The Mirror Casket Debuts in DC
Donation protected
In the months following the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson on August 9th, 2014, a group of activists and artists got together to plan a creative response to the violence and outrage that came to the surface in the aftermath. De Nichols had been dreaming of mirrors, and asked Sophie Lipman, Mallory Nezam, Damon Davis, Marcis Curtis, Derek Laney, and Elizabeth Vega to meet with her to discuss the idea.
From that meeting, the Mirror Casket emerged as a concept, and was designed and built by Marcis through a collective effort, from sourcing materials to finish work. The casket was carried to the Ferguson Police Department as a public intervention, to encourage people to reflect and observe themselves and the possibilities of their own loved ones in the casket.
After its initial use, it has since toured Missouri and been used in numerous direct actions as part of the Movement for Black Lives. In November of 2015, it was acquired by the new Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History , which opens September 24th in Washington D.C.
De, Mallory, and Marcis are traveling to DC to experience the museum, meet with activists, and share the story of the Mirror Casket. We will be speaking about the process and the reaction to the work with people in DC to shed light on these important issues.
We need your help to cover the costs of traveling roundtrip from St. Louis to DC, which includes car rental, gas, meals in DC, travel within the city, and expenses related to events and talks while we’re there. We have received a generous gift of free lodging courtesy of Marcis’ awesome parents (THANK YOU!)
We are so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to travel to DC and connect with activists and students there, and every dollar you can contribute helps!
UPDATE: We will be meeting and speaking with students at Georgetown University on Friday afternoon, and will also have a time slot at Busboys & Poets on 5th & K Street on Saturday evening! Stay tuned for details on these events!
Also, ANGELA DAVIS wrote an amazing article about the Mirror Casket in this month's Smithsonian Magazine!
From the description by Angela Y. Davis, activist, writer and Distinguished Professor Emerita at UC Santa Cruz: "It is art object, performance, and political statement evoking a pivotal moment in the long history of the struggle for social justice in the United States. [The] Mirror Casket marks this contemporary moment, when the state has finally been compelled to acknowledge the link between its repressive apparatuses and racism. Smartphones and body cameras have become the looking glass compelling the recognition that black lives matter. And Mirror Casket demands more powerful and far-reaching forms of justice. We will have to reimagine policing and punishment and ultimately will have to remake our democracy."
From that meeting, the Mirror Casket emerged as a concept, and was designed and built by Marcis through a collective effort, from sourcing materials to finish work. The casket was carried to the Ferguson Police Department as a public intervention, to encourage people to reflect and observe themselves and the possibilities of their own loved ones in the casket.
After its initial use, it has since toured Missouri and been used in numerous direct actions as part of the Movement for Black Lives. In November of 2015, it was acquired by the new Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History , which opens September 24th in Washington D.C.
De, Mallory, and Marcis are traveling to DC to experience the museum, meet with activists, and share the story of the Mirror Casket. We will be speaking about the process and the reaction to the work with people in DC to shed light on these important issues.
We need your help to cover the costs of traveling roundtrip from St. Louis to DC, which includes car rental, gas, meals in DC, travel within the city, and expenses related to events and talks while we’re there. We have received a generous gift of free lodging courtesy of Marcis’ awesome parents (THANK YOU!)
We are so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to travel to DC and connect with activists and students there, and every dollar you can contribute helps!
UPDATE: We will be meeting and speaking with students at Georgetown University on Friday afternoon, and will also have a time slot at Busboys & Poets on 5th & K Street on Saturday evening! Stay tuned for details on these events!
Also, ANGELA DAVIS wrote an amazing article about the Mirror Casket in this month's Smithsonian Magazine!
From the description by Angela Y. Davis, activist, writer and Distinguished Professor Emerita at UC Santa Cruz: "It is art object, performance, and political statement evoking a pivotal moment in the long history of the struggle for social justice in the United States. [The] Mirror Casket marks this contemporary moment, when the state has finally been compelled to acknowledge the link between its repressive apparatuses and racism. Smartphones and body cameras have become the looking glass compelling the recognition that black lives matter. And Mirror Casket demands more powerful and far-reaching forms of justice. We will have to reimagine policing and punishment and ultimately will have to remake our democracy."
Organizer
Marcis Curtis
Organizer
St Louis, MO
