Connecting Healing Currents to Radiance

This week, our group spent some time thinking about how Healing Currents connects to the Lights On Stratford festival and this year’s theme, Radiance. Each winter, the festival lights up Stratford’s downtown with glowing installations and interactive art that completely change how the space feels. There’s something so peaceful about walking through the cold night surrounded by light, and that calm, reflective atmosphere is exactly what we want to capture in our project.

Our installation uses architectural projection mapping to cover the Stratford Tourism windows with moving visuals of water and light. Visitors can scan a QR code to share a short reflection, which turns into a glowing digital suckerfish that swims across the projection before fading away. The fish represents renewal, cleansing, and the ongoing cycle of healing and connection.

Namebine Giizis (Sucker Moon)” by Frank Polson

We were inspired by the Sucker Moon, the fourth moon of Creation in the Thirteen Grandmother Moons teachings. It’s a time that represents cleansing, renewal, and healing. The story tells how the suckerfish travels to the Spirit World to learn how to purify the waters before returning to guide the spirits and bring balance. It’s also said that the sucker fish gave its life to help the Anishinaabe when food was scarce, which symbolizes sacrifice and the cycle of giving and renewal. These teachings connect really well to the idea of Radiance, where light reflects energy, balance, and restoration.

We encourage you to learn more about the Sucker Moon and the Thirteen Grandmother Moons teachings. You can read more about them here.

The 6th annual Lights On Stratford Festival runs from December 12, 2025 to January 18, 2026, Thursdays to Sundays, 5 PM to 10 PM. It’s free to the public, so mark your calendars and come see Healing Currents in action this winter.