Michael C. Irving, Ph.D.
Artistic Director
"Reaching Out: America"

American sculptor and psychotherapist Dr. Irving is applying
to the "Reaching Out: America Child Abuse Monument"
the lessons he gained from nearly two decades of creating a
"Reaching Out Child Abuse Monument" for Canada.

Dr. Irving works as a sculptor, psychotherapist, workshop leader
and speaker. He draws from all of his skill in implementing the
"Reclining Out" series of child abuse memorial monuments.

Michael C. Irving, Ph.D.

A vision that art and cultural activities can bring about meaningful understanding and effect change personally and socially guides the focused determination of Sculptor/Psychotherapist, Michael C. Irving, Ph.D. Dr. Irving, who has been exhibiting and selling sculpture in a wide variety of mediums for more than 30 years.

His stone and bronze sculptures are in private and corporate collections and have been exhibited internationally. Dr. Irving has sculpted large and small work with stone, bronze, resin, steel and wood among other materials. During his "Embryo Show Series" art project Dr. Irving developed theories of Natalistic content to art, myth and ritual cross culturally and historically and became a leader in the pre- and perinatal psychology field.

Dr. Irving has received art project grants from individuals, foundations, government agencies and major corporations. He has won awards in art, community peace building and his work in protecting children. He has published and lectured on art, myth and psychology, been featured in newspapers and magazines and has appeared on radio and television.

A national child abuse monument was conceived by Dr. Irving in 1990 in front of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C.. As a collaborative social action arts project he shared the ideas about the design and function of a memorial with other survivors, clinicians and artists for their feedback.

In the fall of 1995 discussions and plans became formalized and a developed project plan was written up. Hundreds of survivors and community volunteers have been actively involved in carrying out the first of these projects in Canada.

The Sculpting of the Monument plaster and wax versions of the work is completed and the first finished cast bronze figure showed that the work is a masterpiece of contemporary that has an extraordinary impact on people.

In 2007 Dr. Irving began work on a version of the Child Abuse Monument for the US - "Reaching Out: America".