'The Forgotten' Project from Pamela Masik on Vimeo.
The Forgotten project is a series sixty nine, 8' x 10' paintings depicting the missing and murdered women of Vancouver's downtown east side who were ignored by society. This massive body of work was scheduled to be unveiled at the Museum of Anthropology (MOA) February 2011. For more information please visit MOA
A title chosen to describe society's apathy
Toward a group of women marginalized
By class, race, gender, and sexuality.
From 1978 to early 2000's,
69 women went missing
From Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
Over the year's, some women removed off the poster,
But I stuck with the original number.
These women are still gone.
Society was ignoring what was going on,
But the friends, family and community
From which they came, did not.
I lived on the DTES.
Studio around the corner from my apartment.
My son was scared to walk to the studio.
Needles human feces at my front porch.
He questioned my kindness to strangers.
I said, never judge, everyone has a story.
Media sensationalized these stories,
Public blamed a serial killer,
But there were deeper issues
To confront.
Some collectors wouldn't visit me in the area,
Asked if I finished painting the whores yet.
It made my blood boil.
The ignorance.
But I knew it was fear.
What if I could create a body of work so powerfully moving
That views could be challenged
That the realization of society's role,
Our play in this tragedy,
Could inspire social change?
I dedicated five years now,
To create a body of work,
To confront issues
Violence, not having a voice,
Disposability.
I didn't deny the truth,
The innocence and beauty too.
I created this collection to create awareness on issues
That still exist throughout the world
And especially for
Women most vulnerable
Marginalized.
I struggled with the information or lack thereof.
I questioned my own material that was researched on-line,
Through media and family and friends.
What is the truth? Why did this happen?
What would it take?
How could I contribute to something so important to me as a woman, a mother?
The only voice I know, is through my paintbrush,
So I paint.
Trusting the day will come
When the collection can inspire
World conferences,
discussions leading to increased awareness,
Students challenged to think about social change,
Bridging a gap between classes
And inspiring the possibility of a better future
For women at risk.
These women may have been victim's to a brutal violence
Due to social apathy,
But today I like to think of them as heroes.
Who will inspire social change,
And never truly 'forgotten'.