Art
Sixties Scoop survivor honoured in Quispamsis school's art installation – CBC.ca
Close to 14,000 hand-painted cardboard squares were collected and assembled to tell the story of Sixties Scoop survivor Minda Burley.
The art installation was a year-long project by the students and teachers of Quispamsis Middle School to create a temporary collage recognizing the history of the Sixties Scoop and bringing awareness to the Every Child Matters movement.
Between the 1950s and early 1990s, more than 22,500 Indigenous children in Canada were apprehended by child welfare agencies and placed with non-Indigenous foster or adoptive parents and lost their cultural identities as a result.
The installation, 18 by 18 metres, was displayed at the QPlex arena in Quispamsis.
Burley shared her story with students, and the school partnered with artist Bonny Hill of Sussex to make the project happen.
WATCH | School art project aimed at inspiring young people to work toward truth and reconciliation
Students at Quispamsis Middle School prepared 14,000 hand-painted cardboard squares to tell the story of Sixties Scoop survivor Minda Burley.
The collage is a recreation of a photo of Burley when she was an infant and taken from her home on Cree territory in Western Canada.
The photo was placed in a Saskatchewan newspaper ad titled “Adopt the Métis child.”
Burley and her younger sister were placed into the foster system and adopted by the family of an RCMP officer who moved them to Sussex.
Burley said she was cut off from her identity and for a portion of her life, was not even made aware that she was Indigenous.
They were adopted in 1968 but didn’t get their birth certificates until 1972.
“We had no idea that we were even native when we were younger,” Burley said. “Our parents never talked about it. They never really told anybody. So we didn’t know anything. Where we came from? Nothing.”
Burley said it was only three years ago that she found out that she had been taken from her biological family.
“We knew we were adopted, so my sister knew where we were in Saskatchewan. She went to the office to find information on us and back then, they wouldn’t give her any information. So we kind of let it go. Then my cousin got into it, and she found us a lawyer and this is how we found out where we were from.”
Burley said seeing the installation completed was a profound moment.
“It brings everything to a 360-degree turn, where I didn’t know anything about my life and now I’m still learning about it. But all of a sudden, it’s going to be out there for the world to see now.
“This is one person’s picture, but there’s thousands of children out there that were scooped in the sixties and I think this is very powerful.”
Prior to the project, Burley and Hill were friends and both women knew each other’s families.
Hill said hearing Burley’s story moved her.
“She started telling me about this and it wasn’t that much later when we started hearing about Kamloops and finding the unmarked graves … it just really shocked me and really bothered me and it’s unbelievable.”
The idea to use cardboard for the project came about when Hill noticed an excess of the material in her home.
Hill was approached by Heidi Stoddart, a teacher at Quispamsis Middle School, and asked if Hill wanted to work on an art project that would help students learn about the history of the Sixties Scoop.
Both Burley and Hill were inspired to hear what students learned doing the project.
Sophie Lesser, in Grade 8, has been helping out on the project since last September.
“This project is really important to me because I feel like I’m making a little difference in the world, even if it’s just a one- day installation,” she said. “I feel like I can make a little bit of a change to other people around Canada and hopefully inspire more truth and reconciliation.”
The school hopes to continue the project and share more stories of other survivors.
Burley’s sister has already volunteered for the second portrait.
The installation was only be available to view on Friday. Then, Burley said, she is taking the next step in reclaiming her identity and family ties.
She and her sister will travel back to Saskatchewan in August to meet with their biological sister.
“We’re hopefully going to find some more brothers and sisters while we’re out there for a couple of weeks or so,” Burley said.
“That’s our journey this year, is to find some of our family because we’re not getting any younger and the time is now to do this.”
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The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.
The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.
Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”
With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.
The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.
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