Help Bring THE COMMON THREAD PROJECT to Life

Seeing Beyond Our Differences

The Common Thread Project is a community arts initiative bringing together people from across Thunder Bay to share something of their lives, experiences and perspectives. Through portrait photography, audio and public art, we're creating opportunities to encounter people whose lives may be very different from our own, to see the forces that shape who we become, and to recognize both our differences and the common humanity we all share.

With the help of a group of young collaborators, artists and community members, we're bringing these encounters into public spaces across our city. We hope you'll help us make it happen.

WHERE THE IDEA BEGAN

I was in Wikwemikong First Nation, working with Outward Bound Canada, and the day before I was to lead a course with a group of community leaders, I learned that my grandmother had died. That first evening, sitting around the fire, the group suggested we hold a ceremony for her.

I was deeply conflicted. I loved my grandmother dearly, but she had held strongly racist beliefs. In my eyes, she didn't deserve the prayers of my Indigenous friends.

That evening they spoke about my grandmother's upbringing, the fear and ignorance of the times, and the many things that may have shaped who she was and what she believed. They didn't excuse her beliefs, but helped me see her more fully. They asked about who she was. We laughed about how she might have reacted to our prayers. Together, they helped me honour the humanity of a complicated and imperfect woman.

That experience has stayed with me. I've often wondered if my grandmother had been able to show that same grace and compassion, how that might have shaped her life and the lives she touched.

Years later, while working with young people exploring questions about racism, fear, hatred and human division, we found ourselves returning to those same ideas. We came to believe in the importance of approaching one another with humility, curiosity and compassion. Perhaps then it becomes a little harder to dismiss, fear or hate. We may even begin to recognize ourselves, or the possibility of ourselves, in people whose lives have unfolded very differently from our own.

The Common Thread Project grew out of these experiences and conversations. At its heart, it is about helping us see one another more fully, beyond our differences.

WHAT WE'RE CREATING

The vision for The Common Thread Project is to create approximately twelve community profiles, featuring portraits, interviews and perspectives from people across Thunder Bay, representing a wide range of lived experiences, identities, backgrounds, beliefs and perspectives.

Through photography, immersive audio experiences, written excerpts and community-engaged art, we'll bring these profiles into shared public spaces, creating opportunities for reflection, conversation and connection.

The Common Thread Project will launch at Co. Lab Gallery on July 2, 2027, with the full exhibition on display for two weeks. Visitors will be invited to experience the portraits, listen to recorded conversations and read selected excerpts, encountering people and perspectives from across our community.

After the exhibition, the installations will continue to travel throughout Thunder Bay, bringing the project into different communities and shared spaces.

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PROJECT

I'm Sue Holloway, and together with a wonderful team of young collaborators, artists, mentors and community members, we're bringing The Common Thread Project to life.

A particularly important part of this project is the involvement of a small group of young collaborators. They will be co-creators throughout the process, contributing their ideas, perspectives and creativity.

They'll help shape interview questions, participate in interviews and creative processes, and contribute to photography, audio recording and editing, installation design, community engagement and project planning. We hope this experience will offer opportunities to develop new skills, work alongside artists and community members, and create something together that has a place in our wider community.

HELP US BRING IT TO LIFE

We're raising $5,000 to help bring the project to life. Your contribution will help compensate our young collaborators and community participants, and cover the photography, audio production, printing, installation and transportation costs that make the exhibition and travelling installations possible.

Every contribution will help us bring this project into the community.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

If you're able to contribute, thank you. If you're able to share this campaign with others who might connect with the project, that would also be greatly appreciated. We'll post updates, photos and audio clips here as the project grows.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE MORE INVOLVED?

If you or your organization would like to help bring The Common Thread Project to life, we'd love to hear from you. Whether you're interested in hosting an installation, helping us connect with the community, or exploring another way to contribute, please get in touch at https://www.thecommonthreadproject.ca

Our campaign runs until December 1. If you're able to contribute or share the campaign before then, we'd be grateful.

Thank you for helping bring The Common Thread Project to life. We look forward to sharing its progress with you and, eventually, bringing these encounters into our community.