Soul Care

From the Heart

Impressionism Gallery at the Art Institute of Chicago

After reading Makoto Fujimura’s book called Culture Care, I have been more intentional about planning adventures for personal renewal and enjoyment. Last week’s trip led me to Chicago. When I stepped into the Impressionism Gallery at the Art Institute of Chicago, my soul found a resting place.

Tears welled up from the immense beauty of the artwork. Later after wandering through more galleries, I felt pulled back toward the Impressionism artwork. So I returned. Renoir. Monet. Morisot. Their colors, brush strokes, and compositions lifted my heart. Their enduring works inspired me.

In his book, Makoto talks about the importance of cultivating our own souls, so we can flourish and help nurture others. He states that “Soul Care will require nurturing spaces.” The Impressionism Gallery at the Art Institute is a nurturing space for me. A place to experience beauty and healing.

Culture Care by Makoto Fujimura

Photo from the Impressionism Gallery at the Art Institute of Chicago

Sexual Trauma Sutured Hope

From the Heart

Hope charms on scarlet cord nacklace

“The same scarlet cord that tethers the children to their pimps can be used to suture their wounds,” said a young student when The Scarlet Cord was on exhibit during the Super Bowl in Phoenix. The student’s insightful words amazed me. Both visitors and supporters weave life and healing into The Scarlet Cord installation as our lives interface.

Several months ago, I emailed that I wanted to give some tangible gift to specific visitors to encourage them when they shared their painful stories. Although we already give out a scarlet cord bracelet, I wanted something special for the wounded souls who share heart-wrenching stories. Something small, but beautiful, to communicate love and hope.

One of my friends responded to the challenge and spent the day shopping for the perfect gift. She phoned several times, excitedly describing little gems she was finding. By the end of the day, she purchased a dozen carefully selected necklaces with “Hope” pewter charms. This woman spent the day crisscrossing the city to look for very special gifts. Her enthusiasm and sacrifice touched me.

While exhibiting The Scarlet Cord at Women’s Expo, I brought the necklaces, anticipating an opportunity to encourage someone among the 19,000 visitors.

On Saturday, a woman shared that an 11-year-old girl from her daughter’s school came to her house crying because her father had been sexually abusing her. Although the father is now incarcerated, the woman is still involved in helping the child to recover from the abuse.

The child is terrified to be alone with any man—even good men; she struggles with major trust issues. So the woman has chosen to keep a close eye on the girl and rearrange her schedule to accommodate the child’s needs.

After listening to the story of this girl, I gave the woman one of the beautiful “Hope” necklaces. I asked the woman to give it to the girl and tell her that we love her and that we will pray for her. I shared how my friend had donated the necklace to remind the little girl that there is hope for her future and that people care about her.

The student’s words are powerfully true: “The same scarlet cord that tethers the children to their pimps can be used to suture their wounds.” Through the listening and sharing of stories, raw emotional wounds, that in some cases have festered for years, are finally stitched together and given a chance to heal. In these precious moments, “Hope and Healing” are experienced and lives are transformed.

Coming Soon

The Scarlet Cord at Acton Institute on April 29, 2015

Past Exhibitions

ArtPrize 2014 partnering with Women At Risk, International
North Central Michigan College
Roosevelt Row Art District partnering with StreetLightUSA
West Michigan Women’s Expo partnering with Kohler Expos
Cornerstone University

The Scarlet Cord – Flourish Phoenix

Behind the Artwork

Tethered close-up

For five days beginning next Wednesday, downtown Phoenix will play host to an expected one million visitors, all anxious to be part of the unparalleled hype that surrounds the Super Bowl each year wherever it is played. There will be live music, great food, national sports broadcasts, and even a giant climbing wall reminiscent of the Grand Canyon.

Those who wander a few blocks north towards Roosevelt Row will find something else that may seem out of place: a 40-foot storage container with people streaming in and out.

Inside the container they will find The Scarlet Cord, an award-winning exhibit by artist Pamela Alderman. The exhibit, which opens January 23 and runs through February 1, will be open from 10am to 9pm each day and admission will be free. The Scarlet Cord is presented by StreetLightUSA, a Phoenix-based nonprofit specializing in providing care for child victims of sex trafficking and exploitation.

Get the rest of this article about The Scarlet Cord on Flourish Phoenix…

Street Outreach at ArtPrize

From the Heart

The Scarlet Cord visitors at AprPrize 2014

The expression on her face revealed tremendous loss. Her wiry hair brushed my chin as her head dropped to my chest. While on the street near The Scarlet Cord installation, the woman embraced me for a long time.

As a friend rubbed her back, grief surfaced. A deep lament bubbled up. After several minutes, these five words escaped through her lips: “It happened to my granddaughter.”

The ache in this grandmother’s heart spilled out. Like so many others at ArtPrize, a nineteen day exhibition in Grand Rapids, Michigan, this grandmother needed a place of refuge. A sacred space. A healing.

Seeing the needs of the public and hearing their heart cries, I began to realize that my artwork spoke to deep wounds. Shame and brokenness—hidden for a long time, maybe years—finally was released. Words weren’t necessary. Individuals only wanted to express their sorrow.

The Scarlet Cord could be described as a street outreach. Next to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum where my ArtPrize 2014 installation stood, many experienced renewal.

Women held my hand or hugged me. Several actually laid their heads on my chest and sobbed. Men wanted to shake my hand as well. These hurting people needed someone to identify with their sorrow, acknowledge the pain, touch them.

Heather Duffy, independent curator and ArtPrize exhibitions manager, referred to me as “an art chaplain.” Her description of my work and calling caught my attention. What has taken me years to articulate, Duffy identified in a moment.

But there was no denying it. This scenario of healing has played out again and again throughout my ArtPrize career. Whether focusing on heart disease, cancer, rape in Congo, autism, or, in the case of this year, sex trafficking, my artwork invites people to a place of hope. Vincent Van Gogh, one of the Dutch Masters, said, “Art is to console those who are broken by life.”

The Scarlet Cord, like Van Gogh observed, offered consolation to the broken. One afternoon when a middle-aged woman leaned into me and released a heavy sigh, I felt it to the core. Then she walked away. Not a single word was spoken. But something transpired. Whether large or small, this woman experienced healing—on the street—at ArtPrize.

Violated

From the Heart

Her body screamed, “Don’t touch me.” Yet her words revealed her vulnerability. Deep hidden trauma. Visible. She was trying to hide her past. Or perhaps her present. But she unveiled her secrets to a group of us standing opposite her at The Scarlet Cord installation.

One of the Women At Risk volunteers offered her a brochure, “Would you like more information?”

“No. I already know too much.”

“Would you like one of the artist’s cards?”

“No. I know more than I ever wanted to know.”

We felt her thin arms extend—saying “don’t come any closer”—although her arms were rigid at her sides. Everything about her emitted “don’t-touch-me” signals. I’m in control. No one will hurt me again.

She walked towards me, but she kept the brochure table between us. Although I had offered my hand to so many victims of sexual abuse during ArtPrize, I didn’t this time. I respected her need for distance, her need for safety.

“You have used all the right words,” she said.

Only one word from The Scarlet Cord stories came to mind: raped.

She remained stoic and thanked me for my artwork. Although she tried to maintain the impression of being unbroken, this young woman was fractured. Hardened. She had learned survival skills. Self-protection strategies. But I wondered if these carefully laid plans were blocking the road to healing. Or was she doing the best that she could for now?

Learning to trust again would be a long process for her. Maybe it would take a lifetime to overcome such deep wounds. This young woman needed caring people to journey with her towards wholeness, loving friends who would help break down the six-foot barrier. As she walked away, I hoped that forgiveness would one day free her and that she would be able to touch again.

The Scarlet Cord Travels to NCM College

From the Heart

Here are the journal entries on my experiences at North Central Michigan College:

Container transport for The Scarlet Cord

October 27, 2014

The tears started to flow when the first class came through the installation. The Scarlet Cord continues to promote healing.

A professor said, “A visceral experience: Entering the container was like entering their world.”

October 28, 2014

When a student started crying, another visitor was moved to tears and shared a bit about her own sexual trauma. The two of them embraced.

So much pain and trauma oozed from a young person whom I spoke with. Within minutes, I realized the best advice was to point the individual to the Women’s Resource Center in Petoskey where professionals could help. We also discussed how caring professors wanted to see the student succeed. The student said, “But I’m so ashamed of my past. I don’t want anyone to know.” So I assured her that she could seek academic help without disclosing personal details.

October 29, 2014

The Scarlet Cord at NCMCHigh school teachers visited The Scarlet Cord with their students. Later I learned that the installation sparked several classroom discussions.

A student shared that someone said, “You should be healed by now.”

I wondered, Is there a time line of healing for such deep and long-lasting wounds?

October 30, 2014

A seasoned prosecuting attorney wrote, “Very powerful! Visual and audio.”

October 31, 2014

While opening my mail, I was very surprised to find a check from a new donor supporting The Scarlet Cord…

ArtPrize and Helping Artists Flourish

From the Heart

It was an honor to host Makoto Fujimura in my garden for tea. As we talked around the wrought iron table, a yellow leaf fell. Mako picked up the leaf and artfully arranged it on the table near his tea cup. It was a beautiful image—watching Mako embrace beauty.

I’m very grateful for Mako’s willingness to help me make the next leap in my creative journey. Meanwhile, I’m focusing on a little soul care.

Wall of Hope with nearly 20,000 cards

See Mako’s reflections on ArtPrize and my work…