She Did It! One Million Bones in Washington, D.C.

Though I have been home for a week, I am still absorbing the impact of One Million Bones spread out on the Washington, D. C. Mall last weekend. I am happy to see it has made the national news! Though she is incredibly modest about her role in One Million Bones, Naomi Natale developed the idea and spearheaded this effort to bring attention to genocide around the world.

Bones could be made from many kinds of materials - paper mache, clay, glass, yarn, newspaper and tape, paper pulp, and more. They were made by people of all ages from all 50 states and 30 countries.

Bones cast from paper were made to represent bones made overseas, since shipping costs would have been so high. Though it rained in the morning, the sun came out in the afternoon.

A roll of white paper was laid down the center of the mall and volunteers started by laying bones in the middle and working their way out, placing them close together. It took all day to lay the bones in place.

SchoolArts Advisory Board Member Craig Roland and I volunteered to lay down bones. It was incredible to be part of such a huge effort. Another friend with us said it reminded her of when the AIDS quilts were there - just as huge an impact. Such is the power of art!

One Million Bones is now searching for a permanent place to archive the bones.