Clay is land, digging is a way of traveling through time, the clay from underground being a reminder of the geological record of the earth and a cosmic passage of time as observable through the layers of land. By the way, digging is a behavior shared by humans, plants, and animals alike. Remembrance, also a form of traveling through time, relies on digging through your mind to salvage memories from within yourself. There's mental work in which these memories become images that can be described and shared. The handwork of forming an animal to make a physical surrogate of these memories to both encounter ourselves and share with others the feelings we associate with them. Forging a meaningful connection between the physical and mental spaces we occupy in daily life.

This project was originally conceived as a way of sharing personal memory and observance of the power of human and animal bonds and forming a communal memorial generated through this sharing. Intended to memorialize the special, beloved pets of each individual participant, and also to commemorate the forming of human bonds and connections. I’m designing this particular presentation of the program to extend to the idea of human and animal interaction in practice and how that may be articulated through image, language, and personal memory.

This program was held in conjunction with the 8th International Association of Veterinary Social Work summit held at Cleveland State University and sponsored by HealingPawsLLC