‘Leaving the River’, an installation of art about loss and love

Artist Evelyn Berde brings her passion and her personal stories into her artwork, including one of her most poignant collections, Leaving the River, an installation of art about loss and love, in reaction to the loss of her brother, Danny, in childhood.

From the artist:

“On July 12th, 1956 my brother Danny, drowned in the Charles River of Boston. He was my playmate, my protector, my love.

We lived in the Old West End of Boston at 62 Allen Street. The Massachusetts General Hospital was at one end of our street, St. Joseph’s Church was in the center, and
the Charles River was at the other end of the street.

My Irish-Catholic family fell apart after Danny died.

The West End was demolished before, during and after Danny’s death.

I was born with congenital scoliosis. The first 14 years of my life were spent in a series of casts and braces designed to fix my deformed body.

Leaving The River is a space for paintings, photography and sculptures showing how art has always been the strongest force of survival in my life. Art has helped me to
transcend destruction, deformity and depression. My life as an art educator, child life therapist and practicing artist has evolved from the journey I map in Leaving The River.”

Images courtesy of the artist.