Loading...Interfaith Paths to Peace (IPP) in Louisville announced today that in cooperation with the Muhammad Ali Center and Crane House: The Asia Institute, it will present an exhibition of "peace postcards" at Honkawa Elementary School in Hiroshima, Japan, July 31-August 8, 2011.
The school is across the river to the west of Hiroshima's famous Peace Park and a few steps away from the Peace Memorial Museum. The Peace Postcards are drawn from more than 7,500 cards upon which children (of all ages) have drawn or painted their visions of peace for our world. Since its inception three years ago, the program has received cards from throughout the US and from around the world. During the exhibition, Interfaith Paths to Peace will host a luncheon reception for children from the school and Hiroshima area peace activists.
IPP also announced today that Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer has agreed to add his name to the names of more than 4,700 other mayors of cities from around the world who are working to create a nuclear weapons free world through Mayors for Peace, a conference of municipalities created in the 1980s by the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The exhibit is also being presented with the cooperation and assistance of Steve Leeper, chairman of Hiroshima's Peace Culture Foundation. The foundation houses both the Peace Memorial Foundation and the Secretariat of the international organization, Mayors for Peace.
Regarding the exhibit, Leeper says, "I am proud to play a role in bringing the Peace Postcards Exhibit to Hiroshima. Like the folding of paper cranes, these peace postcards represent a simple, enjoyable contribution that even small children can make to a more peaceful world. I hope you will come to Honkawa Elementary School to see how children around the world see and think about peace. I am grateful to Allan Weiss, creator of this project, and to Terry Taylor, who has long been a link between Hiroshima and Louisville."
According to Mr. Hiromichi Sorama, principal of Honkawa Elementary School, "Honkawa is happy to welcome the Peace Postcard Exhibit. In 2010, a similar exhibition helped us develop a relationship with All Souls Church in Washington, DC. This year we are developing a relationship with Interfaith Paths to Peace and through it to the people of Louisville. It is exciting for us to be at the center of these important exchanges between Hiroshima and other cities. Many of these children here at Honkawa have drawn their own Peace Postcards, so I hope people from Louisville will come to see how our visions of peace match those of others around the world."
Peace Postcards, founded by Allan Weiss in December, 2008, has received over 7500 Peace Postcards from around the world, including Great Britain, Canada, Denmark, Rwanda Afghanistan, Israel, Costa Rico, Germany, China, Iran, New Caledonia, Morocco and many cities around the United States. The art spans from stick figures to fine art and includes collages, found objects, and photographs. The Peace Postcards from around the world are insightful and show a deep understanding of peace, the importance of peace, and the necessity of reaching out to others and across borders, faiths and cultures.
IPP works with schools, faith groups and other interested people and groups in promoting the Peace Postcards program. A poster done by Julius Friedman accompanies the show and is available at IPP, 425 South Second Street, Louisville, KY. Interested people can contact Peace Postcard program at the IPP office or Allan Weiss at Peace Postcards, P.O Box 8025, Louisville, Kentucky 40257-8025.
About the Peace Postcards Program
By Allan Weiss, Founder of Peace Postcards
The seeds for peace postcards were planted by my parents, who taught me at an early age that each of us has an obligation to help heal the world. My interest in art and particularly the art of untrained hands along with the admonition to "help heal the world" gave birth to Peace Postcards. The project grew when Interfaith Paths to Peace graciously agreed to make Peace Postcards part of its program.
In mid-December 2008 I handed out a small number of postcards that asked: What Does Peace Look Like to You? These were first given to friends and then to all those who promised to use the back of the card to express their visions of peace. The idea became a reality when the post-cards were returned with those visions beautifully illustrated. Next came the wonderful and creative classroom teachers who agreed to use Peace Postcards as part of their lesson plans. Friends began to help, the web site was established, and Peace Postcards were distributed around the world. Over 7000 cards have been received from the Great Britain, Canada, Denmark, Rwanda Afghanistan, Israel, Costa Rico, Germany, China, Iran, New Caledonia, Morocco and many cities around the United States. The program continues to grow and the overwhelming response has been far beyond our original expectations.
The postcards have some recurring themes which one would expect, but those repeated themes do not in any manner distract from the originality expressed in the effort of individual artists. To some, the importance of peace begins in their families. Others have visions of peace for their neighborhood, interfaith relations and the world. As one looks at the postcards, whether they are stick figures from a child, beautiful flowers from a refugee camp in Afghanistan, a peace sign, joined hands, or the more sophisticated work of an accomplished artist - all are individual efforts and reflect the hopes and dreams that we all share. Each postcard is a voice for peace and each artist is an advocate for peace throughout the world.
Peace Postcards is a simple way to help people think about peace and what it means. It is exciting to see how people use art to express their vision for peace in their family, community and the world.
Here is a link to more information about Peace Postcards:
//paths2peace.org/page/peace-postcards
About Interfaith Paths to Peace
Interfaith Paths to Peace (IPP) is a nonprofit organization based in Louisville, Kentucky. IPP works to make our community, the nation, and the world more peaceful by bringing people of different religions together through programs and events that promote inter-religious understanding. IPP now delivers more interfaith events and opportunities than any other group in the Midwest and perhaps in the US.
Here is a link to more information about Interfaith Paths to Peace:
//paths2peace.org/main/summary
