Up

 Artist Statement

I feel we are all the sum of our experiences; some moments are more inspirational than others.

In creating “Up” I am seeking to explore a visual and tactile representation of the children’s rights charter. The charter was ratified by the United Nations in 1989 on the 30th anniversary, in 2009, of its publication. Yet there are still inequalities throughout the world. This installation seeks to support a dialogue around the impact of embracing this document.

Prior to my arrival in the Bellevue area in 2008 I was a pediatric nurse/teacher in Oxford, England. In 2002 I was a member of a partnership project between Save the Children Fund and the local health care providers around the implementation of children’s rights.  The goal of this partnership was to focus on complex health care needs in multi-agency settings.

In April 2011 I had the privilege of being the sighted guide for two visually impaired friends as we visited the Gates Foundation first open house. The foundation has donated more than $16 billion in grants intended to ensure that all people have the opportunity to live healthy, productive lives.

This visit led me to reflect back to the partnership that was geared around working for children’s rights – the conceptually seeds for this installation were sewn.

Through experience of volunteering at Bellevue Art Museum as a docent I lived with the exhibits researching, sharing and celebrating artist’s creations. A piece titled “United States of North America” by Erika Harrsch was a component of  the exhibition “Travelers:Objects of Dream and Revelation.” It created an installation of a passport office this gave me a place to muse, create early drawings, concepts while holding the role of a fictitious passport official.

My hope by creating this installation is to develop a space that is accessible for people to discuss how children’s rights can be implemented throughout the world.

I had never thought about how this would look from the side and  like it !

Hooky playing no.42 ! This guy made a trip back to the house after installation and had to be returned for the opening.Note to self always check the box !

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