“How would you help heal our broken world?”
As an artist, I was delighted when one person responded to my question with the word “create.” This traveling art project purposes to start a movement of healing through interactive and collaborative art. To participate, individuals are invited to trace their hand on a piece of map and write a personal response to the question.
The map, representing our world, helped people to see their compassionate actions have the potential to affect many lives and make a global impact. I created Open Hands to inspire us to be a healing catalyst in our families, our communities—and our world. The redemptive work encourages personal application as a way to make a difference.
A child nailed it when he wrote: “I would make everything peaceful.” I loved this simple response. An interactive art exercise turned into a child’s prayer.
Another young man wrote “Caring” on his handprint. If this thoughtful response turned into action, it would transform our culture into one where we thrived and flourished. In other words, if all of us demonstrated a caring attitude to the people around us, even to those we disagree with, collective healing would flow from one hand to the next.
Open Hands is my peaceful and creative response to the culture war of shifting values raging within our nation. Every issue in our family or nation may not be resolved in the way that we would like. But together, if we choose to be a healing agent, we can make a difference by attempting to reconcile our broken relationships and fractured communities, demonstrating respect for those who think different from us, and restoring a culture of hope.
Where will Open Hands pop up next?
Follow us on Instagram to find out where and to help us reach our first goal of one thousand handprints for a future exhibit.
Open Hands—healing dialogue and compassionate action—one hand at a time.
