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

American artist, Dr. Irving, pioneered the design and approach for a child abuse while working for 17 years on the first national child abuse monument in the world that is to be unveiled in Toronto, Ontario. His dream from the beginning was to create a similar child abuse monument for his home country. Thanks to the enthusiasm of many Dr. Irving has begun to follow that dream through "Reaching Out: America"

"Reaching Out: America" will stand 10 by 30 feet
and contain 300 quilt squares acknowledging
and validating victims of child abuse.

"REACHING OUT: AMERICA" MONUMENT DESIGN

A Vignette of Two Standing Figures with arms reaching out and upward implies nurture and safety -- victory and celebration -- presence and inclusion. Together the figures measure over 10 feet tall by 30 feet wide.

An Arch, high and wide enough for three people to walk under side by side, is created by the figures' hands meeting 10 feet above the ground. The figures curved tilt, up and forward, creates a sense of the sculpture embracing the viewer and feel a part of the sculpture.

Sculpted Quilt Squares, each with some form of "hand" motif, are a major theme of the work and allow the Monument to be truly collaborative. Nearly 200 of these 300 quilt squares were created by survivors of child abuse and their supporters. Each square has a person's cast hand. Some of the squares are filled with detailed imagery. Others have simple, but poignant forms.

The Hands Reaching Out of the squares create a powerful image, making real the presence of the survivors. Like the names on the Vietnam Memorial, the hands of survivors remove the distance of an unidentified "them."

Perpetual Participation as a living memorial, is achieved through 22 plain quilt squares on the shawls. Visitors to the site can rest their hands upon the fountain/wall and then place their wet hand on one of the 22 smooth squares. The damp outline of their hand on the smooth bronze will create a temporary HandPrint allowing them to feel they have directly participated in this epic Monument.

Give Kids A Hand Visualizations that will individually and collectively have a real impact on preventing child abuse will be permanently sealed inside the Monument. From coast to coast, tracings of hands on a sheet of paper along with a message are being collected for inclusion inside the Monument.

Voices of the Nation's Children on the HandPrints by children include many powerful messages. Nicholas age 10 wrote, "I see a time when child abuse is taught in history and is history." Melanie, age 8, enlightens, "If child abuse won't stop, war won't stop, and there will be no peace in the world." Hand outlines and messages of children were traced and carved into 72 squares.

The "Reaching Out" Monument will be a voice and an important work of art for generations.