I am writing to thank Rev. Loren McGrail for sharing her powerful art and poetry from “ climate collapse to Gaza”, and her invitation to explore together what it means to face the unspeakable violence of the world we are living in, through her exhibit at the Belfast Free Library for the month of November.

Her example of witnessing and turning the anguish we all feel on seeing so much loss, whether the threatened extinction of a species, loss of habitat for creatures and humans, or the destruction of war in Gaza into art and what she calls “compassionate witnessing” is something I encourage everyone who hasn’t yet, to go and experience—it is in the Kramer Gallery of the Belfast Free Library until November 30. 

We are fortunate to have an artist and poet so willing to look directly at the challenges of our time and share her vision, honoring the people directly affected by both the climate crisis, and the genocide in Gaza.

As McGrail herself quotes Dareen Tatour, Palestinian poet and playwright: “At the very least…Let’s shout out! Even if the body shakes, even if the whole being shakes.” Thank you Loren McGrail for being willing to shout out, using your art to carry the call for “ love in a time of war.” 

Meredith Bruskin lives in Swanville