A free immersive exhibition opens at the Squamish Public Library this week, bringing together more than 120 portraits of local women in honour of International Women’s Day.
In a press release, organizers announced that Red Tent: Held in Community runs March 6–8, is created by Squamish community leader Erica Otto, and is inspired by the work of local registered clinical counsellor and author Heather Hendrie.
The exhibition draws from Hendrie’s forthcoming memoir, Where the Eff Is My Red Tent (Caitlin Press), which explores the desire for spaces where menstruation, womanhood, and lived experience can be discussed without shame. According to the press release, the project is designed to reconnect women and female-identifying people with community, conversation, and the wisdom of their own bodies.
Over several months, participants were photographed by local photographer Brian Aikens inside a symbolic Red Tent — a space of witnessing and storytelling. The press release noted the resulting collection captures vulnerability, strength, grief, resilience, and joy, and will be presented as an immersive audio-visual installation alongside community conversations about women’s health and the body.
The event is free and open to everyone. While centred on the experiences of women and female-identifying people, the press release noted, all are welcome to attend.
