Volunteers are invited to help with an art installation on the Tyee Spit, remembering 50,000 men, women, and youth who died from toxic drugs.
City councillor and artist Ron Kerr has already planted 10,000 blue flags at the end of the Spit, and will install 40,000 more over the next several days. He says the goal is help people see how the deaths are more than just a large number.
“When you actually see what 50,000 flags [look like], 50,000 faces, 50,000 families… it bypasses that check in your brain and goes straight to your heart, and there’s an emotional response to seeing it,” he says.
Kerr says he also hopes to start conversations about the mental health of men and boys, who account for 75% of fatal overdoses nation-wide.
He is welcoming volunteers to help plant flags on Friday and Saturday. Even if people just want to help for an hour or so, all are welcome to participate.
