Article by Sandra Michaud, who also created the photosand video unless otherwise marked. Thanks also to Barbara Gabioud.
One Million Bones dedication 041418
One Million Bones dedication 041418
Fred and Gloira Lanyon of Colorado were visiting Silver City and wanted to participate
One Million Bones dedication 041418
Erik and Katie Nishida of Albuquerque and Doreen Romney of Phoenix were here to take part in the dedication. They had attended the installation in Washington D.C..
One Million Bones dedication 041418
Olivia Natale and Carlos Martinez of Albuquerque had also been a part of the project in Washington D.C.
One Million Bones dedication 041418
Susan McAllister and Naomi Natale
One Million Bones dedication 041418
Over 100 people of all ages attended
One Million Bones dedication 041418
People relax while listening to the dedication
One Million Bones dedication 041418
Participants
One Million Bones dedication 041418
Rose Mapendo describes her experiences
One Million Bones dedication 041418
Ron and Barbara Gabioud are ready to make the climb
One Million Bones dedication 041418
Junior Casaus, Lyah Hartwell, Innocencia Casaus, Shaydle Mendoza, Mykayla Zamora and Aryl Villa will take ceramic bones to the meadow.
One Million Bones dedication 041418
Michael Casaus and Santiago. Michael is Naomi Natale’s husband.
One Million Bones dedication 041418
Julia Mandeville, Rose Mapendo and Sherrie Brueggeman
One Million Bones dedication 041418
People of all ages will make the trek to the meadow with the bones.
One Million Bones dedication 041418
Walking up the trail
One Million Bones dedication 041418
On their way
One Million Bones dedication 041418
Minna Sellers and Eric Westfried with Beppo and Scout
One Million Bones dedication 041418
Julia Mandeville, Marty, Becky and Sherrie Brueggemann
One Million Bones dedication 041418
At the meadow where the installation lies Photo courtesy of Barbara Gabioud
One Million Bones dedication 041418
Part of the installation Photo courtesy of Barbara Gabioud
One Million Bones dedication 041418
Hundreds of bones at the installation Photo courtesy of Barbara Gabioud
Over 100 people of all ages gathered at Bear Mountain Lodge Saturday to participate in the dedication of The One Million Bones Installation.
Susan McAllister, Executive Director, and Naomi Natale, Artistic Director, of the Art of Revolution, the organization behind the One Million Bones project, spoke about the history and the reasons behind the project.
Natale said that it has been five years since the ceramic bones were installed in the National Mall in Washington D.C. and that each time the bones were laid it was a reflection of the spirit of the community and a message of compassion. “We should challenge hate with love, opening our communities to the ‘other,’” she said.
McAllister’s remarks also touched on the meaning of the project. “The message of the bones is that we all belong to one another.”
Rose Mapendo, a genocide survivor, recounted her experiences. Her voice trembled, and at times she had to stop and compose herself as she told her tale of loss and grief. But she encouraged hope, saying that even though we cannot change what happened, we can work for peace in the future. “Even the small group we have here today, we can stand up and fight. It is a good time to work for peace.”
They then invited attendees to help carry some more of the ceramic bones up to the meadow where the permanent installation is, and about three quarters of them did so. There was a laying of the bones and a chance to see how the meadow will look in the future. There are still bones to be moved, and more opportunities to participate.
To find out more about the One Million Bones project and The Art of Revolution, go to: http://theartofrevolution.org .