Dear folks,
This is Marc writing. I know I’m behind in sending you updates on Hanna. I think of you, and as you might imagine, life is full. More from me soon on Hanna’s health, life and work. But for this moment, this update, there’s a single topic: Hanna has been invited into a wonderful opportunity to make an art installation in South Africa this October. The details follow below. The ask is…
We’re hoping someone in South Africa, and maybe also someone in Pittsburgh could help us reach out to people and organizations for sponsorship of Hanna’s installation. We have supporting materials, sponsorship tiers with benefits for supporters, etc. We’d like your help in identifying and approaching potential sponsors, and will support you in making that a comfortable and valuable conversation.
Background
Woordfees Festival
South African folks will know about the annual Woordfees festival: “a melting pot of expression and culture that annually brings together the diversity and influence of the arts in Stellenbosch,” now in its 25th year. It’s a big deal!
Hanna’s installation at Woordfees 2025
Hanna has been invited to be part of an amazing, sprawling (in both concept and land area) installation called “Die Veldhospitaal.” “The Field Hospital.” Hanna has already collaborated with Die Veldhospitaal’s organizer, Haidee Nel—visitors to Haidee’s startling installation, Groeipyne / Growing Pains can scan a QR code to download Hanna’s essay, “Cascade of Cruelty.”
Haidee’s note about her sculpture: “At first glance, Double By with her red cape reminds us of the innocent character of Little Red Riding Hood. However, Wolf’s tail and legs protruding from the cape uncomfortably hint at a split in the identity of this character. The fusing of the two characters is a way of addressing the blurred boundary between the victim- and perpetrator-self.”
Die Veldhospitaal will consist of many experiences and installations across the Libertas Guest Farm in the Western Cape.
“Everyone is tired, sick and fed up, lying with a broken heart, a little crazy, tearful, giving up… and feeling enough is enough. That’s why we decided to build a field hospital together where we, as struggling creative bodies, can just get a drip or a hug or something. A place where we can live truths and weave stories together. This is the medicine! The Field Hospital is an experience, an adventure into the inner world. It is a living work of art that arises from individual artists who each represent organs, body parts and abstractions of being human.”
So: a “body” in the field hospital, made up of installations from many artists, each representing a different part of the body. And…
Hanna is The Eyes
Hanna’s installation will take the form of a welcoming, dimly-lit room with two walls filled with projected images. As the walls display images of Hanna’s eyes, animated text, and progress along an emotional journey, the room will fill with the voice of South African actor Erica Wessels reading a series of short episodes and essays written by Hanna. In this place—Stellenbosch, South Africa—and in this time, Hanna’s eyes invite us to see through her unflinching gaze at the harms of the past, the continuing patterns of the present, and the possibilities we are all invited to bring to life.
Team with us to raise funds for production costs?
The Veldhospitaal organizers are wonderfully supportive, providing all the essentials for the installation to run. They are raising funds through corporate and institutional sponsorships. We need to raise funds to produce Hanna’s “Eyes” installation—editing, video and audio production, voice actor, supporting media, etc.
I’ll collaborate with you, support your conversations as best I can, and also connect you with the Veldhospitaal team.
Interested? Email me or comment below.