The Burden Boat Project was first conceived in 2009 as part of a solo exhibition on the campus of Virginia Tech University. In response to the tragic shooting several years earlier, I wanted to create a participatory art piece that might assist in the healing process. The Burden Boat Project was born, a 12-foot vessel made of ceramic and wood, with cotton bags full of hallowed ground from the Virginia Tech campus. On September 11, 2011, the Burden Boat ceremony was conducted at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery as a commemorative ritual healing of the 10-year anniversary of 9-11. (Read more about the Burden Boat Project on the Statements Page).
