05/26/2026
On June 20th, on Venema Plaza, Rine Wakeman will present Refugia โ an experiential art installation exploring loss, grief, adaptation, and hope in a world that has been fundamentally changed in ways we are still learning to understand.
"Two years ago I filled a recital hall with frogs, frog calls, and invited people in to think about the hardships and grief that surrounded them. Since then, the world has not gotten kinder. The grief we experience and the grief we witness in others becomes a part of us for the rest of our lives; itโs formative. In our culture, we do not embrace grief the way we embrace other formative experiences. We are not given the time to feel it or the grace to continue to feel it as the rest of our lives move on. Whatever you are grieving and processing, whether it is personal tragedy or ongoing world events, bring it with you to the Preserve on the evening of the summer solstice. Spend time in a refuge from the hostility surrounding you. Share a poem, song, prayer, or wish at an open mic. Embrace the hard feelings surrounded by others doing the same. I hope you see you there" - Rine
