Shary Boyle's "The Sleeper: What keeps you up at night?"

Accès

À propos

Between September 19 – November 2, a life-sized, biodegradable cardboard figure embodying insomnia will be installed in the master bedroom of the colonial Erchless Estate at Oakville Museum. An accompanying poster asks viewers a simple question: "What keeps you up at night?"

Pencils and biodegradable paper will be provided for participants who would like to contribute their anonymous answers, to be inserted into the figure's hollow chest. Satellite receptacle stations will run concurrently in regional libraries, inviting the greater community to answer the same question. The library receptacles will be gathered and brought to the Erchless for the project's completion, when Boyle will bury the sculpture, with all the community concerns it contains. To compost the cycle of transformation and close the ritual, a "Moon Garden" (most beautiful at night) of white flowering spring bulbs will be planted on top of the burial site.

This garden can be visited by the public in spring 2026. As climate, economic, and political threats course through our days and nights, The Sleeper proposes an offline ritual to collectively unburden, and transform our private concerns.

Presented in partnership with the Town of Oakville and the Oakville Museum.

This program is part of the Ontario Culture Days 2025 Creatives in Residence series.

Liens

• Shary Boyle - Creatives in Residence onculturedays.ca

Organisateur

Ontario Culture Days

Ontario Culture Days is a not-for-profit organization that celebrates artists and cultural groups in our communities.

The Ontario Culture Days Festival is an annual celebration of arts, culture and heritage taking place each fall across the province. Each year, we work with organizers of all disciplines to produce this province-wide festival. Organizers host programs throughout Ontario and invite the public to participate for free.

Partenaires

Oakville Museum oakville.ca Town of Oakville oakville.ca