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Created: October 22, 2001
Latest Update: October 22, 2001
jeannecurran@habermas.org
takata@uwp.edu
100,000 "Peace Pictures for Muslim Kids."journal entry by jeanne
Copyright: Jeanne Curran and Susan R. Takata and Individual Authors: October 2001.
"Fair use" encouraged.
I thought we'd make our first hand-made book this week, so that you could record some quotes and artwork that might help us all through the depression of this awful state of war and not-war. But then this morning this announcement came from Charlie Buehler of Art for Peace. For all of us who would like to put the brakes on killing and violence, this sounds like a wonderful and uplifting project. So let's take this ninth week of the semester to focus on organizing and sending in as many paintings and drawings for peace as we can. Note that they're asking for originals. But our work on monoprints should make that possible. We'll need a volunteer from each class to gather the paintings and help us coordinate the mailing. And we'll need someone to volunteer to collect the drawings of all the children we know and have a little time to work with on this project.October 22, 2001. jeanne
On Monday, October 22, 2001, Charlie Buehler, of Art for Peace, wrote:
Subject: Art for Peace Special NewsletterStudents' Art for Peace: October 22,2001 "Peace Pictures" to Be Sent by U.S. Kids to Muslim KidsDear Teacher:
Here is a project you won't want to miss. Students' Art for Peace has launched a new campaign to collect 100,000 "Peace Pictures for Muslim Kids." The pictures will be delivered as an antidote for those Muslim kids in other countries who are surrounded by hatred for America.
Whether you have already done a student art exchange project, or are now doing one-or even if you haven't-you MUST be in this program. It is the opportunity for you and your class(s) to do something IMMEDIATE and very SPECIFIC to help bring about a semblance of peace in the world.
YOU AND YOUR KIDS can help us quickly reach and exceed our goal of 100,000 "Peace Pictures for Muslim kids." This year alone some 81,000 American students and 3,250 teachers in almost 3,000 schools have participated in our global artwork exchanges.
IF EVERYONE OF THESE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS NOW CREATES A "PEACE PICTURE FOR MUSLIM KIDS," WE WOULD BE CLOSE TO OUR GOAL. AND IF EVERY ONE OF OUR ART FOR PEACE TEACHERS RECRUITS ONE OR TWO OTHER TEACHERS AND CLASSES, WE CAN DOUBLE OUR GOAL OR POSSIBLY REACH THE QUARTER-MILLION MARK.
Following is the news release that has been distributed to make "Peace Pictures for Muslim Kids" known across America. It gives you everything you need to know to participate.
We urge you to get your students involved in this effort promptly. It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, in this case a "PEACE PICTURE FOR MUSLIM KIDS" may be worth a million angry words.
Let's make this critically important project a big success.
Richard Riley Conarroe
Executive Director
Art for Peace
Students' Art For Peace
CONTACT: Riley Conarroe
5350-A Riverfront Drive
Bradenton FL 34208
941-746-9885
Fax 941-746-9886
artforpeacenow@aol.com
"Peace Pictures" to Be Sent By U.S. Kids to Muslim Kids Students' Art for Peace, a non-profit organization, has launched a new campaign to collect 100,000 "Peace Pictures for Muslim Kids." The pictures are being created by American students and others. They will be distributed to Muslim children who are surrounded by hate for America.
On the back of each original painting or drawing will be a brief message of friendship, peace, and brotherhood. The message will be in the languages of several Muslim countries as well as in English. The American student artists may add their names and school names on the back in the upper right hand corner, or they may remain anonymous.
Says program director Riley Conarroe: "There are more than one billion Muslims in the world. Some Muslims in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and other Muslim countries are being taught in their homes, in their schools, and in their sometimes bombed out streets to hate America. Anger begets anger. We must communicate to these kids with more than bombs and missiles. We met use the kind of passive resistance that produced positive results for Martin Luther King in America and Mahatma Ghandi in India.
Most of the "Peace Pictures for Muslim Kids" are being created by the more than 80,000 American students of all ages who have already participated this year in one or more of the on-going Students' Art for Peace picture exchange projects. But other students--and non-students of any age--are invited to submit their "Peace Picture" artwork.
In the basic Students' Art for Peace program a full class of American kids create their individual pictures showing what is in their minds and hearts about peace vs. violence. The pictures are packed up with a brief message of friendship and sent to students of the same age in schools in different countries. The students receiving the pictures are asked to create their own "Peace Pictures" and send them back to the American students, creating an unspoken bond.
"Our programs break through language barriers," says Conarroe, "and give kids around the world a non-verbal way to relate to each other. We find that this method changes kids' perceptions of each other from foreigners or "enemies" to global brothers and sisters.
With artist identification, if any, confined to the upper right hand corner, Students' Art for Peace will use the rest of the back side to add this brief multi-language message:
"This 'Peace Picture' was created for you by a student or other young person in America. Please accept it as our message to you of peace and love. We cannot speak your language so we speak to you in pictures. We want to be your brothers and sisters, not enemies. If there is to be peace in our world tomorrow, those of us who are children now must lead the way. We are your friends. Please be our friends."
The expected 100,000 or more "Peace Pictures for Muslim Kids" will be distributed to key Muslim countries by various means, depending upon the situation in each country.
Beside international art exchanges, Students' Art for Peace projects include student music exchanges, Sports for Peace, "Peace Pictures" sent to world leaders, and currently a global student peace essay contest. For details visit this website: www.art-for-peace.org or send an email to artforpeacenow@aol.com
Original "Peace Pictures for Muslim Kids" should be mailed to Art for Peace Muslim Kids, 5350-A Riverfront Drive, Bradenton, FL 34208 USA.