Seeing Peace: Artists in Collaboration with the United Nations

What peace looks like to Lise

2006-10-14T00:54:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Lise for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to Charisse

2006-09-06T14:06:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Charisse for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to Alex

2006-08-17T12:22:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Alex for seeing peace

What peace looks like to James Justin

2006-05-30T10:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks to James for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to James

2006-05-22T09:08:00.000-07:00

" Seeing Peace is reaching forward, it seems out of reach yet within our reach. In our lifetime can we be the people that all our children and our children's children can be proud of? "

Thanks to James for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to Kay

2006-05-20T10:50:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Kay for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to Jennifer

2006-05-08T18:16:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Jennifer for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to Shem

2006-05-06T14:06:00.000-07:00

" Peace is when our world is united under one flag, one banner, freely and with dignity and the children of the future sing the songs of there ancestors in the garden of stars "

Thanks to Shem for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to Francie

2006-05-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

" peace is gently connecting to one another "

Thanks to Francie for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to Simon

2006-04-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

"I believe Art is a language which communicates to people of all cultures, overcoming barriers of the spoken word.
With the full power of all that we are, we will go where there is no path and blaze a trail. Our positive attitude will be a powerful force that cannot be stopped. "

Thanks to SImon for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to Autumn

2006-04-21T20:01:00.000-07:00

" seeing peace seems personal, as if we could all visualize it, we would surely manifest it. I am reminded of a poem by one of my favourite poets:

Buddha in Glory

Center of all centers, core of cores,
almond self-enclosed, and growing sweet--
all this universe, to the furthest stars
all beyond them, is your flesh, your fruit.

Now you feel how nothing clings to you;
your vast shell reaches into endless space,
and there the rich, thick fluids rise and flow.
Illuminated in your infinite peace,

a billion stars go spinning through the night,
blazing high above your head.
But in you is the presence that
will be, when all the stars are dead.

Rainer Maria Rilke "

Thanks to Autumn for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to Michael

2006-04-21T10:24:00.000-07:00

After a peaceful hour trying to select one of my favorite desert photos, I remembered that only people can make peace.

A not-so-peaceful image of peace, in another generation. My stepdaughter arrested by my erstwhile colleagues, San Francisco antiwar demonstration 2003. "

Thanks to Michael for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to Jeff

2006-04-17T11:59:00.000-07:00

" Wisdom - hope in all shapes and colors. "

What peace looks like to Judith

2006-04-17T09:41:00.000-07:00

" Every year for every birthday when blowing out the candles on the cake I have always had only one wish...a wish for peace. "

Thanks to Judith for seeing peace

What peace looks like to Ramsey

2006-04-13T07:34:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Ramsey for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to Aaron & Mariano

2006-04-12T07:47:00.000-07:00

What peace looks like to Lee

2006-04-11T17:44:00.000-07:00

"My view of what peace looks like "

Thanks to Lee for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to Melba

2006-04-11T17:02:00.000-07:00

" Here is my contribution--earth as garden, earth as mudra of fearlessness and loving kindness. "

--Thanks to Melba for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to Sora

2006-04-10T19:53:00.001-07:00

" I asked my son Sora what peace means to him. Without a doubt, he said LOVE and immediately drew this image.

For us as parents, peace is hearing our children express love and watch them create so beautifully. "

Thanks to Sora for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to Josh

2006-04-08T17:14:00.000-07:00

" Peace is a robot in love "

Thanks to Josh for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to Gabrielle

2006-04-08T16:43:00.000-07:00

" One of my paintings called "Pour l'étérnité" (For eternity). I think it represents somehow the idea of peace that comes through the will ot the both parties. "

Thanks to Gabrielle for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to the Representative of Italy

2006-04-07T09:24:00.001-07:00

" It is an original drawing prepared by my staff at the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations and a reflection of the daily work of the United Nations: brick upon brick, building peace--PAX in Latin--around the world is the biggest challenge for the Organization and thus for all the Member states. "

Thank you to Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to Shamsunder

2006-04-06T19:48:00.000-07:00

" Peace, my version:
Singing deep blue sea to my son...

deep blue sea, baby deep blue sea
and now there's peace through all the land and o'er the deep blue sea

yesterday war clouds hung so low
and now there's peace through all the land and o'er the deep blue sea

love of life finally turned the tide
and now there's peace through all the land and o'er the deep blue sea

sleep my child you are safe and sound
and now there's peace through all the land and o'er the deep blue sea

...he is sound asleep in my arms, cheeks blushed, lips puffy and
slightly open. i tell him he is safe, and he believes me without
reserve. He is soft, sweet and molten.

I've heard other lyrics for this song but these are they only ones I
know, and they are the ones I love. "

Thanks to Shamsunder for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to Sarah Beth

2006-04-05T20:19:00.000-07:00

"Vorlorn Hoop (Forlorn Hope)". "

Thanks to Sarah Beth for seeing peace.

What Peace looks like to Sean

2006-04-05T12:48:00.000-07:00

"Cuore Mio, Anima Mia, Vita Mia”

“ The name in Italian means “My Heart, My Soul, My Life”
In every one of my pieces I try to focus on beauty and peace, and to discard the complications of the material and political in my work.

I think this piece translates the concept of peace better than any I have done before."

--Thanks to Sean for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to Darrow

2006-04-05T06:53:00.000-07:00

" I saw peace when my son was a baby; asleep after nursing, with arms outstretched, fearing nothing, needing nothing. His _expression was completely unknowing of anything harsh or defensive; full of only trust and contentment.

Peace is curiousity without defensiveness. "

--Thanks to Darrow for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to the Representative of Colombia

2006-04-04T19:08:00.000-07:00

Click on the photo to see a larger version of what peace looked like to the Representative at the Colombian Embassy.

What peace looks like to Jeffrey

2006-04-04T15:36:00.000-07:00

" Relating sh’lamim to the word shalom, the Rabbis understood these as “peace-offerings.” Peace offerings come
last, the Rabbis conclude, to underscore the importance of peace in the Jewish tradition.

The Rabbis present shalom as the ultimate ethical precept. “How great is peace!” the midrash exclaims again and again. (Vayikra Rabbah 9:9) Citing the verse, Seek peace and pursue it (Psalms 34:15), the midrash
explains that ordinarily, one performs a mitzvah only when provided with a specific opportunity to do so. (Think, for instance, of lighting Shabbat candles, welcoming strangers, visiting the sick, and so forth).

But when it comes to shalom, one is obligated to seek out opportunities to bring peace, even if that means traveling to distant and dangerous places. "

--Thanks to Jeffrey for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to Abigail

2006-04-04T15:14:00.000-07:00

" Peace is: Cousin and niece, two women I love dreaming by the sea. Humans flying their playful flags, accepting their small place in the scheme of things. Ordinary magic. "

--Thanks to Abigail for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to Aaron

2006-04-03T10:47:00.000-07:00

" This is taken in Auschwitz, this past February.
Shot at Auschwitz II the bigger of the camps.
I found the whole experience amazing. I left feeling uplifted and very much at peace. Strange reaction, I guess. Maybe it is because what remains is a testament to learning. To me that represents peace and hope. "

Thanks to Aaron for seeing peace.

What peace looks like to the Representative of the Phillipines

2006-03-30T19:44:00.000-08:00

Click on the photo to see a larger version of what peace looked like to the Representative at the Phillipines Mission.

What peace looks like to the students at Skidmore College

2006-03-30T19:32:00.000-08:00

I asked the students I spoke to at Skidmore College to make quick drawings of what peace looked like to them. These are some of their responses.

Seeing Peace in New York

2006-03-29T19:56:00.000-08:00

I'm in New York for the next few weeks doing presentations for Seeing Peace at some of the local Universities. I'm generating interest in the work, looking and talking about art and hanging out in the bustling NY art world.

I'm visiting Ambassadors at the Phillipines, Colombia, Kenya, and Kuwait missions. I had an interesting conversation with the embassy of Afghanistan--the woman on the phone told me that they "don't have the luxury to deal with the art world." Interesting.

Presentation at Skidmore went well. Spoke to a class who is studying the UN and then gave a public presentation that night. I had the students draw what they thought peace looked like. I'll be posting pictures here shortly.

It is curious how people respond to different parts of the piece. Some want to know how the artist are selected; others wonder about what will the artists actually "do" in the General Assmbly.

Now, I'm exhausted. More later.