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NCRJ Art Entry #019 - Healing Encounter - Artist: Martin Howard

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Artist Statement:

Three metaphorical layers reveal the essential restorative elements of encounter and healing. The negative space around the vase forms two faces - the offender and the victim - whose encounter is integral to restoration. The vase recalls the Japanese idea of kintsugi - mending with gold - honoring and healing the damage of the past. The lightning bolts on the blue night sky formed by the gold veins remind us of the nearness of trauma. It is inspired by the healing that I have witnessed as a facilitator bringing crime victims into encounters with prisoners in the Sycamore Tree Project in Australia.

Location: Australia

This project is supported by Grant No. 2020-MU-CX-K001 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view, images, or opinions in this document and are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.