“Laughter.” “Playing.” “Grandmother passing away.”
These and other memories were written upon windswept leaves Tuesday as officials unveiled The Healing Project: a temporary art installation at St. Albert Place meant to capture St. Albert’s pandemic experience.
There’s no question that COVID-19 has had an impact on our lives, said Mayor Cathy Heron at the launch of the installation Sept. 6. While some residents are eager to get back to their pre-pandemic lives, for others such a return is “nerve-wracking” or disrespectful of all they have lost in the last two years.
“We would do the pandemic a disservice if we just jumped back in [to life] without taking with us what we learned,” Heron said.
City staff got the idea for the Healing Project in May after residents spoke out on how the pandemic had affected their lives and mental health, said Emilee Neilson, project organizer and community development co-ordinator with the City of St. Albert.
“We thought of this idea, this imagery of a tree,” she said, as trees can symbolize loss, regrowth, and moving forward.
City staff commissioned St. Albert artist Nadia Dzyakava to paint a tree on a series of white panels which now hang next to the elevators in St. Albert Place lobby, Neilson said. Staff asked residents online and at various community events to share hard and hopeful memories they had during the pandemic by writing them on fall-coloured paper leaves. Staff stuck the 700-odd leaves on the panels and hung a few from the ceiling to create an image of leaves blowing off of the tree.
Hero said the tree is a perfect metaphor for grief, as it released these memories as leaves in the fall to lighten our burdens.
“We will never forget what we’ve experienced and the grief and loss we endured, but we can name it and acknowledge it and move through it to a place of healing and renewal and even hope,” she said.
Falling memories
The leaves reflect a kaleidoscope of emotions just as vivid as a forest in the fall. Some spoke of missed weddings and lost relatives, while others talked about looking forward to a return to normal. Four spoke of a woman named Jordan, who died during the pandemic from a fentanyl overdose. One particularly cryptic one said, “Future farm goats.”
Heron said the leaves she contributed spoke on how she realized in 2020 that the true value of Christmas was family and connections rather than gifts and turkey dinners.
“One of the cool parts about this piece of art is how it has the hands of St. Albertans all over it,” she said, unlike some other works which were done by hired artists.
While COVID-19 has not gone away, this work is meant to capture what has happened so far during the pandemic and how people hope to move forward, Neilson said. It also includes guidance on where to turn for mental health support.
Neilson said residents can add to The Healing Project by filling out a leaf and placing it in the box beside the piece; staff will stick the leaves on the wall later.
Neilson said the exhibit will stay up until Oct. 2, with the panels and leaves used in future projects. Visit stalbert.ca/city/fcss/programs-services/healing-project for details.
