty and humility of truth: a rare
dialogue in a city where politics has permanent residence. Political rhetoric
was debunked and laid naked for all to see, leaving participants with only
facts and reflection upon their contribution to life in general.
I was also humbled to see
how all these people came together in silence and while at the same time in
deep introspection. All connected, acting, feeling, seeing, loving as one.
I was busy all night and
very much preoccupied by managing all the havoc the gusts of wind were
creating. At one point, one of my dear friends took me aside and asked me to
sit down and look upon the crowd and take in the sights and sounds of the
exhibit. I hadn’t noticed how the crowd had grown and the thick of the people
there in front of me was just awesome. I was quite taken aback.
Scenes
from the York Fountain
Just a few scenes from that
night that forever be etched in my mind:
At first, my
partner and I mounted all the canvasses high up on each post, but just when my
partner had left to get some candle holders, I was left alone to deal with a
very strong wind that came in and blew all the canvasses down. At this point,
from everywhere, people that I didn’t know and didn’t know each other came
together, rushing in to hold in place the canvasses, some even saving some
canvasses from being drowned in the fountain. All these people of light coming
together, holding the canvasses, waiting until I came to cut them down,
lowering them to the ground level. And I thought to myself, this is what these
canvasses needed all the long: Hugs and Kisses. And so it was. And as I saw
them hug those canvasses with so much respect and love, I also imagined all the
GBLTTQ people who needed those hugs, received them. I must say it was a
touching experience for me.
I saw my
friends coming together to help with candle lighting, setting up canvases,
adjusting and helping in the tending of the venue. I am profoundly touched by
their gestures and their presence, and very grateful to have them in my life.
They too are part of the success of this installation on several levels since
they allowed other people to process and be present in a sacred space without
being preoccupied by momentary strong winds.
I saw some
people fight against the wind to light their candle repeatedly because it meant
so much to them. Their tenacity spoke volumes about the importance this
issue took for them.
I witnessed
people teary eyed or crying and vowing to intervene next time they are witness
to homophobia.
I remember
telling one of them who came to me to tell me that these facts made her feel
profoundly sad, that there was beauty in life – to look around her and all the
lit candles on the ground and the people coming together naturally and in a
good way without any effort. I asked her to keep this beauty inside her and
give it and share it to anyone who was a target of bullying. One person can
really make a huge difference. The beauty of a single lit candle is not as
apparent in the daylight as much as it does in the heart of darkness.
I remember
sharing my insights to a CBC radio journalist - still searching the web for it.
I will put the interview soundbite on this blog just as soon as I can find
it. As well, I was approached by the National Gallery of Canada for a
fundraising event! We shall see what tomorrow brings.
I remember standing back
and watching the sea of faces and their expressions as they read the postings
overtop each and every piece of art. What I saw was concern, and genuine
interest and compassion.
One of these witnesses came
to see me and shared that she had a gay brother and sister, and was also a
teacher. I was profoundly touched as she thanked me for this venue as her eyes
swelled up in tears. We discussed about the current status of GBLTTQ issues in
Canada and the world. We also talked about the semiotics of GBLTTQ
architectural discourse within the city, how these buildings had shame
associated to them because of the back alley entrances and the blanked out
windows. Then we discussed about the suicide rates of GBLTTQ teenagers, and the
profound differences between bullying and homophobia; how both are inacceptable
but very different in nature and scope and how some powers try to later with
former. Let’s make no mistake, bullying is unacceptable! However, being bullied
because one is different but still belonging to a sexual oriented majority is
not the same as growing up in a society where you cannot travel the world for
fear of being killed, punished or mistreated, regardless of you age or status. Everyone who was there last night played a role that was orchestrated by
a force greater and more generous than I could ever imagine. Thank you to all
who participated and to the generous involvement of Nuit Blanche Ottawa 2012
coordinators and curators for the wonderful experience! I would especially like
to thank my dear friends without whom this event would have been quite
different in its nature. This event wouldn't have been as touching had they not
been there; and most of all it would not have allowed many many people to share
in this important issue and go on to change lives. And lastly, I would like to
thank my dear partner and husband to be, the greatest guy I could ever dream of
having in my life. He was there at my side every step of the way, helping me
with every little detail. I am truly blessed to have such beauty and love
surrounding me.
