The Encampment is a large-scale public participatory art installation. In the Spring of 2006, Clara Hargittay, curator for the Queen Street West district for Toronto's first Nuit Blanche invited me to create a work on the history of mental health. As a metaphor I chose the archaeological dig, and with my Creative Partner Jenny McCowan, created and set-up an encampment of 68 tents, each containing a visual interpretation of a story realized by Creative Collaborators. We then took the concept to New York City and presented it on Roosevelt Island during which Clara asked me to consider the idea of a national work in Ottawa focusing on the history of intellectual disability. And here is where we are.

All the details of our other projects can be found at thomsokoloski.com but please be patient, we are under renovation.

Over the months leading up to the presentation of The Encampment in Ottawa, this blog will act as our journal. We do hope you will enjoy this creative process and follow, if not participate, in The Encampment's creation.

Thom Sokoloski & Jenny McCowan