The rebuilding of trust in people,
to recognize those who are being abused,
that they know they have a future, a way out.
The graceful “Reaching Out” Monument
is a remarkable work of art, visually and
socially. It clearly works to respond to aesthetic,
emotional and spiritual needs of individuals
and society.
The incidence of child abuse in Canada is
staggering. We hear tragic stories in the
media daily. The statistics are mind-boggling.
Unfortunately, the stories are true and the
statistics are probably underestimated. This
tragedy implores a public response.
A fundamental premise of Dr. Irving’s
Monument vision was that people who have confronted
abuse have a special wisdom that can assist
others. Their triumphs over the challenges
of adversity make them role models for all
of society. The messages on the quilt squares
of the Monument speak of compassion and the
desire to make a difference.
The Monument as good
art speaks from heart
and
soul to heart and soul to:
Make
us feel the awe and wonder of standing in
front of great art; Honour
and validate all Canadians who struggle to
find health and happiness despite what
they have suffered; Tell
children that we want to empower them and
keep them safe; Provide
care givers who are at risk encouragement
to turn to help and support;
Make
the issue of child abuse more visible and affirm
to all that we can do something
about it; Provide
hope.
During our 1999 Cross-Canada
Tour we met a woman who had lived with the
secret of child abuse until major heart surgery
in her mid-sixties. The life and death risk
of the upcoming surgery compelled her to unburden
to her surgeon the night before her operation.
The woman had been abused as a child, had
grown up, married, raised several children.
Make
us feel the awe and wonder of standing in
front of great art;
what
they have suffered;
