STAND UP! REACH OUT!
A Project For Christian Theological Seminary & #BlackLivesMatter
"CTS is committed to developing leaders who
take a stand for all those oppressed in our society."
take a stand for all those oppressed in our society."
- Rev. Monique Crain Spells, M. Div
Director of Recruiting
Christian Theological Seminary
Christian Theological Seminary has a long and involved history within doing the work of social justice. And in the aftermath of Ferguson, this community held to this same standard; responding to action for Black Lives, near and far, in both macro & micro ways.
Photo Credit Above: Rev. Monique Crain Spells
Some students, faculty, and staff united in protest throughout the city of Indianapolis
and on the grounds of the Nation's Capitol.
and on the grounds of the Nation's Capitol.
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Some fought back with their words, cries, and prayers around campus.
Photo Credit Above: Rev. Monique Crain Spells
The Wall of Lament provided a space for conversation & contemplation.
A space to mourn the injustices which continue to plague Black Lives throughout our nation and our world, in very real and systemic ways. The Wall of Lament also acted as a confessional to reflect on how we ourselves personally contribute to the injustices for our Black brothers & sisters.
A space to mourn the injustices which continue to plague Black Lives throughout our nation and our world, in very real and systemic ways. The Wall of Lament also acted as a confessional to reflect on how we ourselves personally contribute to the injustices for our Black brothers & sisters.
On diverse flesh-tone paper cutouts of hands,
individuals inscribed what was on their hearts & minds.
individuals inscribed what was on their hearts & minds.
Taking these written laments into the broader Indianapolis community,
I asked people to hold a hand of a stranger
so to express their solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter movement,
and select an expression that might also resonate with feelings of their own.
The faces of individuals have been blurred for this reason: the writing exposed is not their own.
This project celebrates the shared hope that among the multiplicity of diversity, and multiplicity of experiences, many of us share in the grieving and share in the passion for peace and justice for us all,
I asked people to hold a hand of a stranger
so to express their solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter movement,
and select an expression that might also resonate with feelings of their own.
The faces of individuals have been blurred for this reason: the writing exposed is not their own.
This project celebrates the shared hope that among the multiplicity of diversity, and multiplicity of experiences, many of us share in the grieving and share in the passion for peace and justice for us all,
but most especially, for all Black Lives.
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These expressions united
to become encapsulated into one Contemplatively [re]Purposed piece- a resurrected Wall of Lament -which lives in the halls of the Seminary, to remind us of the shared pain of racism and shared hope for justice. |
Have Laments of Your Own?
Thanks to the many hands that went into making this project possible:
The CTS Students, Faculty, & Staff, who rose to the occasion to protest, organize,
contemplate, & creatively respond to the epidemic of police brutality towards Black Lives.
Voluntary Models for Site Photos: Course Mates & Guests of the Indy Festival of Faiths 2015
Project Contributor & Over Site: Rev. Monique Crain Spells, M. Div, Director of Recruiting, CTS
Site Page Content Editors: Brett Bryant, MA, Christine Orlowski Greenwald, MA, Amanda Thrasher, MA
Commissionaire and Point Person: Brenda Freije, Vice President of Student Operations + General Counsel, CTS
Photoshop Editing courtesy of a Magical Unicorn!
Camera Equipment Provided by: Jeremy Prather
contemplate, & creatively respond to the epidemic of police brutality towards Black Lives.
Voluntary Models for Site Photos: Course Mates & Guests of the Indy Festival of Faiths 2015
Project Contributor & Over Site: Rev. Monique Crain Spells, M. Div, Director of Recruiting, CTS
Site Page Content Editors: Brett Bryant, MA, Christine Orlowski Greenwald, MA, Amanda Thrasher, MA
Commissionaire and Point Person: Brenda Freije, Vice President of Student Operations + General Counsel, CTS
Photoshop Editing courtesy of a Magical Unicorn!
Camera Equipment Provided by: Jeremy Prather