A
former student came to me this summer with an idea. She wanted to paint a mural
about indigenous earthworks on an overpass in Clintonville, Ohio where there
was once an earthwork. She wanted a letter of support, and help with symbols.
I have worked since 1996 with and about earthworks in Ohio, especially in Newark, Ohio where one of the earthworks has a private country club built on it, and for a long time did not allow public access to the earthwork. I managed to talk about earthworks in about every presentation that I did at conferences and talks at the university where I am employed. Danielle heard one of those talks and it struck her. She was motivated to remind people today of those that were erased from the landscape—forgotten. She applied for a grant for the mural and received the money and she painted. It is now done and she has received lots of publicity; she has done several presentations and there is a dedication of the mural this weekend. She sent me a photograph of one of the mural's flowers on which she had placed my name: “I put your name on the Moonwall. You have been a big source of strength and support.”
I have worked since 1996 with and about earthworks in Ohio, especially in Newark, Ohio where one of the earthworks has a private country club built on it, and for a long time did not allow public access to the earthwork. I managed to talk about earthworks in about every presentation that I did at conferences and talks at the university where I am employed. Danielle heard one of those talks and it struck her. She was motivated to remind people today of those that were erased from the landscape—forgotten. She applied for a grant for the mural and received the money and she painted. It is now done and she has received lots of publicity; she has done several presentations and there is a dedication of the mural this weekend. She sent me a photograph of one of the mural's flowers on which she had placed my name: “I put your name on the Moonwall. You have been a big source of strength and support.”
Danielle standing next to a mural detail.
It
happened! I have stated for the past 20 years that I talked about the
earthworks everywhere I went to grow the next generation of activists that
would be the keepers in Ohio that would help protect the earthworks and learn
from the earthworks. I feel good today.
Christine Ballengee Morris, PhD - Professor, Coordinator of American Indian Studies, The Ohio State University
Image
credit: (Top) Danielle Poling and Christine Ballengee Morris
