About the Monument
Sculptor and psychotherapist, Michael
C. Irving, Ph.D., has created with participation of
child abuse survivors a bronze monument to acknowledge
and validate childhood abuse victims. The monument
honors the spirit and courage of participating survivors
and empowers survivors to speak out. It has an extraordinary
transformative impact on those who come in contact
with it.
With the support of others Dr. Irving
is bringing the power to the Reaching Out Monument
and the lessons he learned in its creation back to
his home country of America.
More than twenty years ago, as a psychotherapist,
Dr. Irving was listening to stories of tragedies inflicted
on small children. Beyond the role of being a good
clinician these stories called out to the artist in
him to take action using the power of art to bring
about understanding and change. At the Viet Nam Wall
in the fall of 1990 he hand an epiphany about how
much that work of art helped America to heal from
wounds that shared many traits common to child abuse
- post traumatic stress disorder, vicarious trauma,
distancing and denial.
Dr. Irving's epic "Reaching Out"
monument can incorporate the artistic contribution
of 276 survivors of child abuse and their supporters
through sculpted quilts. Measuring 11 feet tall by
30 feet wide, the bronze sculpture is a vignette of
two figures with arms spread out and upward in victory
and presence. While it offers peace, solace and closure
to some it also has great educational and awareness
qualities to help prevent further abuse.
Dr. Irving's first completed bronze
child abuse monument figure has repeatedly been referred
to as a masterpiece. The quality of this work is amazing
when it is considered it was made in collaboration
with nonprofessional artists. The accomplishment of
their collaboration well illustrates the artistic
power of speaking from one's heart and soul to heart
and soul of others.
