An interactive art installation is helping families across the city heal from grief.
Inspired by Itaru Sasaki's 2010 Kaze no Denwa (“Telephone of the Wind”), this art installation offers a judgment-free place to grieve.
"This space was born out of my grief and created as a place to pause, to remember, and to connect in whatever way your heart calls you to," said Gillian Crawford in a post on Facebook. "Whether you speak to someone you’ve lost, write down words left unsaid, or sit quietly in reflection, your presence becomes part of the piece.
Crawford lost her father, David, last year in September after a long battle with cancer.
The Connection Desk—designed by Gillian in June, and featuring quotes, a rotary phone, and wind chimes—invites people to write notes to the loved ones they miss.
People are also encouraged, if they feel called to do so, to leave a moment or an obituary in the desk.
"Grief moves through all of us. So does love," said Gillian. "May this be a space where you feel both."
The Connection desk can be found on the north side of Cathedral Avenue between Main Street and Scotia Street.
It will remain outside until the first heavy snowfall.