March is here, and with it comes a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle for justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. In honor of Women’s History Month, the MSU Museum, in collaboration with the Native American Institute and other campus partners, is proud to announce the arrival of The REDress Project, a powerful outdoor art installation created by Métis artist Jaime Black-Morsette.
The REDress Project is a moving display featuring approximately 60 red dresses collected through community donation. From March 1 to 17, 2024, these dresses will be suspended along West Circle Drive and in public spaces near the MSU Museum and the Beal Botanical Garden. Each dress serves as a symbol of the absence and presence of Indigenous women and girls affected by violence, a visual reminder of their stories and the ongoing fight for justice.
Indigenous women in Canada and the United States face disproportionately high rates of violence, and The REDress Project serves not only as an art installation but also as a platform for the voices of affected families, their allies, and advocates. Founded by Red River Métis artist and activist Jaime Black-Morsette in 2009, this project has traveled to over 50 locations globally, including prestigious venues such as the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, and the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.
Jaime Black-Morsette has been using their interdisciplinary art practice for over 13 years to spark community engagement and drive change regarding the epidemic of violence against Indigenous women and girls. Their work encompasses immersive film and video, installation art, photography, and performance art, focusing on themes of memory, identity, place, and resistance.
The REDress Project installation at Michigan State University invites reflection, dialogue, and action, fostering awareness and solidarity in the ongoing fight for the rights and protection of Indigenous women and girls. Join us from March 1-17, 2024, to experience The REDress Project and stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities. This important project was brought to MSU through a campus collaboration between the MSU Museum, Beal Botanical Garden, Native American Institute, American Indian and Indigenous Studies, Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, and EAGLE.
Together, we honor the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and commit to working towards a more just and equitable future.
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