Look at your hands holding this paper. From the moment shortly after birth when you used them to grip the finger of your parents, they have been the first contact you have with people. In a country not really at home with kissing both cheeks to greet, it is our hands we use for that first tentative meeting or that warm grip of an old friend. Now think about the hand of a woman who has been physically, mentally, or sexually abused. A woman whose trust has been broken. The Mayo Rape Crisis Centre and Mayo Women’s Support Services work with these women to help them regain their trust in people.
In 2004 both organisations commissioned a piece of art based on trust and asked the women who work in and those who have used their services to trust them with their hands to create the Safe Hands bowl. The women who choose to participate sat in the kitchens of both services, a place these survivors knew to be safe places, and had their hands cast firstly in plaster.
As the artist undertaking the project Elaine Griffin said: “People usually get a cast on their hand to heal a broken or fractured bone. Through the process of wrapping these women’s hands in plaster bandages I felt that symbolically, together, our desire was to heal a broken or fractured life.” These were then cast in bronze to form a bowl. The result is a large circle of joined up old, young, wrinkled, smooth, manicured, rough, and well worked hands.
The Safe Hands bowl is an inspirational pierce and I dare anyone who sees it to resist the temptation to reach out and feel it. Many around Mayo have done just that as over the last few years it has been on a tour of libraries. Now however both organisations believe it needs a more permanent home. Somewhere the bravery of the women who gave their hands can inspire and give strength to others.
All over Mayo there are ordinary people dealing with extraordinary and difficult times in their lives or the memories of difficult times in their past. This bowl should serve as a reminder that they are not alone and there is not just one hand held out to help them but a whole circle of them.
So people of Mayo where do you want to see the bowl rest, inspire, and comfort? Think of where it would be most needed. Would it be a place already associated with peace or somewhere more formal where people might need support as they face adversity? The answer is with the people of Mayo and all suggestions should be sent by email/text/phone to either of the two services. That is Mayo Women’s Support Services at 094 902 5409 at [email protected] or Mayo Rape Crisis Centre at 094 902 5657 or 086 852 6681 or [email protected]
