Artists aim to put loss to bed

by Xochitl Campos

Daily Lobo

Four years ago, Naomi Natale went to sub-Saharan Africa to photograph the lives of Kenyan children.

While in Africa, she researched the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This prompted her to help the children she met, who were orphaned by the disease, Natale said.

"It's one thing to read statistics and another thing to see this all in front of you," she said. "When I came back from Africa, my background was in art, and I really just wanted to present this loss of possibility and potential to the people."

Natale founded the Cradle Project, an exhibition of what she said will be 1,000 cradles created by artists from around the world.

The number of cradles created will depend on the amount of sponsors and artists who donate to the project's cause,

she said.

Natale said the empty cradle is meant to signify the lost potential of these children who have been forgotten by

the world.

"I went to Africa with empty hands, with nothing to give these children. And I left knowing that I was going to come back," Natale said. "I made a commitment to myself that I was going to go back not just as a photographer, but to bring some tangible support."

Natale said she wanted people to be overwhelmed by the 1,000 empty cradles that represent the vast number of children without mothers.

The cradles will be exhibited in the former Albuquerque Train Station in spring 2008 and then auctioned off. The proceeds will be donated to African orphans.

"We don't know how much money we'll make. It all really depends on how many people get involved and how much these cradles are going to auction for," Natale said. "So far, we have about 200 commitments."

Natale said each cradle can be sponsored for $100, and those contributions will be donated to one of the Cradle Project's partner organizations that work to feed, shelter and educate orphaned children in Africa.

Some of the cradles were on display as part of a temporary exhibition at the American Institute of Architects. The rest will come as more people get involved in the project.

Many of the artists present a sense of loss or despair. Through building cradles, many have created an aura of tragedy.

In their statement about their cradle art, artists Kathy Hughes and Karen Abboud explained how the Cradle Project helped their healing processes after they were affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The project provided them with the resources and opportunity to reflect on the themes of destruction and renewal, they said.

Hughes and Abboud implemented themes they experienced from that tragedy into the cradle art they produced.

By using discarded trash, the artists were able to use the cradle as a metaphor for healing and rebirth.

Natale is encouraging teachers across the country to introduce the Cradle Project to their students as a way to learn about global issues. Each class participating would create a cradle to keep in their own community.

"I'm extremely interested in what it takes to move someone to that kind of level," Natale said. "I truly believe that our children are the future, and this crisis isn't going to change in our lifetime or in the lives of our children. But if we can instill in our youth passion and awareness, that is the best bet we have to change the world at a greater level."

For more information on the Cradle Project, visit the project's Web site, TheCradleProject.org.