Scribbled Lives Week 39.1—Ode to Joy!

‘Ode to Joy’ is this week’s topic. The prompt arrived on September 30.

September 30, 2021 marks Canada’s inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation for Indigenous Peoples. Public awareness grew this past spring as children’s bodies were discovered buried on the sites of residential schools across Canada. Shockingly, remains numbered in the hundreds—more are anticipated. Public commemoration of the tragic history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is part of the reconciliation process.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation takes place on the same day as Orange Shirt Day which is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day that honours the children who survived residential schools and remembers those who did not. This day recalls the experience of Phyllis (née Jack) Webstad, a six-year-old who arrived on her first day of school dressed in a new orange shirt. Sadly, it was taken from her and never returned. The orange shirt is now a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom, and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.

What does this have to do with joy? I really wanted to work on something cheerier—less tragic—but I couldn’t get Phyllis’ story out of my mind. And dismissing the truth as if it never happened is what we’ve been doing for too long. 

As Mary Grassi noted in her prompt, “For almost 200 years, ‘Ode to Joy’ has symbolized hope, unity and fellowship—across borders and through conflicts.” 

I spent a lot of time reflecting on the stages that would move me from truth to joy on this issue. The book I created expresses a commitment to pursue truth, recognition, partnership, healing, and reconciliation. For then we might find hope—and joy.

After playing for several days with a folio pocket structure featuring inserts, I resorted to a simpler book format. Various nibs and brushes, gouache and watercolour on Fabriano 140# CP.

Segments of artwork were printed on Arches Text Wove, folded into folios, and bound using a drum leaf structure.

Still working on a cover for the book, but I think it will be made of (resilient) Tyvek folded into a school book cover.