Student artwork recognizes victims of genocide and humanitarian crises

Fruita Monument High School students are making human bones out of clay for their community art project.

It's all a part of the One Millions Bones initiative, a collaborative art installation designed to recognize millions of victims and survivors of ongoing genocides and humanitarian crises in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and Burma.

The bones are a symbol of solidarity between the artists and those affected by the crises.

Every bone made generates a one dollar donation from the Bezos Family Foundation, with the proceeds going to relief and rebuilding programs.

Senior art student Jordan Zambrano explains, "Our goal here at Fruita Monument is at least over a thousand (bones).  And those thousand bones are going to be displayed here at the Fruita Monument auditorium January 9th and 10th....then they're going to be sent to Denver, and then from Denver they're going to be displayed from all over the nation...in the National Mall in D.C."

The project will continue through December 8th, and anyone in the community can get involved and help the cause.

In the 2 weeks since the project started, 370 bones have already been made.

If you're interested in chipping in, the group has the following "bone"-making sessions:

Nov. 9th - 6-8pm
Nov. 12th - 3-5pm
Nov. 13th - 6-8pm
Nov. 17th - 1-4pm
Nov. 19th - 1-4pm
Nov. 28th - 3-5pm
Nov. 29th - 6-8pm
Dec. 4th - 3-5pm
Dec. 5th - 6-8pm
Dec. 8th - 10-4pm

Donations are also being accepted to help pay for getting the bones to Denver for an installation prior to heading to Washington.

For more information, contact the Fruita Monument High School Art Department at (970) 254-6628.