About Latitude Artist Community

Latitude Artist Community serves all people - with an emphasis on those thought by some to have a disability - by creating meaningful, inclusive community interactions which allow participating artists to contribute culturally and politically to the life of their community.

Friday, June 15, 2012

4400 APOLOGIES

4400 APOLOGIES
What: A public apology and recognition of those who have passed away while at Eastern State Hospital
Friday June 22
11:00am- 12:30pm, ESH Cemetery
1:00- 2:30pm, Courtyard, Lexington Public Library, Main Branch
More information: Latitudearts@yahoo.com
4400 APOLOGIES… Tucked behind the Hope Center on the grounds of the Eastern State Hospital there lies a small cemetery, perhaps the size of largish middle-class back yard. Within lie the remains of 4400 who passed away as residents of the hospital. Many of the remains have been moved at least three times and portions are mixed together; thus it is often referred to as mass grave.

We wanted to do something in memory of those 4400. Artists at Latitude know lots about the difficulties associated with living life as one with disabilities. We wanted to do something near the 4th of July, a time when we pay our respects to all those who have contributed to our nation. 

4400 APOLOGIES is exactly that- 4,400 Apologies.  Over the past few weeks Latitude artists have been working to create 4,400 small cards- each bearing an artist’s thumbprint. The small cards will be strung to resemble something like a rosary.

Latitude has commissioned Erin Fitzgerald to perform a ritual in which to remember and acknowledge. Erin will use the strung cards as counters, each representing a human life - making 4400 apologies for the ways in which bodies were disregarded after death. Erin will perform this ritual/meditation at both the Eastern State Hospital Cemetery and at the Downtown Library courtyard.