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On June 8-10, one million handmade bones will be displayed on the National Mall in Washington, DC The one million bones is part of a social arts practice of the same name that uses education and hands-on art making to raise awareness of ongoing genocide and mass atrocities taking place in areas such as Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Burma, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

For the past three years the organization has been working with students, artists, and activists to craft handmade bones made from material such as clay, paper, and plaster. The bones symbolize the lives lost to mass genocide, and those fighting to survive ongoing conflicts, while reminding participants of our common humanity.

The Bezo’s Family Foundation will match $1 for each bone up to $500,000 dollars, which will go to CARE, and the organization’s relief work in Somalia and the DRC. Other beneficiaries of the project include Women for Women International, United to End Genocide, and our partners at The Enough Project.

One Million Bones is committed to leveraging the power of art to inspire activism, and believes that art is a powerful tool when used to affect social change and offers an immediate and visceral connection to difficult issues. The three-day event will include international speakers, performers, educational workshops, an interfaith candlelight vigil and advocacy led by The Enough Project. Leigh Durham, who is helping to organize the event, describes the impact this event will have on participants:

“I’d say we hope that  participants walk away feeling more deeply connected to one another, more hopeful for a more peaceful future, and more energized to continue working to resolve these conflicts. It’s been a pretty amazing journey and we realize more each day what a powerful tool art can be to introduce people to overwhelming concepts like genocide and mass atrocities.”

One Million Bones is still in need of volunteers within the Washington DC area to help with the event. To learn more and register, visit the One Million Bones website.

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