The REDress Project

Overview

• Purpose: The REDress Project is an installation art project aimed at raising awareness about missing and murdered indigenous women and girls.
• Method: Hundreds of red dresses are collected and displayed empty in public spaces to symbolize the absence and violence faced by these women.

Objectives

• Confrontation with Violence:
  • Highlight the violence experienced by indigenous women.
  • Showcase the presence and power of indigenous women.
• Public Engagement:
  • Engage people from various perspectives and knowledge levels.
  • Cater to those with personal experience of loss and those unaware of the issue.
• Dialogue and Conversation:
  • Encourage conversations about the violence faced by indigenous women.
  • Create a space for voices, stories, and experiences to be shared.

Impact and Outreach

• Community Gathering: Provides a platform for families and communities to express their stories and experiences.
• Spiritual Connection: Invokes the spirits of missing women to bring their energy and power to present discussions.
• Indigenous Presence: Use of indigenous voices and languages to speak out against violence.

Artist's Perspective

• Jaime Black: A Métis visual artist and creator of the REDress Project.
• Motivation:
  • Utilize artistic gifts to engage communities and create a platform for silenced voices.
  • Address the national and global crisis faced by indigenous women and girls.