Carey Newman's Witness Blanket: the art of truth and reconciliation
The artist is creating an intensely personal work tied to the infamous residential schools - and their survivors
A small collection of contributed material Master Carver Carey Newman will use to create a large-scale six-foot tall and 30-feet wide red cedar installation titled Witness Blanket, designed using items reclaimed from residential schools, churches, government buildings and other traditional structures.CHAD HIPOLITO/The Globe and Mail
Master Carver Carey Newman unwraps wood from a residential school, contributed by the Victoria Friendship Native Centre.CHAD HIPOLITO/The Globe and Mail
Master Carver Carey Newman holds tin from a residential school building.CHAD HIPOLITO/The Globe and Mail
Master Carver Carey Newman talks about a red brick from a school in Thunderchild, Sask.CHAD HIPOLITO/The Globe and Mail
Master Carver Carey Newman has begun working on a large-scale six-foot tall and 30-feet wide red cedar installation titled Witness Blanket, designed using items reclaimed from residential schools, churches, government buildings and other traditional structures, and meant to serve as a national monument to mark the Indian Residential School era and honour the survivors.CHAD HIPOLITO/The Globe and Mail
Master Carver Carey Newman holds a prototype 3x3 feet red cedar base that will be used as a template for Witness Blanket.CHAD HIPOLITO/The Globe and Mail