The body as storyteller supports the notion of sanctuary because it gives a context in which sanctuary can exist. In knowing our personal history we know where we fit into the fabric of human relations. This theme is about how traces of culture and history remain in the body, the idea that the body contains memory and that memories are passed from one generation to the next through the body. It is about defining who one is and one’s sense of belonging through these traces, which reveal themselves through our movements, gestures, and the way we relate to others and our environment.
Through explorations of the different medium, artists and participants gather, share, and document personal stories and experiences. Each discipline brings a different texture to the creative form emerging, and reveals different layers of meaning related to the particular story being told. The stories that emerge are ones of loss, recovery, abandonment, support, violence, safety, love, and resilience in the face of many, seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
