Tents are set up in Major’s Hill Park in Ottawa to form The Encampment art installation.

Encampment exhibit shares important stories

In late September, Rachel Schmidt, Community Relations Specialist for CLBC, joined creative collaborators from across Canada in Ottawa for The Encampment. For three nights from October 2 to 4, critically acclaimed Canadian artist Thom Sokoloski presented his large-scale public participatory art installation on Major’s Hill Park in Ottawa.

Like an archaeological dig, The Encampment unearthed the history and stories of individuals who have lived and are living with intellectual disabilities from across Canada. Seventy white nineteenth-century expeditionary tents, each containing a unique perspective on the past and present, were illuminated from within.

Workshops were held in seven cities across Canada. The Creative Collaborators first researched the histories and stories of intolerance and exclusion of people with intellectual disabilities and then collaborated with Studio SM to transform their findings into visual presentations to be housed within the seventy illuminated tents. This massive glowing optical artwork was not only visible to those visiting the work, but also from the National Gallery of Canada, the U.S. Embassy, Chateau Laurier and Parliament Hill.

Rachel chose to design a tent inspired by Grace Chen, a young woman with Down Syndrome who currently receives services and supports from CLBC. Grace published a book in 2006 entitled “Cinderella Grace, Vancouver Princess,” a classic Cinderella tale with a twist. Grace’s story was featured in the November 2006 issue of The Citizen.

Rachel spent time with Grace and her family at their home in North Vancouver and discovered that the princess in the book is a real person. The book documents Grace’s own life, her dreams and hopes for her future, but it is also an ode to the prince in the story who she cares deeply for. His parents have discouraged him from having a girlfriend and Grace waits patiently for her Prince Charming in real life.

The tent itself was designed with fairy tale elements, a long Cinderella gown and diamond tiara, excerpts from Grace’s book written like old love letters on crinkled paper, Bridal magazine images, Asian jewellery and cards with sparkly hearts. To represent the tension and barriers people with disabilities face when yearning for love relationships, the Cinderella gown was roped off with a twine web, so that visitors to the tent could not move past the web.

This unique and creative opportunity was successful in raising CLBC’s national exposure and building new relationships with communities across Canada. Rachel Schmidt had the opportunity to speak at a national press conference about CLBC and her work. She met with the Canadian Association for Community Living and was interviewed by the Ottawa Citizen. Community Living BC was included on the back of a national program along with other provincial Community Living Crown Agencies and numerous provincial associations.