Touchstone art project provides comfort following shooting


In the cozy room of Foust Hall room 135, therapy dogs, artwork and members of the community combine to foster a sense of hope and healing following the fatal March 2 shooting that took place in Campbell Hall on Central Michigan University's campus.

"One Community, One CMU: Touchstone Art Project" is an event hosted by the CMU Counseling Center from 4-7 p.m. March 14 through March 25.

“This project gives everyone a place and an opportunity to get in touch with what anchors them and makes them feel safe,” said Michelle Bigard, assistant director of the Counseling Center. “(Students) can come together and design these touchstones as a message of hope and strength for the community.”

The touchstones themselves come in two mediums. The first is a glass disk that people can glue a paper of their own design to the back of so their art can be seen through the stone. 

The second medium is Petoskey stones, which were donated to the project by the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences to give the touchstones a more varied appearance and feel.

Bigard describes the completed stones as having values unique to each person and said they represent a symbol of safety, hope and moving forward.

Individuals participating in designing these stones have the option of keeping them for continued comfort and positive energy or donating them to what will become a permanent “unified art piece” in the CMU Museum of Cultural and Natural History. 

The design of the unified piece is currently in progress and is being guided by the donated artwork in an effort to make a timeless piece that displays the impact of the March 2 events.

Jay Martin, director and curator of history at the museum, emphasized this event is not only for students, but focuses on healing CMU faculty, staff and the Mount Pleasant community as a whole.

“The point of this exhibit is to help people deal with their feelings and put those feelings toward positive outlets,” Martin said. “It was intended to capture that energy and take individuals’ artistic creations to make a larger piece of artwork that shows that we are all in this together.” 

Students and community members are able to design their touchstones while enjoying snacks, conversation with others with shared or similar experiences from the on-campus tragedy and the companionship of the therapy dogs as they work through their emotions.

“Coming together is one of the most healing things to do after a traumatic event, and this is a place for people to reflect and lean on their peers and communal strength to find their peace,” Bigard said.

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