Hope and Survival, The Halifax Explosion 1917 Commemoration Quilt Project

Update

Just over a year ago, Nova Scotia artist Laurie Swim undertook a monumental community art project to mark the upcoming centenary of the 1917 Halifax explosion. The fibre art piece, Hope and Survival, will honour the lives lost or dramatically changed by the explosion and celebrate the heroic efforts to assist survivors.

One panel from Laurie Swim's Hope and Survival project, commemorating the 1917 Halifax explosion.

On Sunday, December 6th, Laurie will be presenting an update on the Hope and Survival Project as part of the annual commemoration of the Halifax explosion, at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax. The event will include a display of the first twelve columns of the Scroll of Remembrance, one component of the overall project.

One small section of the Scroll of Remembrance, work in progress by Laurie Swim and volunteers.

The scroll, once completed, will list the names and ages of all 1,946 victims of the explosion. The names are beaded in braille in recognition of those blinded by the blast. Hung together, the single sheets of the scroll represent the windows where so many stood watching the collision of the two ships on that fateful day.

Names and ages of victims, beaded in braille by project participants. Laurie Swim

  

“Thanks to all of you who beaded the sheets, this part of the project is nearly completed. Without your enthusiastic participation, I don't think it would be nearly as far along in its progress as it is”  says artist Laurie Swim.

This year's commemorative event will include Laurie’s presentation about the project and a memorial concert with David Stone and friends.

The annual commemoration of the Halifax explosion takes place on Sunday, December 6th, 2015, from 1-3pm. Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, 1675 Lower Water Street, Halifax, NS. Admission free.