Healing in The Balm Yard

A Memorial Day Installation for 

Healing and Recovery for the Leimert Park Community

*Balm Yard*- A Jamaican term for a ‘yard’ where individuals go for a spiritual ‘balm’ and healing. 

Balm (figurative): something that gives comfort (e.g. the fragrant flowers were a balm to my spirit)

On Memorial Day, May 30, 2022, International Eye LA in association with Leimert Park Village Inc. and other community partners presented Healing in the Balm Yard*, a multidisciplinary installation of music and visual presentations designed to provide a day of quiet reflection, remembrance, introspection, healing and comfort for all ages in the Leimert Park community, from sunrise to sunset.

Community members set aside time to create inner peace, to reflect on blessings and challenges they have faced or continue to face over the last two years.   

A ceremonial platform installed on People Street Plaza hosted a to share items and memorabilia that represent something healing or joyful that they would like to express publicly.  This may be an item representing love, loss, forgiveness or photographs, words of encouragement and other items of personal or emotional value to an individual or the community as a whole.

Businesses, vendors, artists and producers in the village are asked to install a visual item that will create a common community-wide experience.  

Those who can, are requested to observe a fast or modified eating with minimal sustenance during the day.  Light snacks and water will be provided.  People can bring blankets, mats or chairs to rest, read and reflect.   This is a day for personal inner journeys and sharing community strengths as we emerge from the ravages of Covid19 and begin to pick up our lives in a spirit of unity.